Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Movie Review: Moonrise Kingdom

The Kids Get It Right

In Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," two twelve-year-olds run away, enjoy an innocent romance, get caught, and in the process transform the lives of the repressive, or absent, adults who have abandoned them emotionally up until this point in their lives. You may be thinking, "I think I'm familiar with this plot line," but trust me, you've never seen it as inventively, beautifully,  whimsically, or intelligently portrayed as in this wonderful fantasy, all of it shot on an island off the coast of New England, like Prospero's enchanted island in "The Tempest." Many fine actors do good work, including Bill Murray and Frances McDormand as the lawyer parents of Suzy, Bruce Willis as the island police chief, Edward Norton as a cigarette smoking Khaki Scout leader, Tilda Swinton as Social Services (her name, not her title), and Bob Balaban, a narrator dressed inexplicably like a gnome. There's one more surprise, almost inexplicable appearance, which I won't spoil. But the real stars are Jared Gilman as Sam and Karen Hayward as Suzy. They are an unlikely couple, with Sam in his big owl-like glasses and Suzy in her 1965 era Carnaby street dress and blue eyeshadow, but think back, remember your first love, and be assured that Sam and Suzy convince the audience that they're meant to be together, like Romeo and Juliet in Zefferelli's version. The cinematography is clever but not tricky, and the music is perfect. Don't miss this terrific film by one of America's best directors. And stay until the end of the credits for a lovely musical surprise!

1 comment:

  1. Great film - and you conveyed that without spoilers. I like the Prospero's island reference.

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