8 – MOONRISE KINGDOM:
Into the elite eight we go, with Wes Anderson’s portrayal of childhood
isolation and intimacy. The setting
makes this movie, as it all takes place on an island in middle-of-nowhere,
picturesque New England. Sam and Suzy
have been penpals for a year and decide to run away together, since they are
both quite unhappy. Sam has no friends
in his boyscout troop, and Suzy is depressed at home. The chemistry between these two is excellent
in a weird, quirky, unexpected way, and they both share a strong sense of
optimism about the world despite their current troubles. (continues after the jump)
As the two camp out in the forest, the race begins as the
adults realize what’s going on and a dangerous storm threatens the island. The music, costume designs, and dialogue all
have an unusual, peculiar, youthful tone to them. It toes the line between melancholy and
adventure/hope well, and I found myself heavily invested in the outcome. Out in the wild, away from the pretensions of
the world, these two can finally experience some freedom. The supporting cast seems to dive into their
roles, and Bill Murray is hysterical as Suzy’s clueless, robotic father. The third act was a bit chaotic, but it was
done well and provided a very satisfying conclusion to one of the most pleasant
films of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment