Moonrise Kingdom

[Lizhawkins]

Wes Anderson and a stonking cast, including Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand...

Total Film's Verdict:
Fleet, funny, impeccably orchestrated: whimsical Wes returns on top of his game. Non-fans might call it over-familiar comfort cinema but with the craft so loving and new elements so well-integrated, his singular pitch remains a thing to cherish.

****

Here's a link to Total Film's 4 star Moonrise Kingdom review.

****

[fortunesfool]

Some movies make me angry (Prometheus). Most movies make me shrug with indifference (John Carter et al). Some movies, not many, but some, make me happy.

Moonrise Kingdom made me happy.

Wes Anderson is a marmite movie-maker. It's easy to see why his offbeat, theatrical stylings can put people off. It's certainly not 'naturalistic', but then again, neither is seeing the world through the eyes of someone being electrocuted like most TV and Movies would have us believe*. Personally, I love being in Anderson's world and his carefully crafted mis-en-scene (Very few film-makers can get a laugh just by having someone abseil through the background of a shot). Occasionally though, this precise level of craft can come across as clinical - more to be admired from a distance than heartily engaged in. Moonrise Kingdom though, thankfully, has more in common with Fantastic Mr Fox than The Darjeeling Limited. It has a playful spirit, helped in much part by the wonderful young cast. It has a whimsical, fairytale feel to it (not unlike The Life Aquatic) yet isn't afraid to go dark when it needs to (poor Snoopy). The adult actors all seem to be having a ball - Jason Schwartzman and Bob Balaban are a joy, and it's nice to see Bruce Willis playing a 'character' again. The two lead kids though (Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman), whilst occasionally struggling with the delivery are both sweet and engaging and their tale of first love was genuinely engaging. It's never quite 'laugh out loud' funny but I sat with a smile on my face for the whole film and left happy. That's enough for me to give it a hearty recommendation.

*A dig at hand held shaky-cam if this wasn't clear.

[morris]

email it direct to TF for publication, fortunes.

[fortunesfool]

With my freelancer fee attached.