In the sublime category we have Moonrise Kingdom. Wes Anderson is not to everyone’s tastes and I doubt this film is going to change anyone’s mind about his ability as a filmmaker or story-teller. But after falling in love with the Fantastic Mr Fox I definitely wanted to see Moonrise Kingdom. And it blew me away.
If I was being banal I’d call it a coming of age story. But really the films themes go deeper than that – dealing with issues such as family and community and love. Tonaly it feels a bit like David Lynch’s The Straight Story, an offbeat love letter to an America that only exists in memory. It’s also a film with a language of its own. For the uninitiated – like me – it takes maybe 20 minutes to fully appreciate what Anderson was doing. (I was watching the movie with my wife who was willing to give up after 20 minutes, but said she’d give it another five. She stayed until the end, and not just because she was enjoying the snuggles on the couch).
Or if I was being artsy and pretentious I’d say it was a film that wants to be loved but never forces you to love it.
In anycase, I did love it. Found it life affirming and wonderful. The two primary child actors – Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward – are astonishing. Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Ed Norton, aren’t too shabby either.
Highly recommended.
In the shit category we have Alien Apocalypse. When I was in my 20s and early 30s I got a bit of a thrill watching crap-tastic cinema (Troll 2, I’ll never forget you). But at 38 I realise that life is too short and that spending 90 minutes with this Sci-Fi channel turd is a waste of whatever time I have left. I mean, I haven’t seen the latest Transformers film yet!
If you’re a Bruce Campbell completist… no, actually, still don’t bother. He’s phoning this performance in and even his ad-libbing has that’s desperate, pathetic feel about it. Oh, and the films only black character dies in the first five minutes. But that’s OK coz he was in a position of authority.
Of course, according to the pundits and cool dudes on IMDB anyone who shits on this film isn’t getting the joke – it’s meant to be crap.
Yeah, whatever. Avoid.
Have you seen Bubba Hotep?
No, not yet. It is on my watch list though.