4/5 Stars
In 1965, on an island called New Penzance
located in New England, 12-year-old Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) who is
attending a ‘Khaki Scout’ summer camp, Camp Ivanhoe, led by South Master Randy
Ward (Edward Norton), goes missing. Around the same time, Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward),
who is living with her attorney parents Walt Bishop (Bill Murray) and Laura
Bishop (Frances McDormand) and three younger brothers, too goes missing with
all her luggage. It seems Sam and Suzy had met the previous summer during a
church performance by the latter, and had remained in touch through letters
over the following year. They hatch a plan to reunite and run away together.
While Shakusky brings his camping equipment, Suzy gets six books, her cat and a
record player along with her. Hot on their trail are the Bishops guided by
Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis). Sam and Suzy are off to a wondrous island, which
they name ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. They share some very special moments on this
island until they are finally hunted down by Suzy’s parents, the police and the
Scout Master. While Suzy is banned from seeing him again, Sam faces the prospect
of spending the rest of his teenage years in a ‘juvenile refuge’ as his foster
parents refuse to take him back.
The film belongs to Kara Hilman and Jared
Gilman. The two kids are so immensely talented. The control in their
performances was admirable. There was no conscious attempt to show the world
that they were acting. It was just effortless.
A tale about two (very) young lovers Sam
and Suzy, who run away to a picturesque island, which they call ‘Moonrise
Kingdom’, but a few people can’t let them be together. The film, a
romantic-comedy-drama film, directed by Wes Anderson, fills you with much joy
and laughter. The world out there is as utopian as it can get; so much that you
wish it was real. Experience bundle of goodness in these 90-odd minutes!
‘Moonrise
Kingdom’ - Never understood what the name meant in the context of the film, but
it would not matter anyway. This was not just a film. It was an experience.
There was not a moment when you could waive your attention away from the
screen.
In 1965, on an island called New Penzance
located in New England, 12-year-old Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) who is
attending a ‘Khaki Scout’ summer camp, Camp Ivanhoe, led by South Master Randy
Ward (Edward Norton), goes missing. Around the same time, Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward),
who is living with her attorney parents Walt Bishop (Bill Murray) and Laura
Bishop (Frances McDormand) and three younger brothers, too goes missing with
all her luggage. It seems Sam and Suzy had met the previous summer during a
church performance by the latter, and had remained in touch through letters
over the following year. They hatch a plan to reunite and run away together.
While Shakusky brings his camping equipment, Suzy gets six books, her cat and a
record player along with her. Hot on their trail are the Bishops guided by
Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis). Sam and Suzy are off to a wondrous island, which
they name ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. They share some very special moments on this
island until they are finally hunted down by Suzy’s parents, the police and the
Scout Master. While Suzy is banned from seeing him again, Sam faces the prospect
of spending the rest of his teenage years in a ‘juvenile refuge’ as his foster
parents refuse to take him back.
The rest of the pack from the Scout, which
had been quite rude to Sam earlier, decides to reunite the young couple. The
rest of the film carries on the charming flavour that inundates the initial
bit. The delightfulness of the dialogues and the scenes cannot be expressed in
words.
The film belongs to Kara Hilman and Jared
Gilman. The two kids are so immensely talented. The control in their
performances was admirable. There was no conscious attempt to show the world
that they were acting. It was just effortless.
Bruce Willis and Bill Murray may have aged.
You may see the added wrinkles on their faces, their receding hairline and
their bulging paunches, but you cannot ignore their charm. Edward Norton can
still play the same role if a ‘Fight Club’ remake was done. He may have aged by a few years but the
sprightliness hasn't withered away. Amazing efforts put in by Frances McDormand,
Tilda Swinton (Social Services), Jason Schwartzman in a hilarious cameo (Cousin
Ben) and the legend Harvey Keitel as Commander Pierce. Bob Balaban, who is the
Narrator, amuses one and all with his deadpan expressions and dry humour.
The writing (Wes Anderson and Roman
Coppola) is beautiful. The film kept on playing out one exquisite moment after
another, backed with the finest dialogue in recent times. The cast, filled with
legends, stayed trued to its reputation and delivered exceptional performances.
The kids, especially, made this film truly special. Cinematography by Robert
Yeoman was first-rate. The writing made the film great, but the visuals made it
even more special. The art direction (Gerald Sullivan), production designs
(Adam Stockhausen) and set decoration (Kris Moran), elevated this film to a
different level altogether. Wes Anderson of ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ fame has
another film to be proud of as a director. His writing ability was never
doubted, anyway. Music by Alexandre Desplat is something else altogether. Watch
the credit roll, it’s pretty much mind-blowing!
This was not just the magical
cinematography or the wonderful locations or the charming dialogue or the
scintillating performances or the transcendental music or the astute direction
or the poetic screenplay. This film was EVERYTHING. Watch Moonrise Kingdom for
sure, folks. It's a brilliant film. Wait till the end credits roll. You'll
leave the cinema hall with a smile. (First Posted in MSN)
Shivom Oza
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