On Saturday Paul and I went to cinema Nouveau, at Gateway, to watch the much acclaimed Moonrise Kingdom. Another Wes Anderson masterpiece, one which we most thoroughly enjoyed, from start to finish. We literally sat until the credits had finished rolling.
The storyline is set in 1965 and revolves around two children who meet, run away together and fall in love.
Sam Shakusky is an orphan boy who attends the Khaki Scouts camp on the coast of New England. Suzy is a depressed teenager who struggles with anger issues and has a fascination with her binoculars. Shakusky notices Suzy in a church play and the two begin writing to each other, plotting their runaway adventure.
The children barely know each other, and along their way they run into a number of obstacles which create dramatic dilemmas for Suzy’s parents and the captain of the Khaki Scouts. Along with the search for the children, a storm is brewing. One which is expected to be the worst in the second half of the 20th century.
There is an altercation with a pair of lefty scissors, someone gets struck by lightning, friendships are made, an orphan finds a home, and two kids fall in love.
The comical storyline is however not the focus of this film. Cinematography trumps storyline! Every single shot is genius.
The attention to detail is what makes the characters evolve. Each character is attributed a specific focal element and are rarely pictured without that. Shakusky wears a hat similar to that of Davey Crocket, while Suzy is never without her binoculars or record player.The dialogue is short and humorous, and allows for the angles and shots to do all the work.From extreme shot reverse shots to slow panning and quick zooming, this film is one of a kind. The filming reflects exactly how it would have been filmed in the sixties, naturally jumpy shots and grainy film exposure.
That said, the cherry on top is without doubt the brilliant cast. The likes of Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton and Bruce Willis, all play their quirky characters flawlessly. An eclectic bunch of miscreants and out right weirdos, perfectly displaying the chaos of teenage rebellion when met with poor parenting.
It is my commission to you to book tickets for this movie while it is still on the big screen. It is not only at Noveau but also at Numetro around the country.
Prepare to be enchanted by Wes Anderson and his team. Like I said, we loved every minute of this film and it was a great way to zone out of reality and into the comedy that ensues on Penzance Island, New England.
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