A film of the beloved 1963 children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are has been in the pipeline for years now, with many different film projects quashed before coming to fruition. How to turn the 10 page, sparsely worded picture book by Maurice Sendak into a feature length film? Director/screenwriter Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) has succeeded where many before him have failed and delivered a finished product. His efforts were not without their trials, with changes between studios, leaked footage and rumoured creative disputes. The big question, has it been worth the wait?
Filmed on the shoreline of outer Melbourne, utilising the varied landscapes of charred forest, beach and desert, Where the Wild Things Are is above all things a piece of visual mastery. Jonze has created two separate worlds; Max’s home, wintry suburbia and the wonderfully bizarre land of the Wild Things, with equal attention and care paid to both. The Wild Things have been spectacularly brought to life with the help of the legendary Jim Henson Company, which created enormous costumes that are works of art and feats of structural engineering (with the magic touch of CGI added for facial expressions).
The book with such iconic imagery was always going to provide inspiration for a fantastic visual narrative. The real test was creating a script worthy of the source material and its many fans. Here is where the film may surprise its audience: this is not a children’s film, it’s a film about childhood. Where the Wild Things Are has been made for people who grew up with the book.
Dave Eggers’ (founder and editor of McSweeneys) screenplay has developed the story of naughty 9 yr old, Max played by Max Records who is phenomenally good in this challenging role. The film is a study of Max’s difficulties in communicating with those around him. He finds himself oscillating between loneliness, anger, excitement, unable to exert any control on what goes on around him. Finally pushing his mother (Catherine Keener, brilliant as ever) to her wit’s end, Max runs away to the land of the Wild Things.
Eggers has individualised the Wild Things, giving them all distinct personalities, reflecting elements of Max – his isolation, his rage, his enthusiasm, his vulnerability. The talented actors who voice the characters bring out the creatures humour, loyalty and fierceness; with James Gandolfini as Carol, Chris Cooper as Douglas, Forest Whittaker as Ira, Paul Dano as Alexander, Catherine O’Hara as Judith and Lauren Ambrose as KW.
Where the Wild Things Are is not without failings, with some pacing issues and times where the soundtrack interrupts, rather than emphasises, the action. Jonze has made a film about the experience of adolescence, unapologetic that it will not please everyone with its darker tones. Gaining Sendak’s approval (he is a producer on the film), the film version of Where the Wild Things Are is visually striking, emotionally intelligent and definitely worth the wait.
Where the Wild Things Are is screening nationally in Australia now
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper, Forest Whittaker, Paul Dano, Catherine O’Hara, Lauren Ambrose, Mark Ruffalo
Yes yes, the darker tones did not win me over: http://www.alicetynan.com/2009/12/where-wild-things-are-requires-therapy.html
i would rather stick pins in my eyes than watch this movie again, i cannot beleive i paid to watch it. its the worst movie i have ever seen. i was bored out of my mind!
Can´t wait to see it, even though I think that I have already been won over by the short
I am in two minds about this. I love the book to pieces but have only heard negative reviews…I saw the shorts and even that seemed to drag on. Maybe wait for DVD?
Would definitely recommend viewing WTWTA on the big screen where the visuals can be appreciated.
I promise I’m not the only critic who liked the film- there have been many good reviews from the NY times to Rolling Stone.
I really enjoyed this film. It wasn’t what I expected – I thought it’d be a ‘cute’, light-hearted film, but in actual fact, it was dark, visually spectacular, and I loved the way the allegorical stories were told.
I was stunned by the depth and truth in this film. After reading some of the negative reviews, I have this funny feeling that critics who have called it ‘boring’, ‘depressing’, and ‘in need of therapy’ are unwittingly revealing that the powerful (positive) developmental processes unleashed within Max as he journeys with the Wild Things have perhaps not (yet) occured within themselves. The story arc(s) would otherwise make perfect sense. I am simply blown away by this film. Wow! (4.5 stars!)