Words on Moonrise Kingdom

Ignore the fact that the last post I posted was over a year ago.  Let's talk about the cognitive dissonance in my head about the film I just saw, Moonrise Kingdom.

I really want to like this movie as much as it seems most people did but I can't help but notice that Wes Anderson, famed director of Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Royal Tenenbaums has run out of tricks.

It almost seems like he's mastered his visual style too much.  He knows what he wants from every scene too much.  He knows what all of his movies are meant to look like before he even makes them.  There are no happy surprises in this movie.  There are no visually distinct revelations that make this movie any more pleasing to stare at than Rushmore, or Tenenbaums.  But then again, why should I expect more from this film than his others-- that is what I'm having trouble with.

I don't think I have a right to expect this movie to be better than his other films.  In fact, there is a big chance he'll never make a film better than Rushmore, but what does bother me is that now his work isn't as impressive.

Dear Wes,

We get it.  You love having really smart young people and really childish adults.  You sussed that out over a decade ago and then you took it one step further in The Royal Tenenbaums, a masterpiece.  You even had some fun with that idea in The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  It was cute and was a little different and since it looked so different it didn't look as much like the others.

You have our attention.  Let's take it one step further now.  Adults not ready to grow old.  Young children who want to be adults, nobody is happy, everyone knows what they want but they can't have it--at least not just yet.

Moonrise Kingdom was a beautiful experience and I enjoyed watching the film but next time, let's see something new because unlike your characters you don't have to be stuck in a rut with no way out other than regressing into your old self.  It's OK to grow up, and maybe next time, show us something new.

Love,
Biff Savage