Trailer Talk: ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ Offers Vintage Anderson Quirk
by Christian TotoDirector Wes Anderson puts a stamp on his films unlike any other director. Sometimes all you need to see is a single frame, or just an appearance by Bill Murray, to know it’s a movie from the man who gave us “Rushmore” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
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“Moonrise Kingdom,” Anderson’s first live-action film since the disappointing “The Darjeeling Limite,” five years ago, gathers a typically eclectic cast to tell a story that, well, it’s pretty hard to suss it all out.
Anderson’s latest follows a pair of pre-teens who decide to run away from their respective families. The trailer doesn’t offer much more than that, but we get plenty of stylistic flourishes, that uniquely Anderson way of framing his characters and familiar faces cast in unfamiliar roles.
When was the last time Edward Norton looked so lovable, or so lost?
Murray is on hand, of course, along with Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton and “Rushmore’s” Jason Schwartzman.
One’s affection for “Kingdom” might hinge on your reaction to Anderson’s past work. He’s clearly not mucking with his own formula, which is very good news – as long as this isn’t another “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” Anderson’s 2004 bomb remains one of the punishing movie experiences in recent memory.
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19 Comments
I just want to know something: when are we going to get through with the 60s/70s revival? Everytime I see those colors/styles/hairdos etc, I get this sick feeling in the base of my stomach. I lived through it the first time – was SO glad when things changed in the 80s…and here I am, not even in the first breath of my middle age and Im having to watch people actually romanticize that time period?! Are they serious? Can we find some of way of stopping the fashionistas/nostalgia from digging down to *that* particular layer of the garbage dump and excavating all those things we were so very happy to get rid of the first time? Just because it was all plastic and polyester and pretty much in the same shape as it was the day it was banished from our lives does NOT mean it should be resurrected.
At least we're not going through another '50s rebirth. Remember "Sha-Na-Na"?
If I was ever forced to wear polyester. I would take it off and burn it on the spot, I would purposely breath in the toxic smoke just to kill myself.
I am convinced that God would understand, and forgive me.
Wes Anderson has a formula, but I don't really care. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is one of greatest movies ever. I miss seeing Gene Hackman in new movies. Wish he'd come back for another film.
I've liked all of Anderson's movies so far — even the lesser ones like "The Life Aquatic" and "Darjeeling" had redeeming qualities — so I'll probably like this one, too.
Loved "The Royal Tennenbaums" and "Darjeeling". Sat through "Life Aquatic" and consider "quirky" an understatement on that one. This one I'm going to see.
I like nostalgia, but I prefer when they romanticize the 1920s-1950s. I don't care so much for the 1960s-onwards.
THIS LOOKS GREAT! THANKS FOR THE TIP OFF CHRISTIAN!
Weird-most people I know-myself included consider Life Aquatic one of his better films.
I still have a special spot for Bottle Rocket.
That looks FANTASTIC.
Looks pretty good – they have to set it back in time because the present is so depressing in comparison no one would believe something light-hearted if they saw it in that context.
In the 70's they romanticized the 20's and in the 80's they romanticized the 50's and in the 90's it was the 60's and in the 00's it was the 70's, it seems.
I love this performance – just crytalizes the 70's in my mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6eE3ydPdDc
I like most Wes Anderson movies (even The Life Aquatic) and this looks like it could be potentially great. But considering his support of Roman Polanski I will not send any money his way by paying to see his movies. I'll wait until I can view it for free.
Am I the only one that liked the Life Aquatic– Well, me and my circle of friends? His weakest for me was Bottle Rocket. I probably would've liked the Darjeeling Limited more if I weren't a theology student and bored by attempts of directionless spirituality– well, that and the fact that the only part that really seemed like Wes Anderson was the last two minutes. The whole "leave dad's luggage!" scene was almost worth the price of admission.
You're not a Wes Anderson fan then, Toto, because The Life Aquatic is great, and Darjeeling Limited is at least pretty good. Anderson has yet to make a bad film.
Never understood the critical pile-on on The Life Aquatic, in particular. It's like they all came out with the long knives because Anderson kept hitting a lot of the same notes in his films and it was time to take him to task for it. Aquatic arguably contains the best performance of Bill Murray's career, and is endlessly quotable to boot. I guarantee that repeat viewings will give people who may have dismissed the film initially a new appreciation for it.
The Darjeeling Limited was not dissapointing. And Life Aquatic is brilliant in every conceivable way.
Moonrise Kingdom looks great.
Finally. A movie I can get excited about. Thanks for letting us know!
chiming in as another lover of Life Aquatic. Everyone in the film kills it, but Willem Dafoe especially does it for me in that film.
"Don't point that gun at him; he's an unpaid intern."
" 'He was swallowed whole?' 'No… Chewed' "
"I've always thought of you two as my dads. Please don't let any one make fun of me for saying so. "
Darjeeling is the only WA film that I don't love immensely, but I need to give it one more shot before I write it off as my one WA film that I dislike.
Wes Anderson has consistently made some of the best comedies of the past 20 years. I'd take his films any day of the week over any film by Apatow, Rogen, Ferrell, Sandler, etc
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