By Buster Baer
Staff Writer
Wes Anderson’s newest film, “Moonrise Kingdom,” does not utilize its cast and lacks strong writing. However, it has many fun and visually pleasing moments.
“Moonrise Kingdom” pleases the viewer with graceful cinematography and an engaging score but fails to meet its theatrical potential due to a few unsubstantial characters and an overly straight-forward plot.
The film tells the story of Sam (Jared Gilman), a boy scout who finds himself running away from camp with his long-time lover, Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), a young girl residing on the same New England island, New Penzance. When the adult figures in the movie suddenly realize that they are missing, those in charge of the children panic and spend the movie in search of the couple.
This movie is written and directed by Anderson, who also created classic independent films such as “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” and “Bottle Rocket.”
He has received Oscar nominations for both “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” With “Moonrise Kingdom,” Anderson takes a familiar approach, but from the new perspective of preteens at the center of the story.
The acting in “Moonrise Kingdom” is lacking, especially based on the performance capacities of the actors at hand. The film has a lot of acting potential, with cast members such as Bruce Willis and Edward Norton, but the poorly-written script fails to provide them strong enough characters to demonstrate their immense talents.
The movie’s cinematography is as sensuously pleasing as can be. This is due to Robert D. Yeoman, who has worked on every Anderson film, other than “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” from 1996’s “Bottle Rocket” to the present. Yeoman applies soft pastel colors which glorify nature, even during the most comically violent of scenes.
Anderson takes advantage of Alexander Desplat, his new composer. In the movie, he utilizes a score that is more orchestral than those composed by Mark Mothersbough, who had scored his films in the past. Though Mothersbough does contribute, Desplat’s score uses more eclectic source music to create a pleasant but simplistic and campy atmosphere.
Overall, “Moonrise Kingdom” is missing a depth often longed for by moviegoers, but it carries a surplus of cinematic beauty. “Moonrise Kingdom” is PG-13 and is playing in limited release.
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