Post by klep on Oct 22, 2018 6:57:51 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 10/22: Fantastic Mr. Fox
AUTUMN WEEK!
One of the signature elements of a Wes Anderson film is its extreme fastidiousness. Every set and every frame is meticulously constructed to achieve some effect - either aesthetic, dramatic, or both. So it's no surprise that he would eventually turn to stop-motion animation. With the stop-motion puppets all needing adjustment for every frame, it's a medium that allows near complete control over every aspect of what the camera captures and how it captures it.
Fantastic Mr. Fox's puppets are beautiful and incredibly detailed, with each one being rich in personality and character. Paired with a voice cast combining Anderson regulars with stars George Clooney (Mr. Fox) and Meryl Streep (Felicity Fox) fitting in naturally with Anderson's style. Clooney in particular is a natural fit for a charismatic and proud fox who can't help but try to be the center of attention. Meryl of course is Meryl, so she's perfect.
It should also come as no surprise that Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of Anderson's best movies. In just 87 minutes Anderson crafts an exquisite heist film. Sick of suburban drudgery, Mr. Fox makes a daring attempt to recapture his glory by stealing from the three most dangerous farmers around. Naturally it goes haywire and endangers Mr. Fox, his family, and his entire community. In order to have any hope, they'll all have to put aside their differences and work together.
But there's a deeper lesson than that, and it's about pride. The Fox family's life was perfectly fine, but Mr. Fox couldn't bear the thought of being "poor". His quest to improve his family's status is ultimately what nearly destroyed them and cost him his tail. His son's quest to restore his father's honor, prove his own worth, and recapture said tail similarly throws them from an already precarious situation into even greater peril. They manage to get out by the skin of their teeth, but so much could have been avoided had Fox had a little humility and not caused his son to measure himself against so high a bar.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a beautiful film. Beyond the puppets, Anderson creates an environment rich in yellows, reds, and oranges - an autumnal wonderland that feels fully considered and realized. Even details like one of the farmers' specialties being apple cider evokes the fall. This is a film where every part of it came together exactly how the filmmaker wanted it to and was perfectly suited to what he wanted to do. So perhaps the least surprising thing about it is how many people say it's one of their favorites.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 10/29: Cat People (1942)
HALLOWEEN WEEK!
For Halloween Week we'll be looking at a landmark film in the horror genre, 1942's Cat People. Come join us next week for our discussion of this classic film, available for rent on Amazon Video (though it is not free for Prime members).
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 10/23: The Old Man And The Gun
This week the podcast concludes its current edition with a look at what is potentially Robert Redford's last film as an actor, again playing an outlaw in The Old Man And The Gun - now in theaters. We'll have a thread for discussion on Wednesday, and hopefully an essay if I can find someone to write it.
AUTUMN WEEK!
One of the signature elements of a Wes Anderson film is its extreme fastidiousness. Every set and every frame is meticulously constructed to achieve some effect - either aesthetic, dramatic, or both. So it's no surprise that he would eventually turn to stop-motion animation. With the stop-motion puppets all needing adjustment for every frame, it's a medium that allows near complete control over every aspect of what the camera captures and how it captures it.
Fantastic Mr. Fox's puppets are beautiful and incredibly detailed, with each one being rich in personality and character. Paired with a voice cast combining Anderson regulars with stars George Clooney (Mr. Fox) and Meryl Streep (Felicity Fox) fitting in naturally with Anderson's style. Clooney in particular is a natural fit for a charismatic and proud fox who can't help but try to be the center of attention. Meryl of course is Meryl, so she's perfect.
It should also come as no surprise that Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of Anderson's best movies. In just 87 minutes Anderson crafts an exquisite heist film. Sick of suburban drudgery, Mr. Fox makes a daring attempt to recapture his glory by stealing from the three most dangerous farmers around. Naturally it goes haywire and endangers Mr. Fox, his family, and his entire community. In order to have any hope, they'll all have to put aside their differences and work together.
But there's a deeper lesson than that, and it's about pride. The Fox family's life was perfectly fine, but Mr. Fox couldn't bear the thought of being "poor". His quest to improve his family's status is ultimately what nearly destroyed them and cost him his tail. His son's quest to restore his father's honor, prove his own worth, and recapture said tail similarly throws them from an already precarious situation into even greater peril. They manage to get out by the skin of their teeth, but so much could have been avoided had Fox had a little humility and not caused his son to measure himself against so high a bar.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a beautiful film. Beyond the puppets, Anderson creates an environment rich in yellows, reds, and oranges - an autumnal wonderland that feels fully considered and realized. Even details like one of the farmers' specialties being apple cider evokes the fall. This is a film where every part of it came together exactly how the filmmaker wanted it to and was perfectly suited to what he wanted to do. So perhaps the least surprising thing about it is how many people say it's one of their favorites.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 10/29: Cat People (1942)
HALLOWEEN WEEK!
For Halloween Week we'll be looking at a landmark film in the horror genre, 1942's Cat People. Come join us next week for our discussion of this classic film, available for rent on Amazon Video (though it is not free for Prime members).
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 10/23: The Old Man And The Gun
This week the podcast concludes its current edition with a look at what is potentially Robert Redford's last film as an actor, again playing an outlaw in The Old Man And The Gun - now in theaters. We'll have a thread for discussion on Wednesday, and hopefully an essay if I can find someone to write it.