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Charlie Goes To WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE...
Merrick here...
Charlie sent in this report from last night's benefit screening of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE in Chicago (event details HERE).
Here's Charlie's report - notes presented in red have been added by me for context.
I just walked in the door from attending the Chicago premiere of Where The Wild Things Are, which was introduced by (screenwriter) Dave Eggers and Max Records ("Max" in the film), and followed by a Q&A with Catherine Keener ("Mom") and (co-writer/director) Spike Jonze.
The night was amazing, as everyone involved in the production was none too shy about relaying their experiences working on the project. A story about Jonze making Keener stand off-camera, drenched in fake blood in order to garner a genuinely scared reaction from Max, was just one of the highlights.
As for the film itself, the audience was engrossed the minute the opening Warner Brothers logo came up, designed as if Max had drawn it to put on the fridge. The tumultuous journey from concept to screen, filled with studio concerns and re-shoots, fades away, and the audience is simply left with a stunning vision of childhood, made with great love and care from everyone involved. The film's opening scenes, as Max attacks his teenage sister's friends with snowballs from an igloo fort, involves you in a way that simultaneously builds character while conjuring up uncomfortable past feelings. Everyone remembers as a child the exact moment when a group game, full of fun and inventiveness, swiftly turns into panic, pain, and intense fear, and when one boy "playfully" smothers Max beneath his collapsed fort, you instantly understand the world that Jonze has fought so hard to suitably realize.
After a somewhat awkward, heated confrontation with his mother, played wonderfully by Keener, the film then provides a swift transition into the Land of the Wild Things, where Max is introduced and promptly made King by said beastly creatures. I had some hesitance accepting the Wild Things as presented in the trailer, but I'm happy to report that the various effects, CG and practical, come together beautifully in the final product. Almost WETA-level detail is given to every element of the production design, and they go a long way into fully immersing you in the numerous locations, shot on the gorgeous landscapes of Australia. The Wild Things are remarkable, suitably walk the line between lighthearted, mischievous, and terrifying, especially towards the end when Max's position as ruler starts to slowly crumble. Unfortunately, the script does not match the design in terms of quality, which most were expecting anyway, given the extremely bare narrative of the original work. Jones and Eggers do a fine job developing memorable characters, but they strangely chose to include a love quadrangle involving the Wild Things voiced by James Gandolfini and Lauren Ambrose. It strikes a uneven tone with the rest of the story, but luckily the film sticks largely to Max's journey, which Max Records portrays brilliantly. His performance nears the same naturalistic levels of Catinca Untaru from The Fall, effortlessly balancing the curiosity and fear that his character possesses.
Additionally, some may find the dramatic weight to be somewhat light, as most developments hinge around such events as getting hurt in a wrestling match, but that is the world in which these characters exist. The film is seen through the eyes of Max, and you must keep that in mind as you progress through the film. Personally, I thought Jonze did an unbelievable job, and I believe most will feel the same way once they finally get a glimpse of his unique vision.
If you use this, call me Charlie.
The film opens October 16. Can't wait.
I just walked in the door from attending the Chicago premiere of Where The Wild Things Are, which was introduced by (screenwriter) Dave Eggers and Max Records ("Max" in the film), and followed by a Q&A with Catherine Keener ("Mom") and (co-writer/director) Spike Jonze.
The night was amazing, as everyone involved in the production was none too shy about relaying their experiences working on the project. A story about Jonze making Keener stand off-camera, drenched in fake blood in order to garner a genuinely scared reaction from Max, was just one of the highlights.
As for the film itself, the audience was engrossed the minute the opening Warner Brothers logo came up, designed as if Max had drawn it to put on the fridge. The tumultuous journey from concept to screen, filled with studio concerns and re-shoots, fades away, and the audience is simply left with a stunning vision of childhood, made with great love and care from everyone involved. The film's opening scenes, as Max attacks his teenage sister's friends with snowballs from an igloo fort, involves you in a way that simultaneously builds character while conjuring up uncomfortable past feelings. Everyone remembers as a child the exact moment when a group game, full of fun and inventiveness, swiftly turns into panic, pain, and intense fear, and when one boy "playfully" smothers Max beneath his collapsed fort, you instantly understand the world that Jonze has fought so hard to suitably realize.
After a somewhat awkward, heated confrontation with his mother, played wonderfully by Keener, the film then provides a swift transition into the Land of the Wild Things, where Max is introduced and promptly made King by said beastly creatures. I had some hesitance accepting the Wild Things as presented in the trailer, but I'm happy to report that the various effects, CG and practical, come together beautifully in the final product. Almost WETA-level detail is given to every element of the production design, and they go a long way into fully immersing you in the numerous locations, shot on the gorgeous landscapes of Australia. The Wild Things are remarkable, suitably walk the line between lighthearted, mischievous, and terrifying, especially towards the end when Max's position as ruler starts to slowly crumble. Unfortunately, the script does not match the design in terms of quality, which most were expecting anyway, given the extremely bare narrative of the original work. Jones and Eggers do a fine job developing memorable characters, but they strangely chose to include a love quadrangle involving the Wild Things voiced by James Gandolfini and Lauren Ambrose. It strikes a uneven tone with the rest of the story, but luckily the film sticks largely to Max's journey, which Max Records portrays brilliantly. His performance nears the same naturalistic levels of Catinca Untaru from The Fall, effortlessly balancing the curiosity and fear that his character possesses.
Additionally, some may find the dramatic weight to be somewhat light, as most developments hinge around such events as getting hurt in a wrestling match, but that is the world in which these characters exist. The film is seen through the eyes of Max, and you must keep that in mind as you progress through the film. Personally, I thought Jonze did an unbelievable job, and I believe most will feel the same way once they finally get a glimpse of his unique vision.
If you use this, call me Charlie.
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+ Expand All
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this is one i'm definitely looking forward to.
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Cannae fookin wait to see this film.Glad to hear it's not a total fuck up.
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They all don't need to be CITIZEN KANE, but still... whatever, this movie will make a shitload of money no matter what's wrong with it.
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Nice review!
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Scaring the living shit out of a minor to get a genuine scared reaction? WTF? That's not acting.
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a kid can relate to. Nothing too heavy.
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That's one of the oldest tricks in the book believe it or not! No wonder some child actors end up being so jacked up. Think I read somewhere that they used tell Shirley Temple crap like her puppy died when they needed her to cry in a scene. Could be an urban legend though... but still.
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...that came up with this one?
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... and I have enough faith in Jonze (or Schwartzberg, whatever his real name is) to handle the material appropriately. EPLPT
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Would a quadrangle also be called a square? And who are the other two parted to this quadrangle?
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To be specific, man in big furry unconvincing Muppet suit. And, from the look of the trailers, not nearly as much fun as the Godzilla movies I watched as a kid. Now THOSE were Man in Suit movies!
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GANDALFini? I'm cracking up thinking of an Italian wizard in Jersey.
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since the heads are all CGI. its probably just a furry suit without the head. :P
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I would think this is a perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas release?
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I guess this guy thinks we (talkbackers) are fucking retarded? Seriously what’s the fucking deal with the red? Where The Wild Things Are (Movie title). Charlie (name of reviewer). October 16 (date of release). Can't wait (Merrick's inability to wait for this film to come out).
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I'm so pumped for this. For more reviews head to http://sickpicks.blogspot.com/
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Read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs as a kid? How is that we have both these adaptations coming out this close to each other? Seriously HOW DOES THAT ALWAYS HAPPEN? Next you've got The Road and Book of Eli.
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And it's so much fun!!
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Or was he forced to reshoot it?
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Don't seem to go together. Some of their stuff is good, but most of it makes me think that if she was punched in the face by Ryan Phillipe she'd be a lot better.
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and it's charming and understated. Nice job, Karen. The Dave Eggars short story in the New Yorker a few weeks back was really nice, too. I once was in absolute denial that this movie could be anything but an abomination, but everything I have seen and heard has made me want to see it more and more.
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Looks great.
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Because it looks like pigshit
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Honestly I haven't seen a trailer this effective in quite some time. I loved the book as a kid just like everyone else so i'm very interested in seeing Jones' unique take on the material.
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Listening to the soundtrack right now it is wonderful.
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I like the big lug but he sounded way too much like Tony Soprano in the previews! I thought maybe I was nitpicking but it really annoying!This is why I wish true voice actors would sometimes be considered for the job instead of celebrities. Oh well maybe it'll be ok.
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They tried to have fully operational muppet heads with animatronics, but they were too heavy and the actors were toppling over. So they ripped out the machines and CG'ed in facial movements, blinking, etc.
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Not sure about Shirley Temple, but when Jackie Cooper was making Skippy the director told him he was gonna shoot his dog if he didn't cry!
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Please do not say "indie rock."
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totally agree with you about James. It sounded like he was catching his breath after eating a large pastrami sandwich.
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indie rock! Throw on your tight jeans and neon t-shirt, make your hair look like a retard and BAM! Hip to the bone.
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To make a musical score to this movie, donate the money to some cancer found.
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Ahahahahahaha!
Series, you crack me up. -
I'm going to eat your spleen unless you admit Liev Shrieber rules...
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But I ate Liev Schreiber...
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...is good. Still wonderin' if the settings resemble the original book's atmospheric leafy tree-filled (Jungle/woods-like vibe) look or not.Or is it just filled with not-as-atmospheric open desert-like 'outback' settings now?...
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Charlie found candy mountain! Charlie! Charlie! I actually really hate this video, but seeing Charlie and Where The Wild Things Are inevitably made me think of it.
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Where would this site be without them?"Make your hair look like a stupid guy" or "poking a stupid guy with a stick" just doesn't have the same ring.Rocky just wouldn't be the same without that guy telling him "Taker her to the zoo. I hear retards like the zoo". of course, that was before Sly actually had a retard child. he probably cringes at that line now.
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Just can't get it up for this movie. Spike's awesome, trailer looks good, just didn't dig the book that much as a kid. Is this still a "timeless classic" that chillin today are into? Gut tells me no.
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http://stereogum.com/archives/stream-the-where-the-wild-things-are-soundtrack_092471.html
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jacked off the the trailer 3 times this morning fuck im tired
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Sep 30, 2009 3:15:03 PM CDT
i meant " i jacked off to the trailer 3 times this morning"
by supercowbell5thecowbellhasspoken
god this site needs a edit button
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Sep 30, 2009 3:40:46 PM CDT
"some may find the dramatic weight to be somewhat light"
by thunderbolt ross
Uh, yeah it's from a children's book so I'd hope it wouldn't get too heavy. This sentence conjures images of film majors in berets critiquing the mise en scene of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
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I hope this isnt as boring as the trailer makes it look. The Wild Things don't look wild, but really tired and emo. I seem to remember the film strip and the book looking more exciting as a kid than this movie. And yes, if it has an indie rock soundtrack, spike jones must be put out of his misery.
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Tame-ass trailer. The movie should be in the tradition of "Lord of the Flies" That would be WILD! lol
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Sep 30, 2009 4:36:33 PM CDT
Would've been nice to know about the screening BEFORE it happene
by gruntybear
Since I live in Chicago and all . . . *grump*
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Fuck you, time-space continuum...
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Kids with parents who are drunks, easy or violent have the most powerful imagination.
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"As for the film itself, the audience was engrossed the minute the opening Warner Brothers logo came up, designed as if Max had drawn it to put on the fridge." Really the whole audience was shitting themselves over a studio logo? There's something evil and condescending about this movie.Fake emotion, indie, hipster kid movie, trying to hit every annoying demographic.
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FFS. DREADFUL.
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the dark knights logo just sitting there silent and harry potter 3's close dark zoom up with the awesomely dark music playing letting you know your in for a harry potter movie that wasnt some happy go lucky candyland bullshit like the first 2. IT HAD THE WARNER BROTHERS LOGO GAME ON LOCK!!!
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OTHER THAN THAT, WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK?
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And it came out when I was a kid. Just don't get it.
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It seems anybody with a rational opinion has moved on and left the place to a bunch of fucking losers who justify their meaningless existences by declaring every single thing to be "fucking retarded" or "gay" etc.
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Nobody really, seriously, justifies their existence by posting on this site. Thats a kind of straw man I think.
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Looks magical.
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My sentiments exactly. It takes some doing to get past expectations of tiresome ironical edginess. Could be the beer typing, but I got a good chill when I first saw the trailer and I've been looking forward to it ever since - in spite of those hipster "Max" douche suits Urban Outfitters is now peddling. Weirdly important material - nice to know they got guys like Jonze and Eggers carry the water. An aside - Gandolfini's voice is a tractor (tracter? dunno - not a star wars guy) beam. Remember him in True Romance? The guy really is amazing...
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because that's fucking gay.
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$17-20m opening, quick dive. People hate whimsiscal stuff, also movies with kids as heroes. Fail. It'll probably be pretty good as a movie, but fail.
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good job dorks, it will probably bomb. its a hard to market, personal project..... way to see that coming. what does that have to do with it being a quality flick? god damn, these threads are full of hateful nerds. if you love movies enjoy them, if you dont...shut the fuck up an quit acting like you write for variety from your parents basement.
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Bring back Uncle Seth and the Double-Decker Baloney sandwich!
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Which is why I loved Coraline. It reminded of things that used to scare me as a child (like Labryinth). Today we mainly see 3D CGI shit where 30 minutes can't pass without a cute animal farting. I am glad to see something fucked up and potentially scary for little kids. They need that. That is what invigorates imagination. Not cute little farting creatures.
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Cannot wait. I have an inkling this is going to be one of the best films of the year.
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I don't understand how she always comes off as a complete bitch in films ("Movies") she is in ("Being John Malcovitch","Into The Wild", "Hamlet 2") even when she is trying to be a nice person ("40 Year Old Virgin")? I thought that was just her ("Catherine Keener") but I've seen her on late night show ("The Late Show With David Letterman", "Late Night With Conan O'Brien") and she came off as very nice? Notes presented in parenthesis have been added by me for context.
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Oct 01, 2009 10:11:03 AM CDT
Disappointed that Arcade Fire's re-recorded WAKE UP not on sound
by riskebiz
I'm isappointed that Arcade Fire's re-recorded WAKE UP not on soundtrack. That song seemed to work beautifully and perfectly in the trailer and went a long way to getting excited about this film. I've seen that the soundtrack is strictly songs by Spike's old girlfriend Karen O ... and that is disappointing. I surely wish Arcade Fire's song was a part of it.
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Are hardly ever on the soundtrack. Trailers are rarely ever done by the people making the movie, they are done by an outside company. Sure Spike probably had a poopfull of involvment in imput, but I bet it was a different company.
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Agree that the movie (from the trailers and advertising and what we've heard of it) seems like it might be really condescending and manipulative and "indie hip". I know that I'm in the extreme minority, but I hated that first trailer so much. People were watching it and crying and saying how this would be the best movie ever and really captured childhood and growing up and lost innocence. WTF? None of that was present in the trailer - people just played right into the ad men's hands by eating up the Arcade Fire song (which does ALL of the work) and tearing up. The trailer turned me from neutral/slightly positive to extremely negative.
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