Wild things
Where the Wild Things Are was the film I was most looking forward to last year (which says a lot, seeing as 2009 was a freakin’ fantastic year for films – Fantastic Mr Fox, MOON, Inglorious Basterds, Up, Watchmen, Paranormal Activity, Let The Right One In and a whole bunch of other films I haven’t even seen yet) and I personally felt the wait until Dec 3rd was worth it.
Careful now, here comes the gushing: aaah, what a magical film – it managed to simultaneously entertain and unnerve, reminding me of exactly how I felt as a kid, not always getting the attention I thought I deserved and retreating into elaborate fantasies, stories and sometimes straight up lies.
It’s out this week on DVD and BluRay and, while I rather smugly already picked up a copy in the States (smugness wasted on literally everyone I know, not one single person of whom cares about the film at all), I’d super recommend you invest in it.
Perhaps you saw WTWTA at the cinema and were underwhelmed – try it again. But this time, try reading Maurice Sendak’s book again first. Or even Dave Eggers’ The Wild Things which I just finished reading – it’s like a cheat sheet, spelling out more of what’s going on in Max’s mind so it’s much darker and scarier than the final theatrical release was. Marvel at how Spike Jonez and Dave Eggers took that little story and ran with it, and look closer at the incredible world the film creates – the stunning visuals, the beautifully simple muted palette.
And if nothing else, you must be in awe of Max Records and his turn as wild little Max – he’s hands down the coolest kid ever to make a movie and does so with such heart. If nothing else, his name is Max Records for sobbing out loud; a life of hipster-dom surely awaits.
I’ll admit that you won’t watch WTWTA once a month for the rest of your life – I mean, it’s no Bring It On or Breakfast Club. It’s more of a sudden-urge film – when the mood takes you, you’ll be glad you have it there waiting patiently on the shelf.
In conclusion: I think it’s ace and I’ll do my damnedest to get you to agree.
