Wes Anderson is one of my favorite filmmakers working today. I love THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS and RUSHMORE the most, but THE DARJEELING LIMITED, BOTTLE ROCKET, and THE LIFE AQUATIC still rank up there for me. I, however, didn’t love THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX as much as I thought I would. It struck me watching my five year old son furrow his brow and yawn watching it that the Wes Anderson film style is truly intended for adults or at least older kids.
But having Anderson return to live action filmmaking with MOONRISE KINGDOM makes me excited to see familiar actors inhabit the retro-hipster world that the director creates with each movie.
This new behind the scenes featurette on MOONRISE KINGDOM shows that little has changed in Anderson’s style. It does show me, much like the trailer did, that maybe it is possible for his style to apply to a “kid’s movie.”
Plot: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, MOONRISE KINGDOM tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.
MOONRISE KINGDOM opens in limited release on May 25th.
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