MOONRISE KINGDOM

US, 2012, 93 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances Mc Dormand, Tilda Swinton, Jared Gillman, Kara Hayward Jason Schwartzman, Bob Balaban, Harvey Keitel.
Directed by Wes Anderson.

Moviegoers will know that any film from Wes Anderson can be described as ‘quirky’ (at least). Moonrise Kingdom has plenty of quirks.

Basically it is a fable and, with a title like this, it is something of a fairytale. You sense that from the artificial opening during the credits, the camera panning from room to room, upstairs and downstairs, of what looks like a doll’s house. In fact, it is a house that belongs to two lawyers, the curmudgeonly Bill Murray and the flighty Frances Mc Dormand. In the meantime, there is a scout troop on exercises, with an earnest but unimaginative scoutmaster, Edward Norton. At home is the 12 year old daughter, Kaya Hayward, who wants to run away. In the troop, is a young lad, Jared Gilman, who doesn’t want to be scouting. They do run away together.

In the meantime, there is a colourfully dressed narrator, Bob Balaban, who emphasises the stylized nature of the storytelling. While Bruce Willis plays it for ordinary realism, Tilda Swinton is in the spirit of the playfulness and the satire as the Social Services official.

They have a series of adventures, survival moments. In pursuit is the local captain, Bruce Willis with the rest of the adults helping and hindering.

In theory, there is room for entertainment even if the whole thing is a mixture of the realistic, the artificial, the emotional and the twee.

One of the problems is that the two children are not as engaging as all that (especially compared with other screen children - the Harry Potter series comes to mind since Kara Hayward looks something like Emma Watson). Which means that, unless an audience is engaged (and many have been), we are observing what happens rather than wanting to support the children in their venture for freedom.

Moonrise Kingdom has been described as a comedy. Perhaps. Rather, this is a wry fable, with some laughs, but with a more challenging intention of helping us to look at a children’s world.

1. Wes Anderson and his career, quirky, individual comedies? Satire? Observation on the United States and Americans?

2. The film as a fable, as a 20th century fairytale, the tones of the title?

3. The quality of the writing, character, comedy, human foibles? The satiric tone? The strength of the performances, the quality cast? Fey, the idiosyncratic, quirky, realistic?

4. The setting of the mid 1960s? The opening credits? The rooms of the Doll’s house, the roving camera? The real house? The real family - and their likeness to dolls? The world of the adults, the world of the children? Imagination? The word of the scouts? The lighthouse? Social care? The musical score?

5. Suzy, her age, her friendship with Sam, her place within the family, attitudes toWards her parents? The plan to run away? The year and her letters to Sam? Running away?

6. Sam, his being an orphan, his adoptive parents and their willingness to give him up? With the scouts? Meeting Suzy, writing letters? His escaping from the scouts, his independence, his survival skills, meeting the adventures?

7. The narrator, his appearance, clothes, manner of speaking, telling the audience of the forthcoming storm? His appearance during the film? At the end?

8. The parents, their being lawyers, the work at home, the father and his crusty manner, the mother and her affair with Captain Sharp? The husband knowing or not? The demands on the children? The reaction to the running away?

9. Scout master Ward? His personality, teacher, his career with the scouts? Wearing the uniform, something like a young boy? The morning inspections? The response of the scouts? Preparing the meal? Breakfast? The discovery that Sam and discipline? Organizing the search? The boat? Commander Pierce? The mishaps with Pierce? The boat, the storm, with Captain Sharp?

10. Bruce Willis as Captain Sharp? Ordinary, his work and duties, supervising the island? His relationship with Suzy’s mother? Hiding it? Contact from Ward? His work in searching for the children? Helicopters? His calling social services? His reaction to the official? Her prim stuffiness and uniform? His willingness to adopt Sam?

11. Cousin Ben, in the scouts, the boat, meeting Suzy and Sam, his being a marriage celebrant? The organization of the marriage, the children’s consent, the scouts witnessing, the ceremony, hurrying to the boat?

12. Commander Pierce, scouts, the rules, his management, the difficulties, storm, his getting wet, humiliation?

13. The children, their friendship, talk, relationship, love, parallel to the adult world, the marriage? The becoming lost, sailing, the scouts helping them?

14. The portrait of the scouts, personalities, antagonism towards Sam, helping scoutmaster Ward, the fights, injuries, deciding to help Sam, helping with the boat, during the storm?

15. An entertaining will children find this film? How entertaining for adults?