Writer: David Eggers and Spike Jonze
Where The Wild Things Are is my favorite movie of 2009, but it's not for everyone and I will tell you why.
When I sat down with The Girl to watch this, I expected something beautiful, but what I got was so, so much more. This is a movie that I feel every twentysomething in my generation should see because, and I am sorry for how awful this sounds, statistically they have experienced the things and emotions that are so effortlessly captured on screen by Jonze, Max Records (Max) and the actors playing The Wild Things (led by a terrific James Gandolfini). The emotions played out on the screen are loneliness, doubt, fear, and love. The film in itself is an emotional roller coaster ride; one minute you are crying at the plight of a lonely kid that just had his sister stand by and do nothing when his igloo that he worked so hard to build is destroyed and the next minute you are giggling at the sheer joy being exhibited by The Wild Things as they play with Max.
It's a movie that is all about how hard it is to be a kid. It's scary, sad, confusing, and heartbreaking, but it's beautiful. It really is by far the best thing that Jonze has ever done and I think he will be hard pressed do to anything as emotional and pretty as this. The movie, from the very start, is something you can't take your eyes off of; effortlessly shot and realistic, even in the most fantastical parts.
Now, The Wild Things actors were described by a reporter on Fresh Air as "A crack repertory team" and it is a very apt description, but Max Records is the main reason the film works as well as it does. There is never a moment in the film where you think you are watching a child actor; he is just a kid and he plays it likewise. He takes every moment in the film very seriously, like a kid would. He breaks your heart when he needs to and makes you laugh at all the right times. He has the entire film in the palm of his hand and I wouldn't be surprised if he became a fantastic actor later in life.
All in all, it's one of the best films of 2009 and it demands to be seen by children and adults. Get out there and do your part to make sure this modern masterpiece does the business it needs to do.
Awesome Film Moment: Realizing the person you came with is crying just as hard as you are at the same parts.
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