David O'ConnellFantastic Mr. Fox
January 6th 2010 04:16
In his sixth film, director Wes Anderson answers the question of whether his offbeat sensibilities can be conveyed as effectively when adapting source material rather than an original screenplay. With Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on a beloved Roald Dahl children’s book, he and co-writer for a second time, Noah Baumbach, provide a resounding yes. Filled with manic energy, silly ripostes and droll observations, this flashy stop-motion animation has enough good stuff in it to keep audiences of all ages entertained for its brisk running time.
Mr. Fox (George Clooney), a newspaper columnist dissatisfied with his lot in life, decides to move his wife (Meryl Streep) and son Ash (Jason Schwartman) to more spacious surrounds of a large tree. It just so happens that the tree is positioned within striking distance of the valley’s trio of notorious farmers, Bean, Bunce and Boggis. This leads to all sorts of temptations for the wily but impulsive Mr. Fox who has an unfortunate habit of putting action before thought.
With wimpy friend Kylie (Wallace Wolodarsky) in tow, he decides upon a brazen nightly theft from all three farmers. But his freeform, indolent approach to life means discovery is inevitable and the ensuing mayhem leads to dire consequences with all the animals in the valley left homeless, Mr. Fox’s tail shot off and his nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) held hostage by the enraged Bean (Michael Gambon).
Fantastic Mr. Fox is sublimely good; never has something so frivolous been so brilliant. Though it feels haphazard at times, you realise that’s where a large part of its charm stems from. It's bursting at the seams with unbridled energy as it turns into a mischievous, jaunty misadventure - often through the bowels of the earth as the animals endeavor to escape the increasingly drastic measures of the farmers to blow them out into the open.
Though there are a couple of halting, teary moments of solemnity as Fox baldly confronts his wife with transgressions directly related to a blind pursuit of his true animal nature, Anderson is a director least likely to use emotional resonance as a crutch. In his fast-paced multi-coloured universe, quirkiness and chaos rule the day, and though he may be drawing on source material for the first time, there’s little discernible difference in the way he brings a screenplay to life, adding layers of unique detailing along the way.
The voice acting is spot on, with Clooney’s larger-than-life presence surprisingly having little impact on our perception of Mr. Fox. There seemed a risk of his overt familiarity taking us out of the story, but in fact, Clooney’s smooth dulcet tones only lend the somehow lovable pomposity of Mr. Fox greater credence. Schwartzman as the mopey, neglected Ash and another constant in Anderson’s world, Owen Wilson, as the boys coach, resurrect the familial tenor of Anderson’s past glories.
Another endearing Anderson trait is his predilection for off-kilter music. Here, you'll be treated to a seemless mesh of snippets from Alexander Desplat’s original score with juicy tidbits that channel an old western vibe for the deliriously loopy showdowns between farmer and prey.
There’s a bit of mad, inspired genius in everything Anderson does and Fantastic Mr. Fox confirms his once-again resurgent trajectory after The Darjeeling Limited (2007) which had followed his least satisfying film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). One of those rare directors able to compel you into a cinema based on his name alone, Anderson proves to be as sly as a fox himself, able to both accentuate the spirit of Roald Dahl whilst exerting the eccentric force of his own personality upon every frame.
Trailer can be found here.
Mr. Fox (George Clooney), a newspaper columnist dissatisfied with his lot in life, decides to move his wife (Meryl Streep) and son Ash (Jason Schwartman) to more spacious surrounds of a large tree. It just so happens that the tree is positioned within striking distance of the valley’s trio of notorious farmers, Bean, Bunce and Boggis. This leads to all sorts of temptations for the wily but impulsive Mr. Fox who has an unfortunate habit of putting action before thought.
With wimpy friend Kylie (Wallace Wolodarsky) in tow, he decides upon a brazen nightly theft from all three farmers. But his freeform, indolent approach to life means discovery is inevitable and the ensuing mayhem leads to dire consequences with all the animals in the valley left homeless, Mr. Fox’s tail shot off and his nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) held hostage by the enraged Bean (Michael Gambon).
Mr. Fox as voiced by George Clooney
Fantastic Mr. Fox is sublimely good; never has something so frivolous been so brilliant. Though it feels haphazard at times, you realise that’s where a large part of its charm stems from. It's bursting at the seams with unbridled energy as it turns into a mischievous, jaunty misadventure - often through the bowels of the earth as the animals endeavor to escape the increasingly drastic measures of the farmers to blow them out into the open.
Though there are a couple of halting, teary moments of solemnity as Fox baldly confronts his wife with transgressions directly related to a blind pursuit of his true animal nature, Anderson is a director least likely to use emotional resonance as a crutch. In his fast-paced multi-coloured universe, quirkiness and chaos rule the day, and though he may be drawing on source material for the first time, there’s little discernible difference in the way he brings a screenplay to life, adding layers of unique detailing along the way.
The voice acting is spot on, with Clooney’s larger-than-life presence surprisingly having little impact on our perception of Mr. Fox. There seemed a risk of his overt familiarity taking us out of the story, but in fact, Clooney’s smooth dulcet tones only lend the somehow lovable pomposity of Mr. Fox greater credence. Schwartzman as the mopey, neglected Ash and another constant in Anderson’s world, Owen Wilson, as the boys coach, resurrect the familial tenor of Anderson’s past glories.
Mr. Fox with family and friends
Another endearing Anderson trait is his predilection for off-kilter music. Here, you'll be treated to a seemless mesh of snippets from Alexander Desplat’s original score with juicy tidbits that channel an old western vibe for the deliriously loopy showdowns between farmer and prey.
There’s a bit of mad, inspired genius in everything Anderson does and Fantastic Mr. Fox confirms his once-again resurgent trajectory after The Darjeeling Limited (2007) which had followed his least satisfying film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). One of those rare directors able to compel you into a cinema based on his name alone, Anderson proves to be as sly as a fox himself, able to both accentuate the spirit of Roald Dahl whilst exerting the eccentric force of his own personality upon every frame.
Trailer can be found here.
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Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Definitely with you there - I'm a big fan of Baumbach as well; I thought The Squid and the Whale was excellent but really loved Margot at the Wedding. Great film. He's got a new one coming out very soon too!
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I will wait for DVD and don't let my staff know
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
And that message alert sounds like a great idea!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I still haven't seen Mr Fox yet, but being a big Wes fan and reading your review only supports the idea i am going to dig it.