Holes
Review by Clint Morris
 If
it’s not remakes, sequels or trumped up versions of old
TV series that Hollywood is getting their ideas from at the
moment, it’s, well, the library - Notably, the kid’s
section of the narrative pedestal.
Everything from Harry Potter to The Grinch
and The Princess Diaries has been given the paper to
film treatment over the last couple of years, and now with
lesser-known, but apparently no less loved books like Holes
also being snapped up – it’s obvious the trend is
here to stay.
Holes is based on a story by Louis Sachar, and centering
on palindromic Stanley Yelnats, a young chap who bears the
brunt of a family curse that first struck his great-grandfather.
Upon being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit –
stealing a famous runner’s shoes from a homeless shelter
– Stanley is given the option of being sent to one of
two juvenile detention centres : Florida, or Camp Green Lake.
Having never been to ‘Camp’ before – he hops
the bus to there.
Regrettably, Stanley discovers Camp Green Lake’s incongruously
labelled because there's nothing green for miles around and
the lake has been dry as a bone for more than a hundred years.
But not only that…the desert surrounding the small detention
centre is full of hundreds and hundreds of holes.
According to the team that run the zoo, digging holes “builds
character” – what better way for Stanley to pay
for his misdemeanour. What Stanley and his fellow detainees
don’t realise though is that they’re digging for
buried treasure.
Holes might work as well as it does because the film’s
author, Sachar, was also handed screenwriting duties. Like
his book, the film’s a mini-epic full of adventures,
conflict, and plenty of backstory. And it’s handled so
honestly, and at such good velocity, that it never gets tiresome.
As Stanley, newcomer Shia LaBeouf is a revelation. He plays
Stanley with the right level of susceptibility and utmost
amiability that he’s a key ingredient to the film’s
fitness.
Among his young cohorts, Khleo Thomas is equally as impressive
as Zero, the diminutive friend with a heart of gold, who never
gives up – even with never ending abuse from one of the
counsellors.
Gratefully, the adult actors have also been cast fittingly.
Sigourney Weaver – quite a departure for her – plays
the puzzling warden with much glee, Jon Voight – sporting
Elvis-like sideburns, jet black hair and a mouth of cough
up – is having fun as the unlovable Mr.Sir, and the always
dependable Tim Blake Nelson gives an amusing turn as the deadhead
counsellor.
But points also to director Andrew Davis. From the outset,
Davis would seem the most unlikely person to have pulled this
one off, having made a name for himself on actioners like
Under Siege, The Fugitive and more recently,
Collateral Damage, but with such prime padding by a
superb cast, and an impressively tight, affable script –
he’s done it.
The structure of the film – bouncing back and forward
between the story of today, with one of yesterday – is
rather diverse from the norm, so thankfully someone’s
been put in charge who’s made it compliment, not dissuade,
the central significance of the film’s tale.
Disney still knows how to make a good family film apparently.
Running at just under two hours, this one’s cram-packed
with a little bit of everything. But not for a minute, does
it overstay its welcome.
Bury yourself in an abundance of laughs, adventure, drama
and tears in one of the year’s most genuinely effective
feel-good movies.
3.5 out of 5
Holes
Australian release: Thursday October 30th
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Tim Blake Nelson, Shia
LaBeouf, Patricia Arquette, Henry Winkler, Eartha Kitt.
Director: Andrew Davis
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