Moonrise Kingdom

Review by Sean Lynch

When it comes to Wes Anderson you are in one of three very distinct camps : "Adore It", "Hate It" and "What's a Wes Anderson?".

So, it comes as no surprise that his latest - Moonrise Kingdom - delivers more of that unmistakeable Wes Anderson charm. He has a visual language all of his own, a language some would foolishly mistake for repetition. However, unlike Michael Bay, sometimes more of the same isn't always a bad thing.

In the tradition of The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rushmore and (my personal favourite) The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom is an unusually monotone and adult story featuring characters who are far from grown up. In this case, he's taken this theme a little more literally than normal.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, the film 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.

There are some fantastic performances from the, as usual, phenomenal ensemble cast. Bill Murray, an Anderson staple, is seen sparingly this time around but shines throughout every moment. Another find is Edward Norton who seems right at home in the odd universe created by Anderson.

While many are suggesting this is Anderson's best flick ever, I feel perhaps it lacks a certain... as the French would say "something I'm not quite sure of". It has all the ingredients of a great Anderson film, but lacks the emotional impact of the likes of Darjeeling.

That said, any Wes Anderson film is simply a small piece in an overall giant puzzle that will continue to be revealed in greater as the years go on. One of the great modern directors, yet another utterly satisfyingly rich cinematic story.

4 out of 5

Moonrise Kingdom
Australian release: 30th August, 2012
Official Site: Moonrise Kingdom
Cast: Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Kara Hayward, Jason Schwartzman, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel
Director: Wes Anderson