‹ Sunday Music Spotlight – Miss Tess •
My anticipation for Where the Wild Things Are wasn’t based on my love for the classic book. While I’m sure my mom read it to me as a child, I don’t have any specific memories of it. It wasn’t based on the prospect of a well-crafted fantasy world. That, by itself, isn’t enough to get me excited about a movie. It wasn’t based on the special effects. Those are rarely a reason for me to want to see a film. It wasn’t any of these things that piqued my curiosity about this movie; it was what director Spike Jonze could do with all of them. Jonze has guaranteed my interest in his project with his unique and creative vision in Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and scores of classic music videos. But would his quirky sensibilities work with a children’s story? Would he be able to capture the wonder within Sendak’s book? Or would he end up making it something that inspires awe in adults, but children can’t appreciate? Or, even worse, would the film simply be uninteresting to all parties?
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a movie with a little kid, so I don’t think I’m qualified to say whether they would get anything out of Where the Wild Things Are. But I am an adult who feels like a kid, and I think this movie was brilliant for anyone that falls into that category. Its opening scenes, grounded in reality, eloquently convey a sense of loneliness, awkwardness, and fear that I could relate to from childhood. Once the film moves to Max’s fantasy world the emotions change, but the effectiveness of their delivery and their resonance does not.
What makes Where the Wild Things Are so effective? A few things. The writing for one. It’s poignant without being melodramatic. The performances are solid across the board, particularly Max Records, the boy who plays Max. He is remarkably good, able to portray a shaky confidence in his role as King of the Wild Things. The visuals are nothing short of spectacular, though not through special effects. It’s good old-fashioned cinematography that makes this film a treat to watch.
In all, Jonze proves once again that when he’s attached to a project it will be handled with creativity and care. He managed to make me, someone who regularly feels like a kid, notice how much I felt like a kid, which is no small feat.
Rating: 
