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The
Spiderwick Chronicles
(2008)
The popular series of illustrated fantasy books by Holly Black and
Tony DiTerlizzi are brought to the screen in an entertaining fashion.
After the Grace family—rebellious Jared (Freddie Highmore), his more
intellectually inclined twin Simon (also Highmore), their older sister
Mallory (Sarah Bolger), and their mother (Mary-Louise Parker)—move
into an old country home that used to belong to a relative, strange
things begin to happen for which Jared, prone to emotional outbursts
after his parents' recent separation, is quickly blamed. In the
attic, he finds a book written by his great-granduncle Arthur
Spiderwick (David Strathairn), along with a handwritten note warning
against reading it. Jared disregards the warning and discovers the
book is a field guide to magical creatures, good and bad. As a new
world unfolds before his eyes, he learns that the ogre Mulgarath (Nick
Nolte) will stop at nothing to obtain the book and its secrets, and
soon Jared's entire family is in mortal danger and it's up to him to
save them all.
Although it begins a bit slowly and initially has the feel of a
telefilm, once the fantasy elements kick in you'll find yourself won
over by its charms, as I was. Director Mark Waters (Freaky Friday,
Mean Girls) employs a light touch that serves the story well,
transforming the books into an exciting adventure that will appeal to
fantasy fans of all ages, but especially to younger ones. I haven't
read any of the books, but reportedly elements from all five of them
were used as the basis for the screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick (James
and the Giant Peach), David Berenbaum (Elf), and John Sayles (The
Secret of Roan Inish), and successfully so. It never once feels like
bits and pieces of several stories have been cobbled together.
Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Black Stallion, The Passion
of the Christ), production designer James Bissell (Jumanji, 300),
and costume designers Odette Gadoury (Lucky Number Slevin) and
Joanna Johnston (Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan) do a wonderful
job of realizing the look of DiTerlizzi's illustrations on the cinema
screen, aided by excellent visual effects courtesy of Industrial Light
& Magic and the Tippett Studio. The pleasant score by James Horner
(Titanic, Apocalypto) completes the spell.
The young cast seems a little uncertain early on, but quickly find
their footing. Highmore is a suitable lead and quite convincing as
both brothers, Irish actress Bolger is spirited as Mallory, and Parker
is a solid presence as their mother. Strathairn and Joan Plowright
are perfectly cast as Spiderwick and his now elderly daughter. Andrew
McCarthy has a cameo as Jared's father. Nolte only has a little face
time before giving way to voicing a CGI character, but he's an
appropriately menacing Mulgarath. The rest of the voice cast shines
as well, including Martin Short as Thimbletack and Seth Rogen as
Hogsqueal.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is one of the early surprises of the 2008
release schedule—a wonderful little family-friendly fantasy film. It
may lack the scope of other recent films in the genre, but it reliably
captures the magic of a boy finding a world of wonder in his own
backyard.
-Danielle
Ní Dhighe
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All contents ©
2004-2007 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
Mark
Waters
Writer: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles, Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Starring: Freddie
Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger, Andrew
McCarthy, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, Martin
Short
Distributor: Paramount
Pictures
Runtime: 97
min
Rating: PG
Release Date: February
14, 2008
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