I saw this blind, having only seen the trailer a couple of times almost a year ago. I was hard-pushed for a film to buy, so I got this.
The most gorgeous film I have witnessed in some months. While there are many, many things to admire and enjoy in this film, the most striking aspect is the sumptuous production design and virtually seamless effects work. Every shot is crafted delicately and acutely to perfection and, without having read any of the Lemony Snicket books, you get a tangible sense of the Gothic grandeur which they undoubtedly contain. The design lends the film a very Burton-esquire air, though I fear that is selling the film short, as director Brad Silberling is becoming more confident with each film, defining his own niche in cinema. With his previous films Casper, City of Angels, Moonlight Mile and now this, his work holds together as musings on the impact of death on the living and, having dealt with a loved one's death himself, he is carving an auteur's body of work, balancing adult material and family films expertly.
While there is indeed plenty for children to enjoy, not least Carrey's manic and hilarious performance(s) and the overall sense of awe, in many ways it is a children's film for adults, much in the same vein as Roald Dahl's books were bedtime stories adults would enjoy reading and indeed revisiting. This is aided by the uniformly wonderful and offbeat performances of all involved. Carrey, of course, is perfect as Olaf, hamming it up delightfully yet believing he is the world's finest actor. If I had one complaint, it would be that we simply don't see enough of his creations - I was enjoying his one-legged sea captain immensely, but he wasn't on screen long enough. The Baudelaire children are excellent, without a trace of mawkishness or Jake Lloyd-like discomfort. Emily Browning is surely set to become one of Hollywood's most beautiful young actresses and, unlike most of her peers, has talent to back up her looks. Liam Aiken also has a bright future ahead of him, holding his own against a stellar cast.
And what a cast, full of famous and familiar faces, from mega-stars - the always reliable Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman - through well-known character actors such as Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly and Luis Guzman, to the cultish faves of Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge and Jane Adams. The cast is every bit as finely picked as those of the Harry Potter films, though frankly I would rather sit through one of these each year.
While the story is by its nature episodic - the Lemony Snicket novels are very short and this film comprises three of them, each contributing about a half hour of screen time - events move at a fair pace and there is never any boredom thanks to the inventive, witty, often hilarious script. Add to this an interesting and very enjoyable score and some grand set pieces, as well as a mystery running through the film, and this is ideal family fare of the highest order. A sequel would be most welcome, though it seems doubtful at this stage whether we will receive one.
Extra mention must be made of the credits and DVD. The end credits surpass even the recent Catch Me If You Can for inventiveness and sheer enjoyment, rounding off the tone of the film and the fantastic world it sets out for itself. You will find yourself watching right til the end of the main credits, just for the gorgeous animation. And for the 2-disc DVD, Dreamworks obviously set out to put Warners' Potter discs to shame, cramming them with pretty much anything you could want to know about the film - including a pair of very good commentaries and hours worth of making of material, highlights being the Jim Carrey featurette and the pieces on making an artificial version of Sunny, the baby. A must for die-hard DVD aficionados and first-rate viewing for the family.
The most gorgeous film I have witnessed in some months. While there are many, many things to admire and enjoy in this film, the most striking aspect is the sumptuous production design and virtually seamless effects work. Every shot is crafted delicately and acutely to perfection and, without having read any of the Lemony Snicket books, you get a tangible sense of the Gothic grandeur which they undoubtedly contain. The design lends the film a very Burton-esquire air, though I fear that is selling the film short, as director Brad Silberling is becoming more confident with each film, defining his own niche in cinema. With his previous films Casper, City of Angels, Moonlight Mile and now this, his work holds together as musings on the impact of death on the living and, having dealt with a loved one's death himself, he is carving an auteur's body of work, balancing adult material and family films expertly.
While there is indeed plenty for children to enjoy, not least Carrey's manic and hilarious performance(s) and the overall sense of awe, in many ways it is a children's film for adults, much in the same vein as Roald Dahl's books were bedtime stories adults would enjoy reading and indeed revisiting. This is aided by the uniformly wonderful and offbeat performances of all involved. Carrey, of course, is perfect as Olaf, hamming it up delightfully yet believing he is the world's finest actor. If I had one complaint, it would be that we simply don't see enough of his creations - I was enjoying his one-legged sea captain immensely, but he wasn't on screen long enough. The Baudelaire children are excellent, without a trace of mawkishness or Jake Lloyd-like discomfort. Emily Browning is surely set to become one of Hollywood's most beautiful young actresses and, unlike most of her peers, has talent to back up her looks. Liam Aiken also has a bright future ahead of him, holding his own against a stellar cast.
And what a cast, full of famous and familiar faces, from mega-stars - the always reliable Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman - through well-known character actors such as Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly and Luis Guzman, to the cultish faves of Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge and Jane Adams. The cast is every bit as finely picked as those of the Harry Potter films, though frankly I would rather sit through one of these each year.
While the story is by its nature episodic - the Lemony Snicket novels are very short and this film comprises three of them, each contributing about a half hour of screen time - events move at a fair pace and there is never any boredom thanks to the inventive, witty, often hilarious script. Add to this an interesting and very enjoyable score and some grand set pieces, as well as a mystery running through the film, and this is ideal family fare of the highest order. A sequel would be most welcome, though it seems doubtful at this stage whether we will receive one.
Extra mention must be made of the credits and DVD. The end credits surpass even the recent Catch Me If You Can for inventiveness and sheer enjoyment, rounding off the tone of the film and the fantastic world it sets out for itself. You will find yourself watching right til the end of the main credits, just for the gorgeous animation. And for the 2-disc DVD, Dreamworks obviously set out to put Warners' Potter discs to shame, cramming them with pretty much anything you could want to know about the film - including a pair of very good commentaries and hours worth of making of material, highlights being the Jim Carrey featurette and the pieces on making an artificial version of Sunny, the baby. A must for die-hard DVD aficionados and first-rate viewing for the family.