Moonrise Kingdom Directed by: Wes Anderson Starring: Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward Rating: PG-13 Release Date: May 25, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 10/10
Thoughts by TSR: There’s no mistaking that Moonrise Kingdom is a film made by Wes Anderson. For some people this will be a negative. They will say it’s too quirky, too Wes Anderson-y for its own good. Those people are entitled to their opinion. I, on the other hand, think there is no such thing as being too Wes Anderson-y. I’ve adored each one of his films, and even though the animated Fantastic Mr. Fox was one of my favorites of 2009, it feels great to have a new live-action Wes Anderson film to look forward to this year.
I’ve watched this trailer multiple times, and every time I find myself smiling from ear to ear. It’s funny and sweet, but even Anderson’s visual style makes me smile. Everything about this is delightful. I can’t get enough of the perfectly framed shots, the sepia-toned cinematography, and the costumes – those bird outfits at the beginning are to die for.
If I wasn’t already sold on it, the cast would probably put me over the top. Child actors can be a dicey proposition, but Wes Anderson knows how to pick them. All of the kids – especially Jared Gilman as Sam and Kara Hayward as Suzy – look great. Anderson’s casting prowess doesn’t stop with children; the adult cast he’s assembled is outstanding. It’s great to see Anderson regulars like Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman back for more, while newcomers such as Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton all get a fun moment or two. Norton and Willis stand out the most. I’m not sure which moment I enjoyed more: Norton earnestly saying, “Jiminy Cricket, he flew the coop,” or Willis deputizing “the boy with the patch on his eye.”
When it comes to my favorite part of this trailer, however, those two moments are competing for second place. Any trailer that ends with Bill Murray looking for a tree to chop down while shirtless, holding an open bottle of wine and an ax, is a trailer I will support with all my heart.