Review: 'Moonrise Kingdom' is a delightful watch

Film: Moonrise Kingdom
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast:  Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and others
Rating: ***1/2

Wes Anderson's films are the misfits' refuge. On a beautiful idyllic island called ‘Summer’s end’ we meet our protagonists Sam Shakausky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) and Suzy's parents who are outsiders in the world she and Sam live in.

Suzy, an emotionally troubled child who wears heavy eyeliner and  mascara, is the picture of rebelliousness while Sam an orphan, is a gawky bespectacled kid who nobody seems to like. After a long  correspondence through letters, young love blossoms and a plan to run away together is hatched. What follows, ranges from sheer hilarity to heart-tugging moments that are profound.

Questioning the purpose of life, ideas of love and family, Suzy and Sam try to escape the search  party that includes her parents, captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), the only cop in Summer’s end and Sam’s dedicated scout master (Edward Norton).

All Anderson's elements such as subtle humour, heightened realism, the  themes of precocious, children antagonised by parents, are present. In many ways Moonrise Kingdom will remind one of the The Royal Tenenbaums. Like in Tenenbaums, the film’s beautiful set pieces come from a world that is very Andersonian and seems to exist in a vividly coloured universe apart from ours. 

The cinematography with the typical quick camera pans and closeups, is one of the best things of the film. The carefully handpicked soundtrack, always eclectic and delectable, features the music of country singer Hank Williams to the goosebumps-inducing works of British composer Benjamin Britten.

Stellar performances from all makes Moonrise Kingdom a delightful  watch. Gilman and Hayward are both excellent as they play their respective characters with their emotions nicely underplayed and  despite their dead-pan expressions they are an adorable pair. Willis’  character of a lonely old cop is a far cry from his usual macho ass-kicking ones. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand as the Bishops represent a tired middle class couple who are together out of necessity rather than love. Each character have their own stories and  their inner conflict is brought to the surface as they try to deal with the problem of the runaway couple.

Moonrise Kingdom sweeps you off your feet; its innocence draws you in and leaves you with a big smile. This one is destined to go down as one of Anderson’s best.