Movie Review: Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

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Moonrise Kingdom, directed by Wes Anderson, is a strange little movie that I highly recommend, a “comedy, drama, romance”, that is low budget but featuring first rate acting talent. E.g.: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, and Harvey Keitel, but our new young actors, Kara Hayward as Suzy and Jared Gilman as Sam, steal the show. If you have ever been connected in any way with the Boy Scout movement, this movie is a must-see. If you ever remember young love, track the DVD down when it comes out.
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It is 1965. The plot revolves around two early-teens, Suzy (12-year-old daughter of Murray’s and McDormand’s characters) and Sam (a 12-year-old orphan and outsider but a Khaki Scout extraordinaire). They are both outcast loners yet they find each other and fall in love. Their individual lives at home have become so unbearable that they agree to run away together, relying on Sam's Scouting skills to survive in the wild.
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The corny low-budget homage to a bygone era reminds me in a way of A Christmas Story (1983) starring Darren McGavin. I will definitely get the DVD when available. I’m an irretrievable cult fan of this flick.
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Music has a powerful part in this film. Much of it is from the 1946 masterpiece by Benjamin Britten, “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”, as well as many more pieces by Britten. Another strong musical element is Hank Williams’ music: “Kaw-Liga”, “Long Gone Lonesome Blues”, and “Ramblin’ Man”. Williams’ songs are enough to make your heart break. We also hear from Camille Saint-Saens, Franz Schubert, Francoise Hardy, Mozart, and others. Be sure to stay with it into the end credits, where some more music education awaits you.
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As to Release Dates: apparently it was only Limited Release in the USA in May 2012. So look for DVD releases later this year. It is still in (limited) theaters here.
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Update: I just saw this film again in the only theater playing it in Thailand. It still plays – possibly because it strongly appeals to that very quirky sub-species, the American expatriate. I enjoyed the music more than ever this time, so see it in a theater if you can.
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-Zenwind.
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