A Wrinkle in Time
Over the Bank Holiday weekend we went to see Disney's latest film offering, A Wrinkle in Time. It's based on a popular children's story of the same name, but I've never read that so these thoughts will be on the film in isolation, not on the way it's been adapted for the screen. I also knew nothing about the story before the film began.
Dr Alexander Murray has been missing for four years, disappearing shortly after claiming he could travel through time and the universe. His children, Meg and Charles Wallace, set off with a group of three travellers working in the fight of the light against the dark to try and find him.
There are some really wonderful messages in this film. The triumph of light over darkness, believing in yourself, empowering young people, the importance of every single individual and their place in the world, family... the list goes on.
It's got a pretty impressive cast, with the three Mrs' played by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, all of whom were in incredible costumes and makeup throughout. Each of the three characters was well defined, but they were one element of the story that didn't quite work, for me. Maybe there needed to be a bit more explanation of who they actually were, or something, but it didn't quite hang together.
I really enjoyed Gugu Mbatha-Raw's performance as Dr Kate Murray. She was easy to warm to and a good balance of caring mother and successful scientist. Alongside her, though, Chris Pine's Dr Alexander Murray just didn't quite work. I liked his character in the first half of the film, but in the final half hour or so I didn't understand a lot of his motivations. He no longer seemed particularly passionate about his work, or about his family, or really about the kids after his first reunion with Meg. I thought those final scenes were a little flat, and only emotional because the concept was emotional, rather than the way he played the part.
The two absolute standouts in this film are Storm Reid (Meg Murray) and Deric McCabe (Charles Wallace Murray). Reid began as a stubborn, hurt young girl and blossomed into someone who knew her own worth - I particularly enjoyed her scene with Oprah on the bridge, being told how many amazing things had to happen in the world to create her exactly the way she is. McCabe was a really interesting character from the very beginning, but handled the part where he was taken over by the darkness especially well.
I don't quite know what it was that was missing from this film. Maybe it was just too ambitious? From reading a brief synopsis of the book it seems like that might have had some more details and explanations that could have held things together a bit more. There were emotional moments throughout, but I think my emotional reaction came from the concepts (like reuniting a family) rather than the fact the film itself pulled that emotion out of me. In terms of the overall film it just fell a little flat.
However, the overall messages and the idea of love being at the centre of all were beautiful, and it's made me want to pick up the book and really understand why it's a story loved by so many.
Sophie x
Dr Alexander Murray has been missing for four years, disappearing shortly after claiming he could travel through time and the universe. His children, Meg and Charles Wallace, set off with a group of three travellers working in the fight of the light against the dark to try and find him.
There are some really wonderful messages in this film. The triumph of light over darkness, believing in yourself, empowering young people, the importance of every single individual and their place in the world, family... the list goes on.
It's got a pretty impressive cast, with the three Mrs' played by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, all of whom were in incredible costumes and makeup throughout. Each of the three characters was well defined, but they were one element of the story that didn't quite work, for me. Maybe there needed to be a bit more explanation of who they actually were, or something, but it didn't quite hang together.
I really enjoyed Gugu Mbatha-Raw's performance as Dr Kate Murray. She was easy to warm to and a good balance of caring mother and successful scientist. Alongside her, though, Chris Pine's Dr Alexander Murray just didn't quite work. I liked his character in the first half of the film, but in the final half hour or so I didn't understand a lot of his motivations. He no longer seemed particularly passionate about his work, or about his family, or really about the kids after his first reunion with Meg. I thought those final scenes were a little flat, and only emotional because the concept was emotional, rather than the way he played the part.
The two absolute standouts in this film are Storm Reid (Meg Murray) and Deric McCabe (Charles Wallace Murray). Reid began as a stubborn, hurt young girl and blossomed into someone who knew her own worth - I particularly enjoyed her scene with Oprah on the bridge, being told how many amazing things had to happen in the world to create her exactly the way she is. McCabe was a really interesting character from the very beginning, but handled the part where he was taken over by the darkness especially well.
I don't quite know what it was that was missing from this film. Maybe it was just too ambitious? From reading a brief synopsis of the book it seems like that might have had some more details and explanations that could have held things together a bit more. There were emotional moments throughout, but I think my emotional reaction came from the concepts (like reuniting a family) rather than the fact the film itself pulled that emotion out of me. In terms of the overall film it just fell a little flat.
However, the overall messages and the idea of love being at the centre of all were beautiful, and it's made me want to pick up the book and really understand why it's a story loved by so many.
Sophie x
Comments
Post a Comment