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"A High School
Production of Rocky
Horror" |
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Directed by Brad
Silberling - Written by
Daniel Handler, Robert
Gordon
Starring Jim Carrey,
Meryl Streep, Jude Law,
Emily Browning, Liam
Aiken
Distributed by Paramount -
2004 - 108mins - Rated
PG |
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On December 17th, Christmas cheer takes a holiday. |
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What
makes a story like "A Series of Unfortunate Events" shine for me is
how it throws caution to the wind and goes all out-never faltering to
be "politically correct" or toning itself down to avoid upsetting
those who expect little more than a stupid kid's film.
I have not read the book series this film is based on, but based on
the film, perhaps I should. This is the first in what is wet up to be
a series of films; the first three books are covered here, but there
are 13 total. The story is narrated by Lemony Snicket (Jude Law), a
man seen only in shadows typing on an ancient typewriter. Law's
terrific voice provides a terrific and darkly humorous introduction to
the film, and soon we are following the story of the Baudelaire
orphans. Violet (Emily Browning), Klaus (Liam Aiken) and their todler
sister Sunny are playing on the beach when they are bluntly informed
that their parents were killed and there house is burnt to the ground.
They are taken to their new guardian, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), a
wicked and vicious thespian who plots to murder the orphans to inherit
the family fortune. The children elude him, and so begins the twisted
tale of "A Series of Unfortunate Events." To tell you more of the plot
would be very unkind of me.
For a film like this, the acting is excellent all around. Browning and
Aiken are a joy to watch. Their inexperience shows during some scenes,
but for child actors, they more than get the job done. The supporting
cast is excellent too. Timothy Spall is humorous as Mr. Poe, who
escorts them from guardian to guardian, Billy Connolly is quite
likable as their Uncle Monty, and Meryl Streep (yes, THE Meryl Streep)
is a blast as their frightened and paranoid Aunt Josephine. As the
previews indicate, though, the role to look at is Jim Carrey as Count
Olaf. Carrey is this film's biggest weaknesses, but also one of it's
greatest strengths. Olaf is a devious, downright EVIL man who is
trying to murder three innocent children and anyone who gets in his
way. For the most part, Carrey captures this. Naturally, he infuses it
with his own quirky characterizations, and he Olaf becomes not only
evil, but hilarious and deranged. This is a double-edged sword. There
are a few scenes where a strictly serious Olaf would have made the
scene better, but Carrey remains over-the-top. It works throughout
most of the film, but it did become a bit much at times.
Although the actors were delightful, I can't say they stand the chance
of winning Oscars. The set design (by the same art director who won an
Oscar for "Sleepy Hollow"), is first-rate. Count Olaf's mansion, Uncle
Monty's "Reptile Room," Aunt Josephine's deathtrap of a house and just
about every setting in the movie is a wonder to look upon. Director
Brad Silberling even manages to capture the dark and surreal beauty of
the sets without stealing the show from his actors. This is a
technically marvelous film.
The writer of the book series, David Handler (or Lemony Snicket if you
want to go by his narrative pen name) must a twisted individual with a
darkly giddy imagination. The movie gives off such a feeling. Those
looking for an unconventional family film this holiday season, look no
further. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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