It's like this: if you're a Wes Anderson fan, you should go see Fantastic Mr. Fox. If you're on the fence about Wes Anderson, you should go see Fantastic Mr. Fox. And if you're not sure who the hell Wes Anderson is, you should go see Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Now, if you can't stand Wes Anderson, you should definitely not go see Fantastic Mr. Fox. But I weep for your soul.
I was curious to see how his style would come across in a stop-motion version of a children's story, and it works perfectly. I don't think I've ever in my life described anything as a delight, but it's the right word for this movie; when I wasn't laughing outright I was grinning like a dope for the sheer joy and playfulness of it. It's as good as Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, and is quite possibly the best stop-motion film Anderson has made.
I think you get the point now, but one more thing: There are only a few films of the past few years that I felt I needed to pay to see twice in a theater. First, The Best of Youth, which feels more like a life experience than a movie and was so good I was literally accosting strangers in cafes and on the street to encourage them to see it. Second, Hukkle, which I loved the first time around when I didn't think it had a plot and appreciated on an entirely different level the second time around when I understood (thanks to a friend's patient explanation) that it was one of the most tightly-plotted films I'd ever seen. And third...well, you know what's going to be third, right?
1. The White Ribbon
2. Sleep Dealer
Posted by: Bjorn | Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 05:36 PM
I saw the Best of Youth five times--yes, five times!--in the theatre; and that was not enough to satisfy me. I loved that movie. After every ending, the desire to see it again propelled me to the theatre the next day or two. That movie was so good, that the theatre showing it in my city (San Francisco) had to beg the distributor to keep the reels so that they could extend the showings, for it put arses in the seats. (I think, when it was showing in the United States, that there were only three full set of reels available; so when a theatre had it, it had only a short schedule to screen the movie.) I loved the music choices made: two songs sung by Dinah Washington; two pieces by Astor Piazolla; "Who Wants to Live Forever"; "A Chi", and many more. Too bad that there is no soundtrack; although, I managed to put one together for myself (but it remains incomplete).
SPOILER ALERT!!!
The scene when [one character] breaks down in the courtyard, in reaction to [another character]'s death, there were only a few dry eyes in the audiences in which I saw the movie--you could hear the sniffles in the crowd.
Posted by: redcatbicycliste | Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 08:11 PM
redcatbicycliste: I made two (bracketed) changes to your spoiler to make it a tad less spoilish—hope that's ok. And I saw it at the Balboa as well (three times in my case). Anyone who can make it to the end of that film without crying doesn't have a beating human heart.
Bjorn: Thanks for the recommendations. I'm not generally a Michael Haneke fan, but I'll definitely check out Sleep Dealer.
Posted by: John Caruso | Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 09:29 PM
Just don't judge Sleep Dealer by its trailer - awful, awful trailer.
Posted by: Bjorn | Monday, December 21, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Now you tell me.
Posted by: empty | Monday, December 21, 2009 at 06:57 PM
John Caruso: The change you made to the spoiler I wrote is quite okay. It is your blog, after all. A blog that I like, and learn from, a lot. It is good to know that you are a Best of Youth / La Meglio Gioventu fan, too.
Posted by: redcatbicycliste | Monday, December 21, 2009 at 06:57 PM
There are only a few films of the past few years that I felt I needed to pay to see twice in a theater.
Another movie (in addition to The Best of Youth) that I felt I needed to pay to see more than once was The Lives of Others / Das Leben der Anderen. Have you seen it, too?
Posted by: redcatbicycliste | Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 02:18 AM
Yes, but only once in the theater (though I own the DVD, which is another small category). It was easily the best film I saw in 2006—in fact I was going to post about it at the time but never got to it.
Posted by: John Caruso | Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 08:55 AM
John Caruso,
I love the enthusiasm. I love needing to see it twice. I do.
But, if I might suggest, there is no need to PAY for it twice in the theater. Us dullards here in Anywhere, USA, have been known to (on the very rare occasion when fine cinema or profound torpor occurs) simply stay seated and wait for the next showing.
My favorites for Gratis Repeatis is Fleur Cinemas (Des Moines) & Lowe's Hitler's Bunker II (NYC; @ 32nd & 3rd).
See you there!
Posted by: john | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 01:35 AM
Have you seen La Voie lactée, or any other Buñuel stuff?
Posted by: Amandasaurus Rex | Saturday, August 06, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Not that one, but I've seen Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Un Chien Andalou and L'Age d'Or.
Posted by: John Caruso | Saturday, August 06, 2011 at 11:49 PM
Like/dislike?
Posted by: Amandasaurus Rex | Sunday, August 07, 2011 at 09:39 PM
I liked them (Discreet Charm in particular, but they're all worth the experience).
Posted by: John Caruso | Monday, August 08, 2011 at 02:43 PM