WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE ~ "Rides The Rails of Family Friendly and Adult Satisfaction."

A curious piece of work is Where the Wild These Are. Adapted from the 1963 Maurice Sendak children's picture book of the same name, it was at one time banned from schools. Some were fearful that it was sending the wrong message. When in reality they failed to look beyond the surface and into the heart of the matter.

Max is a troubled child, but not a bad child. He is unsure how to cope with lonesomeness, being different, and those people he loves changing around him. So he acts out and lives inside his imagination as any truly creative child does. Creating worlds of wonder and playing the traditional "hands-on" way few children do anymore. The imagination stripping industrialized generation is sadly but certainly upon us. This movie does strike an unusal cord- Have we as a society sunk so carelessly into a realm far past books and playhouses, and into a life so digital that it is robbing the best of us? It touches on this theory very, very sneakily and all the better.

Keeping that same thought in mind- I applaud the lack of CGI work in this movie. I am well aware that it was used (how else could such lavish landscapes be captured?) but Where the Wild Things Are proves CGI can be used creatively and mildly to enhance the structural idea rather than the entirety. I find it disturbing when artistic achievements seem overwhelming and so what's the solution- computers! I can't see how the Academy Awards will misstep an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction for Where the Wild Things Are. As it curiously concentrates on the familiar woodsy texture of the children's picture book.

Another splendid child actor is Max Records. He reminds me of Haley Joel Osment with a little less bite and a little more naturality. This is exactly what the film needed. If the character of Max were too intense it wouldn't enhance the message that he had created the "wild thing" character of Carol (James Gandolfini, admittedly an odd choice) as his alter-ego. Perhaps the scene stealer in this movie is the voice of the remarkable actress Catherine O'Hara as Judith. Not too shy herself is Catherine Keener who is so heart-touching in this movie that you will wonder why you don't see her in larger roles of this caliber. She plays Max's worried mother. The small details in their relationship are very touching. Such as Max playing with the toe of her panty hose as if noting it as something he will remember of her 20 years down the road.

I hold movies of this nature in high regard because it takes someone with a very nostalgic look on life to make this effective. Therefore, Spike Jonze has most certainly directed one of the best films of the year. Thankfully he does not sugar coat the sometimes harsh nature of the film instead rides the rails of family friendly and adult satisfaction- which in turn makes this beautiful movie a tearjerker for the whole family. 

GRADE: A-