Moonrise Kingdom Review : Love of the Young

“Oh, to be young and to feel love's keen sting” – Albus Dumbledore

Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson’s first film in three years – his first live-action film in five – and instead of returning to his usual quirky grown-ups, he goes smaller. But they aren’t any less different from any other Anderson character.

Sam Shakusky (played by child actor and debutant Jared Gilman) is an orphan living in a hostile foster home, presently at a Khaki Scout summer camp led by Scout Master Ward (played by Edward Norton). Suzy Bishop (fellow child actress and debutant Kara Hayward) is the eldest daughter of troubled parents Walt (played by Bill Murray) and Laura (played by Frances McDormand), the latter of whom is having an affair with the island police head, Captain Sharp (played by Bruce Willis). Moonrise Kingdom is about how these two misunderstood twelve year olds run away from home and find solace in each other.

Anderson has always been a writer of memorable characters which in turn provides a lot of friction when placed opposite each other. This film has no shortage of that, and while the characters in Moonrise Kingdom may not be as complex as in his other films – Moonrise Kingdom could be his most accessible film – they are as interesting as they come about. Love, unhappiness, emptiness runs the lives of the people in this film and everyone has something to hide. And yet, Anderson would make us believe that love is the all-powerful, all-conquering emotion. Nothing beats loves. Love binds us all. Moonrise Kingdom is a fairy tale, straight out of Suzy’s story books.

This may be Gilman and Hayward’s first film, but they fit perfectly into this ballad. Gilman, always sure of what he has to do, and Hayward, her eyes beautiful and speaking of freedom, bring to life these two peculiar twelve year olds. Edward Norton makes Scout Master Ward a very enjoyable character, someone with heart beneath those rough khakis. Bruce Willis is unlike anything you may have ever seen him as. It isn’t an easy role, and yet Willis portrays the helplessness and void of Captain Sharp well. Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman have nothing much to do but are good in their small roles. (It is also pleasing to see Swinton join the Anderson family.)

Anderson’s films always have his peculiar colour scheme and film tropes, which are all present here. Anderson buffs will sure have a field day. He also brings his stop-motion animation experience from Fantastic Mr. Fox into this film and it is evident in a few of the scenes. The beautiful cinematography will make you want to have every scene as a painting at your home. Alexandre Desplat is probably the best living composer right now; he fits right into the retro world created by Anderson and provides a lilting, gorgeous soundtrack.

Anderson’s films most often come closest to resembling a painting – the first scene of the film starts off with a painting – and perhaps this may be his most autobiographical of films. Wes Anderson may just be Sam himself. Sam’s favourite hobby is to paint trees, houses, streetlights and, sometimes, nudes. I doubt Anderson, in his free time, does anything different.

-Runcil Rebello

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