Ever since 1994 when I saw the video he directed for Sabotage by the Beastie Boys, I've been a Spike Jonze fan. One of the best videos of all time.
In 1999 Jonze really broke through with the totally weird yet compelling film Being John Malkovich. That year Jonze also acted superbly with a supporting role a fantastic film called Three Kings, and it seemed his star was on the rise.
Fast forward to the present. Jonze just wrapped after over three years of filming and $100 million in spending. The studio wasn't too happy with the film, and that was fine with me considering only uninspired mainstream cash cow movies truly make studios happy.
Usually I attempt to temper my expectations of films, because it lessens the chance for disappointment. But I had trouble not being extra excited for Jonze's Wild Things.
The trailers were stunning. The film goes from one brilliant set to another. The costumes are incredible and the film's 'look' is amazing.
Its hard to imagine how Jonze and co-writer David Eggers were going to derive 100+ minutes of film from a 19 page children's book, which I include a video of here:
The result of Jonze and Eggers' painstaking artistry is an extremely personal film that is just, well, sort of boring.
With its PG rating, Wild Things is a children's film with themes too mature for a child to digest. The movie doesn't seem strictly for adults either. Really, the film seems like a movie for Jonze and Eggers, and maybe that's alright. I just wish it wasn't such a bummer.
What I hate most about this: The movie tries to be so deep, and sometimes it is, but overall it never elevates to its true potential.
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