Amazon Studios 117 minutes PG Reviewed October 20, 2017
Wonderstruck is the adaptation from a book by Brian Selznick about two hearing impaired children from different eras whose lives seem inextricably intertwined. The look of the film reminded us of the much loved Hugo. Selznick wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret which was made into the movie, Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. The screenplays for both films were written by Selznick. Like Hugo, it is rich in detail, especially when in the scenes shot in color. Cinematographer, Edward Lachman, (Carol) does wonders with both.
The set is basically NYC’s Museum of Natural History, then and now. Cabinets of Wonder were the first museums and this film takes off on our fascination with such places.
Director Todd Haynes (Carol) took on the task of following the children’s lives described in the book. But he followed the deaf girl, Rose from the 1920s in black and white, and the other, Ben in 1977, in color. Both are looking up at the stars to find their place in the world. And we follow their adventures trying to see if and how they connect to each other.
Rose, is deaf, and played by Millicent Simmonds in her film acting debut. In reality, she is deaf and sent the director an audition tape which Haynes and Julianne Moore both liked. This is the fourth collaboration for Haynes and Moore.
Simmonds has an exotic look and subtly shows very well how frightening it must have been for a young girl to navigate the busy streets of New York at that time. It looks like a silent movie. Interesting since Rose runs away from her mean father in Hoboken, New Jersey to find her beautiful, busy, silent screen star Mom (Julianne Moore) in New York.
Ben, (Oakes Fegley, Pete’s Dragon) is a young boy living with his Aunt (Michelle Williams). His mother died without answering questions about his absent father which Ben desperately wants to know. As Ben looks through his mother’s things for clues about his Dad, he’s hit by lightning causing him tolose his hearing. He, too, decides to go on an adventure to find out whatever he can about his parent, only for Ben, it’s 50 years later in a colorfully seedy New York City. He gets robbed but manages to make a friend in a young boy, Jamie (Jaden Michael, Paterson) who leads him to the Museum of Natural History.
The dioramas there form the background of their search for discovery and the centerpiece for this film. Director Haynes thinks they provide just enough visually to let viewers use their imagination to create their own history.
Ben and Jamie have an adventure of their own in the museum where Jamie’s father works. Ben then follows a clue to a book store where his father was somewhat involved. That’s where he meets an older deaf woman, played by Julianne Moore, who offers to help. Moore does not say a word throughout the film but employs sign language.
Music by Carter Burwell behind the silent scenes as well as pop songs playing over the noise of New York City give even more contrast to the children’s lives. David Bowie’s Major Thom which was Ben’s Mom’s favorite record, Summer Heat, and more set the mood of the different time frames for their adventures.
The film is beautifully shot both in black and white and vibrant with a sepia quality of color. And there are clues along the way to make it intriguing enough to lead to a revelation showing how Ben and Rose are connected. The reveal is slow, but Wonderstruck says a lot in a beautifully quiet way.
