On an island off the
coast of New England , a misfit orphan abandons
his boy scout troop and runs away with
the sullen village girl he had met and fallen in love with the year prior. As a
rescue party gathers, which includes the remainder of his squad led by their
irrepressible leader (Edward Norton), the girl's emotionally distant parents
(Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), and the island police captain (Bruce Willis),
the well-being of the subject's usually glazed over states of tumult are
finally called to the forefront. "Moonrise Kingdom "
is a warm and tender letter only to childhood adulation, but also to unrequited
love and innocence. It is beautifully shot and wonderfully directed on its Rhode Island locations
by Wes Anderson who keeps his fanciful sensibilities in balance, and crafts his
grandest and most mature work to date. Its star studded cast, which also
includes Tilda Swinton, Bob Balaban, and a very funny Jason Schwartzman are all
excellent (Willis deserves award consideration), but its younger, unknown cast
also sparkles, especially Jared Gillman and Kara Hayward who play the young
lovers. I have often felt held at arm's length by Anderson 's overly whimsical work. Watching
this film though I realized he is keeping film as art alive, a kind of
cinematic tradition that is almost virtually extinct.