Dave's Blog

{5/5} “‘Does it concern you that your daughter’s just run away from home?’ ‘That’s a loaded question.'”

It’s 1965. Sam and Suzy are 12-year-olds who both have trouble making friends, but they’ve formed a bond with each other. After writing back and forth a few times they decide to run away together. Sam is a member of the khaki scouts and therefore knows a fair amount about how to survive in the wilderness. But once they’re discovered missing a search effort is mounted — how long can they elude the searchers, given that they’re on a fairly small island?

Moonrise Kingdom was released in 2012.

It’s a brilliant movie with an amazing cast. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it at the top of your list.

I found it very funny, and I was cheering for a happy outcome for the two kids.

The movie features music by Benjamin Britten, as well as new whimsical music by Alexandre Desplat (The Ghost Writer). You’ll want to watch to the end of the credits — or least listen to it.

Jared Gilman plays Sam and Kara Hayward plays Suzy — these were their first movie roles.

Edward Norton (The Illusionist) plays Sam’s scout master and Bruce Willis (Looper) plays the police chief. Bill Murray (Quick Change) and Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading) play Suzy’s parents. Tilda Swinton (Possible Worlds) plays Social Services and Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited) plays somebody’s cousin. Bob Balaban (Gosford Park) plays a narrator of sorts.

The movie was directed by Wes Anderson. His movies are all similarly quirky — my favourites are The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.