Movie Review - MARY AND MAX
After winning an Oscar for his popular animated short Harvie Krumpet, Australian film-maker Adam Elliot's star was in its ascendancy. Now five years later he presents his latest work showing growing creative maturity. If the classic TV series Thunderbirds made marionette's trendy then his use of plasticine should see it fly off the shelves with eager new fans interested in this very old art form.
Lonely eight year old Melbourne girl Mary strikes upon an idea in finding companionship. Randomly selecting a name from an American phone book, she begins a pen-pal friendship with 44 year old Jewish man Max. Living in New York and suffering from Asperge
r's Syndrome, Max's sheltered life slowly allows Mary to enter. Over the course of 20 years the pair communicates across the seas bringing them the companionship they desire.
There seems to be some snobbery towards animation unfairly restraining it from being a fully accepted cinematic medium. Although slowly being seen as more than 'children's flicks' its reputation hasn't really moved far. Mary and Max goes some way in correcting this with Elliot's bravery in tackling adult concepts with another story-telling device apparent. His brilliance is in making you believe in his characters with their imperfections and odd foibles running the gamut of emotions. Voiced by Philip Seymour-Hoffman and Toni Collette with narration by Barry Humphries, the tightly written screenplay is well served by the unique visuals.
Even though at times painfully sad, the tale is enlightened with a very unique local sense of irony. How their letters slowly transform their lives and move them out of their introverted state is well realised as is the importance of honest friendship. It's this raw exploration of life which makes Mary and Max compelling viewing with a sweet melancholy effectively rounding out a complete story. The entire enterprise was obviously a labour of lo
ve for Elliot proving something imbedded with so much energy and effort is one to be admired.
Mary and Max is simply told featuring a cast of performers seemingly more real than ones in any pompous blockbuster. Lovingly developed and superbly shot, this little gem shows the amazing talents this country has and further shifts the animated feature out of the shadows of early morning children's television.
For Mary and Max Homepage click here
Movie Review Rating 8 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Mary and Max released in Australia on Thursday 9th April 2009.
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Mary and Max
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.
r's Syndrome, Max's sheltered life slowly allows Mary to enter. Over the course of 20 years the pair communicates across the seas bringing them the companionship they desire.
There seems to be some snobbery towards animation unfairly restraining it from being a fully accepted cinematic medium. Although slowly being seen as more than 'children's flicks' its reputation hasn't really moved far. Mary and Max goes some way in correcting this with Elliot's bravery in tackling adult concepts with another story-telling device apparent. His brilliance is in making you believe in his characters with their imperfections and odd foibles running the gamut of emotions. Voiced by Philip Seymour-Hoffman and Toni Collette with narration by Barry Humphries, the tightly written screenplay is well served by the unique visuals.
Even though at times painfully sad, the tale is enlightened with a very unique local sense of irony. How their letters slowly transform their lives and move them out of their introverted state is well realised as is the importance of honest friendship. It's this raw exploration of life which makes Mary and Max compelling viewing with a sweet melancholy effectively rounding out a complete story. The entire enterprise was obviously a labour of lo
ve for Elliot proving something imbedded with so much energy and effort is one to be admired.
Mary and Max is simply told featuring a cast of performers seemingly more real than ones in any pompous blockbuster. Lovingly developed and superbly shot, this little gem shows the amazing talents this country has and further shifts the animated feature out of the shadows of early morning children's television.
For Mary and Max Homepage click here
Movie Review Rating 8 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Mary and Max released in Australia on Thursday 9th April 2009.
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Mary and Max
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.
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