Barney's been around a bit, and if there's anything he likes almost as much as Joy Division, its the Movies...

Very much influenced by styles of David Lynch, expect Barney to enlighten you on what you must see, and what you must miss in the Dark of the Cinema.

You might remember Barney from such publications as the legendary Pavement mag, and he also writes film reviews weekly in the Sunday Star Times.

16 March 2010

Alice In Wonderland

(-) Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway.
Directed by Tim Burton.
109 minutes.

***1/2

At the risk of being stoned by the public, I'm willing to declare Alice In Wonderland a better 3D movie than Avatar.

It's not that the visual effects in Tim Burton's delightful adaptation of Lewis Carroll's novels Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass out class those in James Cameron's record-shattering epic. In places, they're surprisingly similar and the CGI and 3D in both films definitely fire the imagination. What elevates Burton's film above Cameron's is that the story and acting are also the stars of the film rather than the technology used to create the fantasy world taking centre stage on its own.

Avatar's great flaw is that, as magical as the creatures, vegetation and scenery are, they're not enough to disguise the story's many shortcomings in narrative and characterisation. Alice In Wonderland, on the other hand, can't fail. It's based on one of the great classics of children's literature and the exceptional cast are having the time of their life.

Johnny Depp makes a marvellous Mad Hatter. He's sharpened his teeth as lovable rogue Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and clearly loves collaborating with Burton. His Hatter is a much more engaging character than his spin on Willy Wonka in Burton's adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He's zany, touching, heroic and bonkers.

Equally delightful is Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. As Burton's partner, Bonham Carter is becoming as much of a regular in his films as Depp is. Channelling Queenie from Black Adder, she's petulant one moment, mischievous the next. And with her head enlarged by three, it's impossible to take your eyes off her.

Young Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, who sparkled in Suburban Mayhem, occasionally struggles as Alice, though her character is supposed to be nonplussed by the strange place she visits and the creatures she encounters there. Her interactions with the Hatter and the inanely grinning Cheshire Cat, voiced by Stephen Fry, are charming but she makes a mildly unconvincing action hero when she defeats the dreaded Jabberwocky.

Oddball character actor Crispin Glover and Hollywood darling Anne Hathaway are well cast as the Knave of Hearts and White Queen, even if Glover's magically elongated legs are wilfully ridiculous. Wonderfully ridiculous is Matt Lucas as Tweedledum and Tweedledee. The CGI merges actor and character brilliantly and the rotund fellows will delight children and adults alike.

Despite a few awkward creative decisions by Burton, Underland is indeed a Wonderland. You feel as though you've inhaled some of caterpillar Absolem's mysterious smoke as you're immersed in a 3D world full of colour, life and danger. It certainly does Carroll's words justice, as it does the technology allowing Burton to bring the books to life.

* BARNEY MCDONALD

THE PITCH: An important date.
WATCH OUT FOR: Marton Csokas as Alice's father.

(Courtesy Sunday Star Times)