Word: max
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...film begins with the same mischief that introduces the protagonist, Max, in the book. After a heated argument with his mother (Catherine Keener)—who goes unseen in the book—Max dons a tattered wolf costume, runs to the woods behind his house, and escapes by sea to an imaginary island. Residing there are nine enormous monsters known as the Wild Things. Though seemingly barbaric at first—upon Max’s arrival, they are destroying their homes by bonfire—these Wild Things are charmingly naïve and quickly proclaim Max...
...young Max Records, who was all of 9 when shooting for the film began, deserves special praise for his expressive portrayal of Max, convincingly presenting him as both obnoxious brat and benevolent dictator. Max emerges as a much more nuanced and developed character in the film than his literary counterpart. He is less impish and more thoughtful, and he experiences a more profound realization at the movie’s end. The creation and destruction of the home is a recurring motif. Max is seen building forts, igloos, and king’s quarters, but none of these endure...
Lauren Ambrose voices KW, who, like Max's sister, is being pulled away by new friends. (When we finally lay eyes on them, it's the movie's closest thing to a joke.) She gives Max the tenderness and protection he wants from his sister, while helping him understand how oppressive his own love can be. The others include a goat-beast (Paul Dano), who represents Max's rage and impotence; a somewhat wise bird-beast (Chris Cooper), probably the embodiment of Max's unseen father; the petty, devious Judith (Catherine O'Hara); and her gentle but helpless mate...
Jonze's biggest challenge lies in sustaining the movie's forward momentum during Max's time with the wild things. At a certain point, I felt I'd learned enough and was ready to go home to Keener's anchoring presence. It's not that Jonze is overindulgent; it's that he's so thoroughly devoted to exploring Max's pain and joys, sometimes to the detriment of narrative. But I'll let my own child make the call on whether it's too long. I'm taking him, although I'd doubted I would, having expected the hipster...
...that the last of the five congressional committees with jurisdiction over health care, Max Baucus' Senate Finance Committee, has passed its much anticipated reform bill, it falls to majority leader Harry Reid to cobble together something that can pass the Senate...