Word: max
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...Staff writer Max N. Brondfield can be reached at mbrondf@fas.harvard.edu...
...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...
...movie’s two primary beasts are the temperamental Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) and the pragmatic, restless KW (voiced by Lauren Ambrose), who, much like Max, flees her home seeking something more. Through the Wild Things’ search for a womb-like shelter free from loneliness, Max comes to understand his own need for the security provided by family...
With so little written material from which to create a feature-length film, Jonze and Eggers’ plot understandably lacks direction at times. In one bizarre subplot, KW takes Max on a short journey to meet two of her friends. These turn out to be a pair of rowdy owls whose screeching cannot be understood by Max or the monsters. Scenes with these two characters seem largely out of place and even confusing when considering the larger narrative...