Lemony Snicket's unfortunate movie

Title:
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (B)
PH Release Date:
February 23, 2005
Actors:
Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, The Hoffman Twins, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Catherine O’ Hara, Jennifer Coolidge
Director:
Brad Silberling
Based on the novels:
Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room and The Wide Window
Editor / Music:
Michael Kahn / Thomas Newman
Design / Photography:
Rick Heinrichs / Emmanuel Lobezki
Producer:
Jim Van Wyck
Studio:
Paramount



“we’re very concerned, but not concerned enough to have a good ending…”

Funnyman Jim Carrey is back on the big screen. After playing a man who’s crazy about Kate in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, he takes probably the most challenging and unlike him role of a man who (in the most discreet terms) can be describe as utterly crazy and pure evil. And he’s not up against any heroes alright, neither is he making another appointment with God, he is up against what might be his biggest adversaries yet---- the Bauedelaires children. A young inventor, a bookworm and a cavity free baby just what are the chances of Count Olaf to realize his wicked plans?

Based on the novels I haven’t read (that’s breaking news), this series of unfortunate events may just be the biggest adventure you’ll see on the big screen--- or not. What started to be a brilliant movie just burst into tiny bits like that freakin’ doorknob.



Going into the cinema, I expected a movie that if not better than any Harry Potter films, at least of par. It definitely had the same eerie feel and maturity as the Prisoner of Azkaban and perhaps as lavish or more lavish production wise, but the resemblance ends there. The protagonists: Violet, Klaus and Sunny are just not as engaging as Harry, Ron and Hermione, except for Sunny (The Hoffman twins) who like the kid in Meet the Fockers never fail to make you smile or laugh. Violet’s (Browning) character is too stupid to be an inventor, and Klaus Aiken) could have been a good character if portrayed by a better actor.

The story is not bad at all; I dig all the craziness and wickedness of the picture. It’s definitely a good concept that was very well introduced but as the movie goes along, the pieces just don’t’ add up together to form any good sense. The characters were there, the plot is well made but a lot of the questions needed to be answered were just left behind. I do not know if they’re reserving these for the series’ future but it was most definitely not a good move. To achieve a wide permanent audience, they must first be able to make sure that they make this movie engaging enough for all of them so they would come back. Just like what was done with the first Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.



Brad Silberling (Moonlight Mile, City of Angels) is probably one of the most-talented young directors around. I am a huge fan of a lot of his work. I don’t believe that it was his fault; it was more of the screenwriter’s. He managed to depict this crazy world where children are barely heard and eccentric characters are everyday people. He managed to tell a good story for the first half of the movie and I think he did his best to end it well but the script just won’t allow him to.

The production design of this movie is way too fabulous. At some points, though not entirely, that it was better than the Prisoner of Azkaban. They created this wonderful imagination into reality and there was not a nanosecond that I thought it was faked. It felt so real. The music is great. The editing needs some improvement but a lot of cool choices. The cinematography is very good as well but could have been better. But what gives this move the edge is really the art direction. It really is unbelievable.



Jim Carrey could have not been more perfect for the role. I don’t see anybody else playing Count Olaf. There can only be one self-absorbed and wicked actor in this whole wide world and that is he. This is the perfect role for him cuz it gives him the chance to fully release himself. It’s almost as if there’s no boundaries in this role. That he can do everything he desires, go as crazy as he wish and have as much as fun as he wanted. And he definitely did. And I believe the audience will too. I did.

Meryl Streep is so fun to watch as Aunt Josephine. Most of the time you see her in roles that features her as this very strong character. This time she plays exactly opposite of that. She plays an obsessively paranoid woman who sees every appliance inside the house as a murderer. She’s that paranoid that she lives over the edge of the clip with a house that can go down faster than a speeding bullet. She played it well but it’s not exactly one of her best performances but she was fun to watch.



Emily Browning is okay. I guess the character is really not as winning as Hermione but she gave a fair performance. Which is probably the best I can give for Liam Aiken’s performance. He’s not in any way as good as Neeson or in any way as charismatic as Clay and he can’t carry the character. Most of the times I found him irritating rather than appealing. Which is probably what I can say the least for The Hoffman twins. They were the absolute belles of this movie. I loved every sound they made and every flinch of their hands. They probably gave the most consistent performance. Ahehe…

A fancy austere farce that will be very enjoyable in beginning, but in the final minutes will be anything but pleasant. Not exactly something that you would like your kids to see since it becomes a little brutal but with guidance it will be a treat for children. It’s a lot funny, and a lot enjoyable, it’s just really unfortunate that it did have an unfortunate ending and unfortunately if you watch it you would have to see the unfortunate ending unfold, how unfortunate!