Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:54:22 -0400 From: Steve Abrams <sapuppets-AT-gmail.com> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Where the Wild Things Are I respectfully disagree with Bob and the print critics who have this opinion of the voice work. I had read those criticisms before seeing the movie, so I was curious about that issue. I dont expect to change any one's opinion about this, ultimately it is a very personal sort of reaction, and there is no right or wrong opinion. The voices, particularly the best known ones, James Gandolfini and Lauren Ambrose worked very well for me. I thought both performances had depth and nuance. There is real inner tension in the Ambrose character. I think I read that Sendak thought of his characters as representing various overbearing or childlike aunts and uncles in his extended family An underlying theme of some great literature and theatre has to do with the disconnect between outward appearance, and inner character. A creature may look like a monster or sound like a monster and not be a monster at all- The theme of Beauty and the Beast, Or the reverse- In a film like the "Talented Mr Ripley" a handsome character who has the appearance of a hero, is really a monster. We all carry around images of what a hero or monster, looks like or sounds like,but our expectations are often incorrect. Kids and grown ups need to be reminded of this. In fact we need to be reminded that both qualities can exist within the same person. Tony Soprano was a monster who could also be quite kind and caring. It is a great challenge for an actor, director or writer to try to work "against a type," to create a character at odds with the stereotype expectations of appearance or voice. It is hard and risky work. It is easy to fall off the tight rope into the waiting jaws of the critics and audience I dont think that a monster needs to have the voice of a monster, Grover on Sesame Street certainly does not Steve On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 8:27 AM, <BNathanson-AT-aol.com> wrote: > Hobey, once again great minds think alike. Elise and I saw the film last > week. The biggest disappointment (& there were several) was hearing such > normal voices coming from such amazing creatures. The one that bothered > us > the most was James Gandolfini as Carol. It was Where the Wild Things Meet > The Sopranos. I kept thinking I was going to see a scene where Tony, I > mean Carol, visits with his psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi, who would have > Lorraine > Bracco's body, but this amazing creature head. > Bob N > _______________________________________________ > List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org > Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit > Archives: http://www.driftline.org > _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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