Seeking a Friend for the End of the World // Moonrise Kingdom

[krickets]

Inspired by gigglemonster I did a double feature today. And saw both Moonrise Kingdom and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. In that order. I feel like it's been kind of a long time since I've sat in a theater and felt I was experiencing something truly special. And I felt that with both of these movies. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend them both.


image source.
"What injuries are you apologizing for? Specifically."
"Specifically? Whichever ones still hurt."
"Half of those are self-inflicted."


I'm not sure how spoilery my comments really are, but just in case, here they hide. I have to say I'm a big fan of Wes Anderson's work in general. But this just might be the best, most accessible, Wes Anderson film to date. Of course, that could just be the post-new-Wes-Anderson-film afterglow talking. But, I don't know. It felt like this one was even more special than all the rest. Visually it was even more stunning than I expected. I mean, I always expect it with his movies, but this was pretty much perfection. I won't really comment on the plot except to say that it was sweet and whimsical with that tinge of strange and sadness that seems to be a common thread in all of his movies. Definitely one of the best of the year.



How could you let me go?

So here's the thing. I saw Moonrise Kingdom first and walked out of the theater thinking, crap, I should have seen this second. Because I liked that movie so much that I felt that Seeking a Friend at the End of the World would suffer by comparison? Well let me tell you, it didn't. Even a little. In fact, it's possible I may have liked this movie more? What, you say? Yeah. I thought I would like this movie, but I didn't expect to love this movie and Steve and Keira and Dodge and Penny and their (really and truly) beautiful love story. I tend to be overly-critical about the tendency to cast younger actresses opposite older actors in film as love interests, especially if the age difference is not acknowledged. (It is acknowledged in this film though.) But here it didn't bother me. In fact it's kind of part of what made it work. Dodge and Penny are not exactly Harold and Maude, but I feel like this is something I will end up buying on DVD. I didn't think I'd get this emotionally invested in these two characters. Definitely recommend it.

Comments

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

YES YES YES YES TO THIS WHOLE POST
OMG I WANNA SEE 'EM AGAIN

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Moonrise Kingdom doesn't start here until the 30th of August. And I can't find a release date for Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World AT ALL.

Way to make me want things I can't have!!

So glad that you loved them both though, and, if nothing else, I can enjoy the looking forward to them part? Yes?!

[elise-509.livejournal.com]

I loved Moonrise Kingdom as well. I think it's probably my favorite of his at the moment, because while I love The Royal Tenenbaums, my heart hurt more for these characters and I thought Bill Murray was better in this than any other Wes film (I am of the opinion Rushmore is overrated, I know, sacrilege!). I'm hoping to go see Seeking... on Monday, and now I'm really looking forward to it! I kind of expected that I wouldn't like it, but you've made me think that I'll be wrong! :)

[stainofmylove.livejournal.com]

I looooooved Moonrise Kingdom <33333 Although I actually thought that it might be the least accessible Wes Anderson movie ever, trololol, because it was just like all his tics turned up to 11.

If you liked Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, you should check out Last Night (1998 w/ Sandra Oh). Last I checked, it was streaming on Netflix if you have it. At least from what I've seen of Seeking a Friend ... (aka the trailer), it's the same movie. Except Canadian. And probably waaaaaaay weirder.

[oviedo.livejournal.com]

I want to see Moonrise Kingdom so badly but we don't get it here till August *siiiigh*

IDK about Seeking a Friend for the End of the World either but it will be put on my to-watch list, thanks for the rec!

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Totally agree - I loved both of these movies, and saw them in this order, only about 5 days apart. I adore all of Wes' movies so Moonrise Kingdom was wonderful as expected, but I did NOT expect to walk out of Seeking a Friend with tears on my cheeks after that emotional sucker punch. Damn.

[theladyscribe]

Oh man, I just saw Moonrise Kingdom today and can I just say ♥ ♥ ♥. So much love for this film. (Not that I didn't think I would love it going into it, seeing as we tend to have very similar tastes.) Suzy reminded me a lot of Gwyneth Paltrow's character in Tennenbaums (which is kind of impressive, since it's been like half a decade since I saw that, and it's the only other Anderson film I've seen) (I KNOW I KNOW I NEED TO WATCH MORE). But then again, I am now wondering who is going to write the Moonrise Kingdom/Mad Men crossover where Suzy and Sam and Sally and Glen meet at the Hamptons one summer or something IDK.

[twilightthief.livejournal.com]

OMG OMG OMG im like the hugest Wes Anderson fan! When I saw that my cinema got Moonrise Kingdom I did a happy dance!

When I get back from vaca Im def going to go see it. Your reaction just makes me more excited! :D