The subject of "Wonderland" seems anything but – the lives of four working-class London inhabitants over one
fateful weekend. Director Michael Winterbottom goes in completely the opposite direction from his previous movie, "Jude." Good move. "Wonderland" is crackling with energy and sharpness that
the stately and convoluted "Jude" sorely lacked. The stories have the gritty, mundane details of real life – people get dumped, quit jobs, take revenge on a neighbor's dog, have babies.
Winterbottom goes back to realist British cinema of the 70's to explore the wonder, banality and offhand magic of real life.
The story loosely follows
the adventures and misadventures of three sisters (Nadia, Debbie and Molly) over a few days in modern day London. Nadia (winningly played by Croupier's Gina McKee) is a waitress looking for love, as is
her sister Debbie (Shirley Henderson). Their parents snipe at each other in what first appears to be run-of-the-mill marital carping but is soon laid bare as angry cover for a family tragedy.
Jack Shepard is especially fine as the husband, still trying to make a connection with life. You really root for this guy when he winds up dancing with his sexy neighbor, drinking an exotic
cocktail. The neighbor has a reclusive son who broods into near-violence, cut off from life, who turns around in a flash at the end of the film. Indie darling Molly Parker plays Molly, a woman
whose husband deserts her at absolutely the worst possible time.
The tribulations of this family as children are birthed and lost, love is lost and found and family connections are nearly severed is
the heart of this modest film. There's not much to the story. The drama is in real-life scenarios and compassionate treatment of the characters. Screenplay has an excellent radar for the
awkward moment, the point when an encounter will turn this way or that, and the film examines the whole arc of any meeting: hope, possibility, disappointment, and finally, rare elation. Winterbottom
has a gimlet eye for strange way disasters suddenly tip over into humor (shiftless Dan comes looking for his son, then tries to hit on Nadia, Nadia's blind date) and keeps attention firmly on the everyday
absurdities we so often overlook or forget.
Nicely done, told with visual flair
and good use of the mobile camera techniques and fast editing
almost beaten to death by MTV. Sharp costume design
lends authenticity to gritty South London setting.
"Wonderland" is like a window onto the lives of real people, and wisely doesn't reach for much more than sharp social observation and an improbably
real, and sweet, ending. Recommended. Will translate well to video, though the accents are a bit thick. Keep your eye on the faces - they'll tell you all you need to know. Worth
renting for its sweetly hopeful last scene.
Surprise credit: Michael Nyman ("The Piano") contributes a Philip Glass-esqe score. |
