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MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review
Posted on Tuesday, April 18 @ 02:43:39 EDT by | 
GroovyDruid Reports:
After months of waiting for Mozart and the Whale to hit theaters, I decided to take decisive action. I strolled into the Millenium/Nu Image Films offices here in Los Angeles and asked to have the straight dope on when this movie would be widely available. They couldn't tell me, but they were kind enough to give me a copy of the movie so that I could review it for WrongPlanet. So here it is! Read on!
I'm still recovering from the shock.
In most films I watch, the histrionics of the NT characters lands short. Even while enjoying the film, I find myself at a distance emotionally. Mozart and the Whale grabbed me by the lapels and dragged me into personal territory in a most startling way.
I cannot adequately describe the tingling sensation that came over me as I watched Ronald (Josh Hartnett) and Isabelle (Radha Mitchell) struggle against their Asperger's to build and keep a loving relationship. I found myself laughing and slapping the chair, or groaning and remembering times when, as Ronald says, "I never know what to say!"
Hartnett and Mitchell do an excellent job of portraying aspies. Their characters are vastly different, but truthful and well researched. Hartnett plays a kind-hearted math savant with a mind plagued by indecision. Mitchell plays a flamboyant music savant with an abrasive laugh and a knack for loudly saying the wrong thing. Isabelle's blurted comments will bring painful laughter to any aspie who's spoken his mind and regretted it.
The story's conflict centers around the communication difficulties accompanying most aspie relationships, and the psychological hang-ups of Ronald and Isabelle. They must overcome shyness, sexual insecurity, Isabelle's abrasiveness, and Donald's wish to appear "normal" to the NTs in their environment. It's touch and go as to whether their love for one another can survive their idiosyncrasies, and aspies will find the conflict relevant.
The movie is beautifully photographed, and the music is both hilarious and appropriate. Director Petter Naess shows off his talent very well in the construction of the film.
The screenplay of Mozart and the Whale comes from the pen of Ron Bass, the writer who gave us Rain Man. I won't pull punches: it's fairly pedestrian as movie scripts go. I don't think the public will embrace the movie, and I doubt it will go beyond limited release. The story doesn't have universal enough meaning for a wide audience to relate well to it. It's just too specific to people with ASD.
In sum I'd say Mozart and the Whale will give people with ASD some good laughs and a more personal viewing experience than they are used to. I highly recommend it for friends and family as well, if they want a bit more insight into living on the spectrum. But don't look for this to be the film that communicates ASD awareness to the general public or makes it "cool" to be an aspie. That step must wait for some other film.
(By the way, if I missed a point you're interested in and you'd like more info, feel free to post a comment with your question(s). I'll check back often.)
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Re: MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review (Score: 1)
by TheWhale Thursday, May 04 @ 12:05:13 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | |
Thanks for the review, but Josh Hartnett's character is "Donald", not Ronald. The movie, btw, is still at one theater in Spokane at least through the 12th of May. I don't think it will get into other theaters in the USA.
However, the studio has geneously offered to loan the movie to autism or asperger groups to use for fundraisers as long as they pay for the shipping of the movie and provide a theater.
Jerry Newport aka The Whale |
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Re: MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review (Score: 1)
by ed Saturday, June 03 @ 12:19:01 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://scoogy.com | | So how about taking some more decisive action, and stroll back into those film offices, and tell them to release it on DVD? It would be so stupid to go through all that time and money making the movie and then just throw it away. I'd buy it in a heartbeat! :) |
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Re: MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review (Score: 1)
by FubarGoof Wednesday, April 26 @ 16:21:09 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | But can't they give a few (quite a few perhaps) Aspies a chance to order this movie? I'm in Europe. |
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Re: MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review (Score: 1)
by faithfilly Tuesday, February 27 @ 15:23:10 EST
(User Info | Send a Message | Journal) http://sheilaschoonmaker.com | | Maybe if I had not read the book first, I could have enjoyed the movie more. For me, the book is way better than the movie. The book is the true story whereas many parts of the movie are made up.
Most of the acting in the movie seemed too fictitious. It's not a bad movie and it is entertaining; however, I found it to be disappointing.
The impression I got from what Jerry and Mary said in their book was that the producers of the movie based the bulk of their filming from their own research and ideas rather than keeping close consultations with Jerry and Mary for direction.
It's too bad that the movie doesn't reflect the book because most people won't take the time to read the book like they might to watch the movie.
The book provides a much more excellent picture of what Asperger's Syndrome is than the movie ever could come close to accomplishing! How's that for ironic? |
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Re: MOZART AND THE WHALE movie review (Score: 1)
by leedsmusic Friday, April 06 @ 19:01:13 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I saw this movie as a fundraiser for AHA in NYC. It was wonderful. Jerry Newport was there too which was a definite bonus. I would suggest anyone to see this. I agree some of it is WAY over the top but it gets the point accross. At some points during the movie, I had tears in my eyes. I see many of the characteristics within me especially with the affinity for animal and love for music/art. I am not an aspie but I am autistic. I apologize for any bad gammer here. It's now avaible at Borders and Blockbuster.
Lee |
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