Small change

Moonrise Kingdom

Crit

OK, maybe someone besides Shakespeare has done underage love better, but not this year. This is beautiful without being pretty, sweet without making your teeth hurt, innocent but not ignorant, blithely unconcerned with realism but grounded in its own reality--and equally comfortable with Benjamin Britten or Hank Williams carrying the soundtrack. Cinematic virgins Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward are--and I know I use this adjective too much--perfect as the star-crossed 12-year-olds Sam and Suzy, and among Wes Anderson's usual suspects and happy first-timers, Bruce Willis deserves special mention for giving us all his customary charm and none of his customary smarm.

Moreover, since I can never again watch movies the way I used to, I have to rave about the camerawork (Robert D. Yeoman, DP for all of Anderson's live-action films), most notably the opening 360-degree pan that both paints the inside of the island house of one of the young lovers and establishes the tone and mood of the whole narrative.

Favorite film of the year so far? Yeah, I think I'll say that.

Trailers

• The Great Gatsby--Baz brings a thrilling Deco look to the story, but the trailer suggests that he's not much interested in Fitzgerald's language, which is disturbing. I'm open-minded but leery.
• Argo--It's Wag the Dog in reverse: in order to spirit 6 escaped hostages out of Iran, American intelligence stages a fake movie. Based on actual events, they say.
• Lawless--Another great-looking one, with Depression-era moonshiners battling nasty, corrupt cops.