Wonderstruck

Millicent Simmonds in Wonderstruck

Todd Haynes' Wonderstruck attempts to be an artful children's flick, much like Scorsese's Hugo which was also written by the talented Brian Selznick. Haynes arrays an impressive mélange of visual effects to tell the parallel quests of two deaf children, fifty years apart, who both travel to New York City on quasi pilgrimages. The 1927 part of the film is shot in black and white and the 1977 in color. Mark Friedberg's production design, Carter Burwell's score, Sandy Powell's costumes and Edward Lachman's photography all contribute to making Wonderstruck a sensual delight. The care and splendor of the production, which nicely evokes the New York of two eras, bolsters the film's theme of finding the phantasmagoric magic inherent in life and art.

Unfortunately, the film bogs down during its second half. Haynes and Selznick slight the story of the twenties child, charmingly played by Millicent Simmonds, and the70's juveniles' tale is not as compelling. Like the protagonists of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the young lad of 1977 hides out with his chum in a museum. Haynes milks a modicum of wonder from this boys' fort set-up, but it soon bogs down into indifferent acting and artificially dramatic conflict.

However muddled the scenario, I found Haynes' sense of artistic quest to be more palpable here than in the highly praised Carol; which seemed. on second viewing, even more overly reverential and benumbed than when I first viewed it. The moments when Ms. Simmonds pours over lovingly rendered 20's film fan magazines or goes to a theater to see a mash-up of Sjostrom and Griffith silents show Haynes' love and care for his material. You get a sense of exhilaration that you find in the best parts of Haynes' canon: the opening of Velvet Goldmine or Cate Blanchett bringing it all back home as Dylan in I'm Not There. Wonderstruck may not have done much for Amazon's burgeoning coffers, but it shows Todd Haynes has not lost touch with his gifts. (3/1/18)