Friday, October 16

• How Max Records Landed Lead Role in Where the Wild Things Are

  When we picked our 10 Breakout Stars of 2009 we missed the boat on the child actor likely to end up as the biggest breakout star of the year: Max Records.

  The 12-year-old star of the well-reviewed Where the Wild Things Are was plucked from relative obscurity by director Spike Jonze, likely in part due to Records' appearance in music videos for Cake and Death Cab for Cutie.

  Before he became director of one of the year's most anticipated films, Jonze started off directing music videos for Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys, Daft Punk, and Fatboy Slim (to name a few). Kindred spirits, it would seem.

  
  

  Posted 10/16/2009 by reelz

  Related: Spike Jonze | Max Records | Where the Wild Things Are

Wednesday, October 14

• Where the Wild Things Are Reviews

  When this project was announced, we were wondering how a kids book of just 338 words would translate to the big screen. Then Spike Jonze was announced to direct. Then we saw the trailer and it gave us goosebumps. Now it's here and expectations are sky high. Unfortunately only Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum is totally buying into it, calling the movie "one of the year's best."

  "Profoundly beautiful and affecting, Where the Wild Things Are is a breath-
taking act of artistic transubstantiation."

  — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

  "... more than just a visual feast; it's a blissful evocation of imagining as a process of spiritual maturation."

  — Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

  "What's weakest is its blandness, the sense memory of a child raised on Sesame Street. The psychic environment is less King Kong's Skull Island than Fred Rogers's neighborhood: Where the Wild Things Aren't."

  — J. Hoberman, Village Voice

  "...Spike Jonze's sharp instincts and vibrant visual style can't quite compensate for the lack of narrative eventfulness that increasingly bogs down this bright-minded picture."

  — Todd McCarthy, Variety

  
  
  

  Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer 2

  Spike Jonze Directs - Releasing Oct. 16, 2009

  Posted 10/14/2009 by reelz

  Related: Spike Jonze | Where the Wild Things Are

Monday, October 12

• Maurice Sendak Based the Wild Things on His Relatives

  The teaser posters recently released for director Spike Jonze's big-screen adaptation of the classic Where the Wild Things Are by author/illustrator Maurice Sendak featured character portraits and names for some of the scary monsters who inhabit the imagination its main character, Max (played by Max Records). However, in the original book, Sendak never named the characters. Sendak told Newsweek:

  I never wanted them to have names . . . They never had names until they became movie stars.

  Sendak said that his inspiration for the monsters came from his extended family.

  The monsters were based on relatives. They came from Europe, and they came on weekends to eat, and my mom had to cook. Three aunts and three uncles who spoke no English, practically. They grabbed you and twisted your face, and they thought that was an affectionate thing to do. And I knew that my mother's cooking was pretty terrible, and it also took forever, and there was every possibility that they would eat me, or my sister or my brother. We really had a wicked fantasy that they were capable of that. We couldn't taste any worse than what she was preparing. So that's who the Wild Things are. They're foreigners, lost in America, without a language. And children who are petrified of them, and don't understand that these gestures, these twistings of flesh, are meant to be affectionate.

  
  
  Next Showing: Where the Wild Things Are opens October 16
  

  Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer

  Directed by Spike Jonze and based on the book by Maurice Sendak

  Posted 10/12/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Where the Wild Things Are

Saturday, October 10

• The Creator of Where the Wild Things Are Discusses Spike Jonze's Film

  Author Maurice Sendak has had to fight for his story Where the Wild Things Are since he first offered it to publishers. The 1963 book has been praised, criticized, and even banned from some libraries over the years, but the story of a young boy escaping into a world of fantasy to avoid his problems is now considered a classic. In a recent Newsweek interview, Sendak said that Spike Jonze's big-screen adaptation of the book was true to the core elements of his book.

  The truth of the matter is, I saw immediately a combination of things that I wanted and I loved. The courage of the child, the danger of the situation — it could turn on a dime. They could have eaten him. All of that was apparent right from the start.

  When he was asked if Where the Wild Things Are is too scary for children, the same fire with which Sendak has defended his book over the years boiled to the surface regarding Jonze's film.

  I would tell them to go to hell. That's a question I will not tolerate. If they can't handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it's not a question that can be answered.

  Where the Wild Things Are stars Max Records, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ruffalo. It also features the voice talents of James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, and Lauren Ambrose.

  
  
  Next Showing: Where the Wild Things Are opens October 16

  Posted 10/10/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Where the Wild Things Are

Friday, September 18

• New Where the WIld Things Are Posters Show Off CGI Work

  We've just added five new posters for Where the Wild Things Are, which comes out on October 16. These posters give a closer look at the careful CGI work.

  If you missed our last post on the movie, director Spike Jonze did recording sessions with actors, then filmed on location with different actors in suits. Only after this did he employ any kind of CGI, and as you can see, it was only to enhance the facial expressions of the creatures.

  We've said it before, but we'll say it again: We're very excited about this movie, especially in the promised IMAX.

  Where the Wild Things Are features in-the-flesh performances from Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, and Max Records as the protagonist. Voice talent includes Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherina O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, and Paul Dano.

  
  
  

  Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer

  Releasing Oct. 16, 2009

  Posted 09/18/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Spike Jonze | Where the Wild Things Are

Tuesday, September 15

• Spike Jonze Talks Where the Wild Things Are, Plus Image Gallery

  

  Just the other day, Warner Bros. released two new TV spots for Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are. Here's a little something to go along with that: The New York Times has published five new images from the movie as part of an interactive multimedia feature.

  In the corresponding article, Jonze spoke with Times free-lancer Dennis Lim about the movie.

  I wanted it to be as natural feeling as possible. I wanted to shoot the wild things in camera: on location, out in the wild ... [My goal was to] maintain this feeling I had reading the book as a kid. Those drawings are so immersive, you just fall into them ... Maybe it's because I've known [the creatures] since I existed, basically, but my feeling is that they've always existed as creatures in the world.

  The article also discusses Jonze's movie-making process, which included voice-recording sessions with actors, filming on location with different actors, and digital manipulation for facial expressions.

  Where the Wild Things Are opens on October 16 and features in-the-flesh performances from Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, and Max Records as the protagonist. Voice talent includes Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherina O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, and Paul Dano.

  
  

  Posted 09/15/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Max Records | Where the Wild Things Are

Monday, September 14

• Two New Where the Wild Things Are TV Spots

  This movie just keeps looking better and better. Check out the new TV spots recently released for Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are.

  
  

  Posted 09/14/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Where the Wild Things Are

Friday, September 11

• New Where the Wild Things Are Banners

  Four brand new character banners depicting Max (played by Max Records) and three of his friends from the upcoming Where the Wild Things Are movie have been released on MySpace. Incredibly detailed, the images bring to life characters created by author Maurice Sendak in his classic 1963 book of the same name. In both, Max escapes into a world of fantasy by donning a wolf costume.

  Where the Wild Things Are is directed by Spike Jonze and stars Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo. It also features the voice talents of James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, and Lauren Ambrose.

  
  
  

  Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer

  The beloved book comes to the big screen on October 16

  Posted 09/11/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Spike Jonze | Max Records | Where the Wild Things Are

Wednesday, September 9

• Wild Things Star Likens Movie Controversy to Book Controversy

  The movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's initially-controversial-but-now-classic 1963 book, Where the Wild Things Are, has been beset by its own share of delays, re-edits, and controversy. But according to Max Records, the young star of the picture, any controversy over the movie could simply portend good things.

  When the book first came out, it was banned and all the adults hated it and stuff. But all the kids absolutely loved it. Then people started realizing, "Oh this is good. This is good." And so, I think it's the same thing — only hopefully it won't take too long for people to actually realize that it's really, really amazing.

  Though Records is only 12 years old, Wild Things is his second feature and he spoke with some insight about the movie's director, Spike Jonze.

  Spike's great; his big thing is he takes people and puts them in new situations, like I've never done the acting before. He wants it all to be spontaneous and authentic and real, and not like acting.

  
  
  

  Where the Wild Things Are - Trailer

  Catherine Keener & Forest Whitaker Star - Releasing Oct. 16

  Posted 09/09/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Max Records | Where the Wild Things Are

Friday, September 4

• Where the Wild Things Are Makes Its Way Onto Filter's Cover

  

  We're all excited about Spike Jonze's upcoming adaptation of the classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are, especially after the book's author Maurice Sendak gave Jonze his full endorsement and glowing approval in a very titillating behind-the-scenes featurette.

  And now, here's something to get everyone even more excited: We Love You So recently posted a sneak peak at the cover that will grace the latest issue of Filter Magazine.

  The cover, which was illustrated by Geoff McFetridge, looks appropriately trippy. According to the post, the Filter issue will feature interviews with Jonze and actors Catherine Keener, Catherine O'Hara, and Max Records, as well as some photos and art from the set and crew.

  
  

  Posted 09/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Catherine Keener | Catherine O'Hara | Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Max Records | Where the Wild Things Are

Sunday, August 9

• Theatrical Trailer for Where the Wild Things Are Now Online

  Four months after the debut of its first trailer, a second theatrical trailer for Where the Wild Things Are is now online. The adaptation of the beloved Maurice Sendak children's book has been difficult process for director Spike Jonze, including crying children at screenings and reshoots that pushed back the release date, but the trailer shows that Jonze seems to have successfully pulled off a beautiful adaptation. We'll know for sure October 16, so until then enjoy the trailer below:

  
  

  Posted 08/09/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Spike Jonze | Maurice Sendak | Where the Wild Things Are

Monday, September 15

• Where Are the Wild Things?

  Has Spike Jonze finally tamed his version of the Maurice Sendak children's classic, Where The Wild Thing Are, enough to accommodate the nervous game wardens who rule the Warner Bros. jungle? According to Entertainment Weekly, the movie finally has a release date: October 2009. Which should give Warner Bros. plenty of time to change its mind again, and everyone else plenty of time to wonder about whatever happened to Spike Jonze. (Quiz: How many years has it been since Jonze's last feature hit theaters? Answer here.)

  
  

  Posted 09/15/2008 by reelz

  Related: Spike Jonze | Where the Wild Things Are

Monday, June 2

• Wild Things Reshoots, Sans Director Jonze?

  Horror site Bloody-Disgusting broke the news yesterday that Warner Bros. is gearing up for a month of reshoots for its perpetually troubled movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. The reshoots are scheduled to commence this Thursday and run through June 30th, and it's unclear at this point whether Wild Things director Spike Jonze will be running the show. When all is said and done, the movie could end up being an Alan Smithee production.

  Jonze's version of Where the Wild Things Are came under fire in February when reports emerged that children attending test screenings were leaving in tears, shaken by the director's scary take on Sendak's novel.

  Source: Bloody-Disgusting

  
  

  Posted 06/02/2008 by reelz

  Related: Spike Jonze | Where the Wild Things Are

Thursday, February 21

• Wild Things in peril

  It's been a rough week indeed for Spike Jonze's big-budget adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's tale Where the Wild Things Are. First, some strange footage from the film found its way to the internet, eliciting near-unanimous ridicule from Sendak fans. Reaction was so poor, in fact, that Jonze was prompted to issue a statement assuring that the clip was "a very early test" shot for visual effects purposes. Then, reports emerged that children at test screenings were scared to the point of tears. Now, according to a report at CHUD.com, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, the studio and production company behind the Where the Wild Things Are, are apparently leaning towards completely scrapping Jonze's version and re-shooting the whole thing. 

  Hard to predict how this thing will end; we're guessing "very badly."

  Sources: Slashfilm, CHUD

  
  

  Posted 02/21/2008 by reelz

  Related: Spike Jonze | Where the Wild Things Are