This year is the 50th anniversary for Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. This is one of those movies everyone like, and has truly become an icon. It's just the right mix of drama, humor, and even some dark moments to make a really delightful film. Based of course on the Roald Dahl, this movie is always a must watch for me.
This movie was released in 1971 and was not instant hit. But has certainly become a classic since. Now normally when I do these I nitpick the good movies and praise the bad, but since we are celebrating a big anniversary let's give some love to this movie with five reasons why I love watching it over and over.
The Music & Sets
Ok I hate that song Charlie's mother sings as much as anyone. It slows down the whole movie so a character that will soon vanish from the movie can explain something we've already figured out. Yay. Putting that side, the music is well done. Of course the big song when they enter the candy room, and the Oompa Loompa songs which are done well. And the Candy Man song at the start. The style of the songs doesn't match the movie, at all, but they work. The sets were also well done even the home where the family lived. The chocolate room is still amazing fifty years later! And no I won't go into every scene because they are all good and we will be here all day.
The first half
During the first half as we meet our kids and see Charlie trying to get himself a golden ticket, we get these scenes of how worldwide this quest it. These scenes are, in the end, to waste of time but there are some clever things in them. They aren't awful scenes and usually make for a nice laugh anyway. And it was smart for the movie makers to decide to show just what a global frenzy the golden tickets really are. All of that vanishes after the first half but at least it kept us entertained while we waited for the good stuff.
Veruca Salt (and the others)
Why does Veruca get special mention over the other children? She is easily my favorite. The awesome Julie Dawn Cole did such a good job making this witch both likeable and unlikeable at the same time. The spoiled brat wants everything she sees, but when she isn't screaming she seems the most real. In fact the only moment the kids share any dialogue is between her and Charlie, I like that moment because most of the movie the kids talk to their parents not each other. And of course that awesome song she gets is the topper. To this day when someone is being petulant I call them Veruca to make the point to then that they are being a tad over the top selfish. Cole would continue acting long after this movie and had a great career.
And I mean no disrespect to the other three kids they all did fine and made there characters are memorable too. Veruca is just my favorite. Though Violet turning into a giant blueberry definitely wins for best...er, comeuppance?
Gene Wilder
I am going to be honest here, I am not the biggest Wilder fan. He has just made some real crazy movie and aside from TV work there is nothing he was in I really liked him in. Of course, this is the one exception. Wilder was born to play this role and does it perfectly. He nailed the scenes where Wonka is supposed to be charming as well as the one's that require him to be more dark. Including a certain tunnel scene I mentioned the other day. His reactions to the events going on around him are so well done they have literally become meme's. The prefect actor for the role, and he shines so well you forget he isn't in the first half of the movie. What about that confrontation scene at the end? Let's discuss it...
That Final Scene
I haven't said much about our leads, and Peter Ostrum was great being an average kid who has had bad luck but is always hopeful. Jack Albertson was a pro so of course he was fine as Grandpa Joe. During the movie Charlie and Grandpa Joe hardly have an interaction with Wonka at all. Even when they meet Wonka is subdued with Charlie compared to the others. So, when it came time for the three to finally interact it had to be well done. And it was. This wasn't in the book, nor was the fizzy lifting scene, and I believe the director said he wanted to show Charlie wasn't 100% without flaws. And I guess it makes sense Wonka would need to test him. In the book and other Wonka movie the kid is so perfect that he isn't believable. All kids, no matter how perfect, have flaws and this movie got that. And the scene here is wonderfully acted, and according to trivia Ostrum wasn't aware this scene was happening so his reaction was genuine (which happened other times in the movie). And you can see why he's be upset the way Wilder goes from lovable to nasty the way he does. You always feel like you're watching a different movie! The line Wilder shouts about getting nothing is one of my favorite quotes ever..and when we see Charlie refuse to rat out Wonka anyway by leaving the Gobstopper it's a sweet moment. When all is forgiven it's a relief. Yeah the Slugworth thing was kind of weak, but the scene works and our final few seconds on the great glass elevator a fitting end to this movie. Ending with a line apparently added on later when they realized they needed something. I usually hate changes made or things added to an adaptation from a book, but this one not only made complete sense but was done just perfectly.
And if you're wondering, yes I did see the Tim Burton movie it was awful. While I did like that they tried to stay closer to the book including scenes the original movie never showed, like the others did in fact survive, and the Oompa Loompa songs were cleverly done, the creepy Wonka with daddy issues was just plain stupid. None of the characters felt real and the whole movie was just bad. I also read the sequel book by Roald Dahl and it was...fine. The movie however is a classic that will endure forever, and with good reason!
No comments:
Post a Comment