A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Mirrormask

Date of original theatrical release: 2005

Details:

Jason Barry

Rob Brydon

Stephanie Leonidas

Gina McKee

Director: Dave McKean

Screenplay: Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Cinematography: Tony Shearn

Score: 1/2

The Review: Somewhere in between a dreamscape, a dreamquest, and a fantasy landscape, Mirrormask may be the sleepy ravings of an insane, or the bizarre experiences of a tormented and conflicted, mind -- a young girl's mind: a young girl who happens to be a central character in the family circus, not (by this time) all that willingly. She would prefer to be an artist, and what an artist she is! -- if the decorations all over the walls of her trailer are any indication. In part an adolescent fantasy, in part a coming of age novella, this is mostly a tour de force of graphic design and cinematography.

The result of a lot of imagination is visible here at multiple levels: a mirror image dream versus reality, and an archetypal conflict between the Queens of Light and Dark. There is quite a zoo of odd and fascinating Henson-like creatures (unsurprising, since Henson Associates are underwriters and producers). I particularly like the slow-speaking, floating giant pairs. And there is very much a Labyrinth-feel to it, in part due to the Henson/young girl fantasy theme (with Leonidas in the role otherwise played by a very young Jennifer Connelly).

This is the first full-length feature film for Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, even though they've been collaborating on graphic novels and comics for a long time. This movie has been recrafted as a curious illustrated (not quite in the graphic style) children's novel, the story narrated by the young girl. Artistically quite interesting: the drawings of the young girl protagonist are reminiscent of the work of Ralph Steadman: a similar attitude, but not as edgy or cynical ("the artist as a young girl").

(3-Jun-06)

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