Oscar Outlook 2012: Moonrise Kingdom

I can't say that I am a fan of Wes Anderson.  I get that he has a legion of fans, who often site The Royal Tenenbaums as a cinematic milestone.  Quirky, picaresque, Anderson has his own innocent universe that many followers find enjoy taking refuge in.  I simply don't.  However, he remains a unique voice on the cinematic landscape that cries out for much more individuality.  And with a film released every two to three years, he's consistent.  His latest story concerns two young adolescents in love who leave their New England homes.  The local sheriff (Bruce Willis) and the girl's parents (Bill Murray, Frances McDormand) set out to locate them.  Also in the cast is Edward Norton (who has been laying low lately), Anderson regular Jason Schwartzman, Bob Balaban, Harvey Keitel, and the intriguing casting of Tilda Swinton as "Social Services."

The screenplay is from Anderson and Roman Coppola.  The Jack-of-all-trades Coppola has a history with Anderson, as well as with sister Sofia and film-legend father Francis.  Nominated for Black Swan, editor Andrew Weisblum has also worked with both Wes Anderson and Darren Aronofsky previously.  You can also see his stellar work on the pilot of NBC's Smash.  Cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman's career goes all the way back to Drugstore Cowboy.  He's lensed every one of Anderon's features (and then some), as well as Bridesmaids, Whip It, The Squid and the Whale, and Red Eye.  The art direction team includes production designer Adam Stockhausen (Scream 4), art director Gerald Sullivan (The Dark Knight Rises, Scream 4, Superbad), and Kris Moran.  The costumes were designed by Kasia Walicka-Maimone (Moneyball).

As far as Oscar prospects, score and screenplay are longshots, but the trailer leaves me wondering if  recognizing the Art Direction and Costume Design might be in order.  Probably not.  Filmed last summer in Rhode Island, Focus Features has the limited release date set in the US as May 25.  It will open Cannes on May 16.

poll by twiigs.com

Also on the Radar:

Anna Karenina     Argo     Beasts of the Southern Wild     The Bourne Legacy     The Dark Knight Rises     Dark Shadows     Django Unchained     Gangster Squad     Great Expectations     The Great Gatsby     The Hobbit     Hope Springs     The Hunger Games     Hyde Park on the Hudson     Lawless     Lincoln     Lola Versus     Lovelace     Low Life     Magic Mike     The Master     Les Misérables     Life of Pi     Moonrise Kingdom     People Like Us     Prometheus     To Rome with Love     Ruby Sparks     Savages     Seeking a Friend for the End of the World     The Silver Linings Playbook     Smashed     The Surrogate     Trouble with the Curve     Won't Back Down 


The Avengers     The Amazing Spider-Man     Men in Black III