4. Fantastic Mr Fox
Anderson's 1st venture into the world of animation, choosing stop-motion, a sadly under-appreciated art form to create a rather splendid retelling of the Roald Dahl classic. Staying true to the source material that Roald Dahl had created but including the dry sense of humour that Anderson has been accustomed too, the combination balances the film nicely, allowing for the slower moments to include the interaction between the characters and the human relationships, troubles and worries that each character experiences. Throughout the film, the undertones of the danger that faces the group is something that separates its appeal between children and adults. Children will appreciate the aesthetics of each of the characters, finding a cuteness behind each one, and certainly resonating with the more understated characters such as Mr Foxs son Ash. While adults will certainly be drawn into the more humorous moments of the film, with which theyre plenty, gaining a subtle appreciation of the job that Anderson performs both stylistically but through the subtle cleverness that enthuses the screenplay. Rather surprisingly, despite the marketing appeal that any piece of Roald Dahl fiction has, the film didnt fair too well at the box office, barely scraping over its budget of $40 million to collect $46 million. This under-performance has become a common theme with stop animation which really is a great shame. Critically, however, the film was lauded for the way it stays true to its source material, providing the same Anderson traits such as its sharp dialogue and character development to construct a great film for those of all ages. Featuring the talents of George Clooney & Meryl Streep the film expands upon the source material brilliantly and crafts a heartfelt story that manages to engage and compel. Heres hoping that Wes decides to explore animation again in future.