THE BFG (Cannes Film Festival Cannes France USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

The BFG—beyond terrific digital effects—produces interaction between animated giants and the human character Sophie that are the best we’ve seen on the big screen to date. Unlike the interaction between Brendan Fraser and animated characters in the live action/animated Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The BFG tops the charts in scenes such as the one where the giant picks up Sophie in his hands. While Robert Zemeckis’ motion capture effects used in Beowulf and The Polar Express are outstanding and the motion capture effects of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within are fabulous, and the photo realism techniques of some scenes of Simone are surreal in their beauty, I have to admit that The BFG tops all of them in animated genius. The BFG is complicated as a children’s story, partially because of the heinous desire of the giants to eat children. But, to relieve the stress a type of justice does play in the end in a most wonderful way. This story is a typical Roald Dahl story—intellectually mature with literally hundreds of innuendos and metaphors which make it a story that works for both the older child and adult.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) lives in an all-girl orphanage. One night she hears something outside the orphanage window. She is scared, but she makes herself look out the large window. She sees Big Friendly Giant (voice of Mark Rylance) who seems quite slim to the point of malnourishment. Big Friendly Giant takes her to Giant Country and tells her she cannot go anywhere, but may make herself at home in his house because now that she has seen a giant it is possible that she may tell others and that must never happen. Big Friendly Giant gives her a dream that giants eat humans to forewarn her of possible dangers of living in Giant Country. The story is on as one giant after another hunts her while Big Friendly Giant tries to protect her.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Steven Spielberg for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Kathleen Kennedy, Kristie Macosko Krieger, John Madden, and Michael Siegel for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: The Queen (Penelope Wilton), Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement), Mary (Rebecca Hall), Mr. Tibbs (Rafe Spall), Bloodbottler (Bill Hader), Maidmasher/Cook (Ólafur Darri), Manhugger/Lout #1 (Adam Godley), Butcher Boy/Danish Driver (Michael Adamthwaite), Bonecruncher/Lout #2 (Daniel Bacon), Childchewer/Pub Landlord (Jonathan Holmes), Gizzard Gulper/Late Night Walker (Chris Gibbs), Meatdripper/Late Night Walker (Chris Gibbs), Meatdripper/Lout #3 (Paul Moniz de Sa), and Matron (Marilyn Norry).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film completely balances all the necessary ingredients for good entertainment.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers