Wonderland (1999)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writer:

Laurence Coriat (writer)

Release Date:

21 August 1999 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Everybody's looking for something.

Plot:

There's little wonder in the working-class lives of Bill, Eileen, and their three grown daughters. They're lonely Londoners...

Plot Keywords:

Working Class | Guy Fawkes Day | Marital Relations | Contact Ad | Family Relationships

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Shirley Henderson	...	Debbie
Gina McKee	...	Nadia
Molly Parker	...	Molly
Ian Hart	...	Dan
John Simm	...	Eddie
Stuart Townsend	...	Tim
Kika Markham	...	Eileen
Jack Shepherd	...	Bill
Enzo Cilenti	...	Darren
Sarah-Jane Potts	...	Melanie
David Fahm	...	Franklyn
Ellen Thomas	...	Donna
Peter Marfleet	...	Jack
Nathan Constance	...	Alex
Anton Saunders	...	Danny

Also Known As:

Snarl Up (UK) (working title)
Untitled Love Story (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, and for language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Iceland:L | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | New Zealand:M | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

References Elizabeth (1998)

Soundtrack:

Angel

Winterbottom's wonderful Wonderland

This may be the best film of 2000 (at least that's when it was released in Australia).

Whilst film-makers like P.T. Anderson have made admirable attempts at personal drama in the last few years, and Mike Leigh continues to tell us that no-one suffers like the poor (as if we didn't know that), Michael Winterbottom has re-defined the genres. This is English kitchen sink drama without the tired clichés of class wars, which have seemed a bit anachronistic since the fall of the Tories.

Shot in a stunning cinemascope (1:2.35) and available light, with the tiniest of crews, this is London as you've only seen it if you've seen it for yourself.

The cast shines. I defy anyone to make it through this film without falling in love with Gina McKee. That's not to say that Shirley Henderson and Molly Parker are anything less than charming. Ian Hart and Stuart Townsend are wonderful. Keep an eye out for the beautifully natural performance of David Fahm as Franklyn. Jack Shepherd, Kika Markham and John Simm round out the main cast with equally powerful performances.

A great script from first time screen-writer Lawrence Coriat. Michael Nyman turns out his most subtle and restrained music score yet. Michael Winterbottom is turning out to be the Stanley Kubrick of the 21st century. Who else has been able to jump from one genre to another with such ease and grace?

This is a compelling film, well worth having your own copy of.