This last June I went to a small indie theater in Orange County with my crew consisting of: a literary genius with blunt bangs a la Zooey, a mustard sweater clad christian boy who is funny as hell, and a very cool Korean who eats more than anyone I know and remains the size of a small and beautiful doe, to see Moonrise Kingdom. I am a sap for young love, the 60s aesthetic, and Edward Norton in khakis and knee highs, so I was intrigued by the trailers and excited to see the new Wes Anderson film. Up to this point, The Royal Tenenbaums was my favorite WAF (not to be confused with Woody Allen Film). A film with good character development, a multiple story house, a grownup tent, and just the right amount of familial dysfunctionality, are all qualities to make The Royal Tenenbaums the ‘uppest’ of my alley. Moonrise Kingdom has taken these qualities and blown them up into the finest picture of warm pastels, adolescent mini skirts, the poorest application of blue eyeshadow and a cat eye, vinyl, fine literature, pubescent sexuality, the boy scouts, thunder storms, blood, and dead dogs. The music, indie, the characters, iconic, and equally capable to become halloween costume standards like the black eye rimmed Margo Tenenbaum. From the opening scene, there is an awareness of duty and regularity that slowly gets turned upon itself. The use of: the boy scouts, their rules and regulations, the parents, who do not love each other, the anecdotal narrator/tour guide, with the funny forest green hat and galoshes – all of which help create a stream of life lessons, a neuvo romeo and juliet, a tale of forbidden love, and a story where running away from home teaches everyone a little bit more about themselves. None of the characters are by any means popular or functional, but they are lovely and classic and likely to stay a while in the hearts of those lucky enough to understand this movie.
Apart from the fantastical story telling abilities Wes achieves in Moonrise, the particular and unusual aesthetics melt my hearts lenses. I love Suzy Bishop. I love her peachy and collared dress, her knee socks, her blue eyeshadow, her saddle shoes, her binoculars that help her understand the world. I love Sam, his Daniel Boone hat, his glasses, his necktie, his pocket knife. I love how these kids play house in the woods. I just want to put all of this inventory into a canteen and take it with me into the back woods. The colors, the richness of this film, the close attention it pays to the 60s, and small island living, these are a few of the pieces I found particularly engaging and had to blog about:
Suzy is a reader, a young intellectual. She needs to see the world through binoculars because she cannot get close enough without them. Suzy is the eldest of three brothers, she needs to feel glamorous and special, and Sam makes her feel that way. She needs a sense of adventure, but without neglecting her need to feel feminine and to be doted upon with wild flowers and underwear dances on the shores of a deserted beach – this is why she wears frosted blue eye shadow and liquid liner whilst camping (girl after my own heart).
1. The “Globe Trotter” yellow suitcase, an essential to any runaway from home circa 1965, J.Crew. $1,750; 2. Old Binoculars, the best way to see the world, $32; 3. Stila Jewel Eyeshadow in blue sapphire, a must to achieve Suzy’s classic cat eye, $20; 4. L’Oreal Lineur Intense in carbon black, no cat eye is finished without a thick line of liquid liner, $8; 5. Red Shift, a classic retro shift is a requirement for fashionistas during the mod era, $33; 6. Crosley Portable Usb Spinnerette, the stolen jam player, $170; 7. Pastel Journal, all intellectuals carry a pretty little leather journal, it’s just the way it is, $42; 8. Saddle Shoes, the classic shoe seals the 60s aesthetic, $38, 9. Knee Highs, sweet and flirty, $34.
Sam is an orphan, a hopeless romantic, and a painter. He is strange and does not have many friends. He incites a pen pal relationship with Suzy. Sam knows beauty when he sees it. He likes things that are unusual and sophisticated – Sam is a lovely boy who fights back. I love this charming kid. Anyone who wears a Daniel Boone hat is safe in my book.
1. Authentic Coonskin Cap, every globe trotter needs this to keep his head toasty, $200; 2.H&M Specks, nerd chic complete, $10; 3.Vintage Tiger Scarf, to complete the boy scout couture, $200; 4. Green Cardi, indie boy scouts costume game changer, $195; 5. Ecote Canvas Ruchsack, the most rustic backpack with the right amount of retro combat style ,$50; 6. Canteen, the mean canteen to keep an adventurer and his girl well hydrated, $8; 7. Remington Rifle, 2nd amendment bitches, and to kill food; 8. Sperry Topsider Boat Shoes, the classic leather loafer, good for scouts and their ensembles, $80; 9. Green Khaki Shorts, zip fly and extended button, need I say more?, $53.
If you have not yet, see this film, it will make you laugh and feel all beautiful and retro inside.
All Roses Are Pink 