Capsule Review of BOOKWORM, the opening night film:
FANTASIA SCREENING DETAILS:
Opening Night Film
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)
1455 rue Maisonneuve O (rue Bishop)
Montréal QC H3G 1M8
Click here for more information.
BOOKWORM (New Zealand 2023) ***½
Directed by Ant Timpson
During a time of crisis, a freak electrical accident involving a faulty toaster switch results in a mother being in a coma and then recovering. A washed-up American magician Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood) and his precocious estranged daughter Mildred (Nell Fisher) take to the New Zealand wilderness, in search of a mythical black panther for a much-needed reward money.. The script contains quirky dialogue expected from a film entitled and about a BOOKWORM. The film clearly demonstrates how fresh and entertaining it can be with smart yet simple dialogue without any resort to expensive CGI special effects, action sequences and pyrotechnics. The young daughter has a lot of smart talk that is naturally believable because she is a well-read bookworm. The film is beautifully shot in a contemporary setting g showing the beauty of New Zealand with its rocky mountains, rivers and natural beauty, but it is more engaging unlike in the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy where everything looks mythical. The film contains almost all the elements of a movie including drama, adventure, action, suspense and comedy. There is a bit of everything for everyone.
Trailer:
