Unusual for Jeunet - but a wonderful film!
9/10
Author: IndustriousAngel from Austria
8 August 2014

Jeunet is, for once, operating outside his usual "comfort zone" and that's not a bad thing at all. While I have come to love him for his unique style, quirky colours, sharp textures and character actors caught by fisheye lenses, sometimes it pays to do something a little more restricted. As a comparison, Lynch's "Straight Story" comes to mind - a director known for decidedly non-mainstream sensibilities shoots a "simple" road movie.

And since "The Straight Story" is my favourite Lynch film, that's no small praise! Of course, there's some of Jeunet's trademark whimsical, playful optics on screen, but they never become mere gimmicks but always enhance the storytelling. And some - or probably all - of the most impactful scenes are really simple shots - no gimmicks, no gags, just faces and landscapes. While Jeunet's last, "Micmacs", lost itself a bit among all the optical fireworks and gags, this film here keeps it straight and focused and I liked it only the better for it. Also, the pace is much slower than usual (again, very like "The Straight Story") - most scenes are longer than strictly necessary, giving them time to settle in.

The weakest point may be the actors - the children are not as good as those in "City of lost Children", and most of the grown-ups are a bit one-dimensional. The nice exception being Helena Bonham-Carter who delivers a really fine performance, nuanced like you wouldn't have thought she still had it in her after all the hammed-up roles from the last years.

Overall, probably my second-favourite Jeunet film (have seen it only once at the moment, maybe I'll have to rewrite it a bit after more viewings), highly recommended - and I really hope he does some more "mainstream" projects like this where his playfulness doesn't drown the story!

Sweet and charming
8/10
Author: Mcfarlanej from United Kingdom
9 April 2014

It's easy to fall in love with this tale of the ingeniously, slightly magical story of The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet. The story is touching, and quite charismatic, and the little boy is presented as quite a believable genius. Without being presenting as being too intelligent or arrogant and thus putting the audience off. He's both intelligent and likable, and modest too. Whilst charming and witty it's not exactly funny. Then again it's not a comedy. Now this is not a bad thing, as the film works really well for it.

The film comes across as this little humble tale of something possibly real, and emotionally touching, whilst being both enlightening and saddening at times. Nothing like 'Home Alone' or any of those sorts of movies. It's just that I can see how to some, the film may be perceived as being somewhat bland, and in some ways yes, but for the most part no. You really will become greatly involved all the way throughout the movie. The cinematography is brilliant, as you would expect from Jean Pierre Jeunet, director of Amelie and Micmacs etc. It accompanies the magical style and point of view that T.S. Spivet holds, without overpowering the film as a whole.

The screenplay is brilliant, reallyworking off of the original books. In addition, every character feels essential. It doesn't waste time with characters unneeded, and feels much more compact for it. The story has many a twist and turn in store for you and will make you well up inside. The reason mainly being in the ending, where there is a major plot point, and we can feel every emotion possible from every single character, because by the end, you really have grown to love them. You've connected with them, and you feel for them. Slightly strange at times and brilliantly acted, to which, I see great things in-store for Kyle Catlett (T.S. Spivet). T.S. Spivet is definitely one to watch with the entire family.

Prepare yourselves, hearts will be uplifted. There's only two flaws with this movie... some people may feel like it's not "entertaining" or "funny" enough, to which it's not supposed to be... It's touching, brilliant and a really adventure, (And do you know what, it's a little bit funny too). The second flaw, is that some of the characters are a little bit of a caricature, especially with the stereotypical police officer and Two Clouds just being thrown in for good measure, where they just act as fillers, however, as fillers go, they're still really good.

Judy Davis  : Jibsen, la sous-secrétaire du Musée Smithsonian

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He is the smartest person in the room, and T.S. will pull your heart along with him.
8/10
Author: Jesse Boland from Burnaby, BC Canada
29 March 2014

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A Great Canadian movie telling the Great American children's Novel. This movie tells a very sweet, and touching story of an incredible slightly magical journey of T.S. Spivot one very smart kid. Deep, and rich with a bitter sadness that runs through all of the family, and each member left behind is coping in their own ways. T.S. is a genius child who you will cheer for, and fear for, he is so strong at times that we all have to be reminded that he is just a child, and a little one at that. This all star mostly Canadian cast backs up Kyle Catlett who plays T.S. almost perfectly. The only thing that I found off was that during his narrations it did not always feel like he really understood the words he was saying, if this slips past you, great, but it was really the only thing I found wrong with this movie.

The production itself is beautiful, and slightly ethereal giving you a child's perspective of most things, and gives everything either more, or less edge. I Enjoyed this movie if you have to have something to compare it to, I would go all the way back to North with Bruce Willis as there are points in this movie that have that same unreal feeling. I recommend this to families of all sizes, and shapes, or for any average dreamer, but maybe even those grounded folks out there who may enjoy the escape just as much. Really this is just a sweet touching movie for anyone to enjoy, I am not so sure that the level of the language near the end is necessary, but there is just the one the only thing they can't say on Canadian TV though so you should be warned it is the full M.F. bomb.

What an exceptionally excellent movie
8/10
Author: Bakalite from Australia
3 July 2014

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The science is dodgy. However it is real nonetheless, insofar as this is the best we have come up with. Four hundred years of magnetic motion amounts to very little when there is a drag, and indeed a sell by date, on the mechanism. The underlying premise in the movie however is death, guilt, and love. The tool is simply spin for the story. Brilliantly proposed.Beautifully done.Science as opposed to sport, the old story repeated. Quite exceptional, and endearing, and frankly, (not an expression I use often) quite lovely.Simply a gem. Seriously worth a watch. So, please, watch and enjoy.