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by Jim Pappas Published: December 13, 2004
 Foreground: Klaus Baudelaire (Liam Aiken), Sunny Baudelaire (either Kara or Shelby Hoffman) and Violet Baudelaire (Emily Browning), aka "The Baudelaire Orphans." Background: Mr. Poe (Timothy Spall)." A tale of woe and sadness, full of misery and despair, is "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." At least that is what the narrator, Lemony himself (Jude Law) would like you to believe. The truth is, it is an amusing modern fairy tale based on ages old ideas, ideas like mistreated orphans (the three Baudelaire children), evil relatives scheming to steal family fortunes (Jim Carrey as Count Olaf), dowager aunts (Meryl Streep as Aunt Josephine, who has made one too many visits to "Crazy Town" according to the baby Baudelaire child, Sunny, played by twins Kara and Shelby Hoffman), and eventually it is also a murder mystery. This film was produced by Nickelodeon's film unit, responsible for the "Rugrats" movies as well as the current "Spongebob Squarepants" film, and is designed to appeal to older children, children who will be exposed to some very dark things by this film, but nothing that is too graphic or horrifying, although there is one segment featuring some leeches that could give some kids (or even adults!) nightmares. The film is directed by Brad Silberling who has a kind of "clipped" style, but it was effective in this movie as that is exactly the type of direction that adds to the overall emotional ambience generated by the events presented. We really shouldn't take any of this all too seriously, I believe Silberling is saying. Written for the screen by Robert Gordon from books by Daniel Handler, the story is about three children whose parents are killed in a fire, a fire that destroys their home and estate. The Baudelaire orphans, as they become known en toto, are Violet (Emily Browning), Klaus (Liam Aiken) and the aforementioned baby Sunny. The film opens with the death of the parents, and the rest of the time we see the orphans shuttled from one morbidly eccentric distant relation (of dubious relationship, we find out) to another, like herpetologist "Uncle Monty" (Billy Connolly), and Aunt Josephine, who is a character that must be experienced to appreciate true lunacy. The series of unfortunate events referred to in the title describes what happens in this movie, but it doesn't reveal the true nature of these events. I guess "The Addams Family" comes to mind when one thinks of "Snicket's," but there isn't anything supernatural present, just a kind of all pervading "darkness" that adds to a sense of impending doom. That is the ambience to which I referred, but it is contradictory in nature, as through the bad shines the good. There are triumphs here, the human spirit over adversity and presence of mind over panic are examples. With all the good things about "Snicket's" there is also the bad. There is a scene towards the end of the film that is of questionable taste. I can't elaborate but it concerns the 14 year old Violet and the adult Count Olaf. It could be that I have a dirty mind, but certain things lent themselves to interpretation, if you know what I mean. I have prejudices and maybe I'm overreacting, especially given the scene's overall purpose, but I just think that there are certain connotations present that can't be overlooked entirely. If you see the film you'll understand to what it is I refer. I also think the film lacks much in the way of emotion. The kids never do seem all that sad about the loss of their parents and everything seems kind of sterile, in a way. I would like to say that "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" is a film that is meant to teach young adults that life isn't always fair, the good guys don't always win, and the path to freedom is a struggle and a fight. That is the message here, and it is a solid and good one. I don't know if Mr. Silberling had that in mind (I suspect he did on some level, though) when he took the reigns of this endeavor, but I certainly think there is more implied than what is on the surface. This movie might receive mixed reviews, as there is a certain kind of state of mind and way of looking at things necessary to find appreciation for "Snicket's," but I am one who has those requisite attributes, I think. Overall Rating: B+ |
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