Wednesday, March 17, 2010

BRENDAN AND THE BOOK OF KELLS




Animated feature film

PRINCIPAL VOICES
Brendan Gleeson: Abbot Cellach
Evan McGuire: his young nephew Brendan
Liam Hourican: Brother Tang
Mick Lally: Aidan, famous illustrator from the island of Iona
and others no doubt

REVIEW
For me there were two good reasons to go see the film:
1. it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
2. being of Irish decent I have more than a passing interest in all things Irish including Ireland's premier religious treasure, the 9th century illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells

What I had not bargained on was the slow pace and not being able to understand just what was going on: were they building a wall around the abbey or drawing pictures in a book? Or none of the above?

The other thing that is a bit off-putting is the unusual flattened perspective of the drawings; the figures look strange, nothing like real people even in “cartoon-mode”. And the use of a limited pallet (mostly green and pale blue) further distracts from any sense of reality.

I stuck it out for half an hour then left.

CLASSIFICATION


P.S.
When I entered the theatre just before the movie began it was completely empty. Never a good sign.

P.S.S.
It did not win an Academy Award. I’m in total agreement with the voters on this one.

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