Wonderstruck (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Wonderstruck

| image = Wonderstruck film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Film poster

| director = Todd Haynes

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Pamela Koffler
John Sloss
Christine Vachon

}}

| screenplay = Brian Selznick

| based_on = {{based on|Wonderstruck|Brian Selznick}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Carter Burwell

| cinematography = Edward Lachman

| editing = Affonso Gonçalves

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = {{Plainlist|

}}

| released = {{Film date|2017|5|18|Cannes|2017|10|20|United States}}

| runtime = 116 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $7 million

| gross = $3.3 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wonderstruck.htm |title=Wonderstruck (2017)|website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=IMDb |access-date=October 12, 2018}}

}}

Wonderstruck is a 2017 American mystery drama film directed by Todd Haynes, based on the 2011 novel Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, who adapted the novel into the screenplay. The film stars Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Millicent Simmonds in her film debut.

Wonderstruck premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017, and competed for the Palme d'Or. It was given a limited release in the United States by Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions on October 20, 2017. The film received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Premise

The film interlaces two stories set 50 years apart, switching frequently between them, with the older story filmed in black and white. Each tells the story of a child's quest. In 1927, young, deaf girl Rose runs away from her father's New Jersey home to find her mother/idol, the actress Lillian Mayhew. In 1977, recently orphaned Ben, made deaf by a freak accident, runs away from his Minnesota home in search of his father.

Cast

Oakes Fegley as Ben
Julianne Moore as Lillian Mayhew / Older Rose Mayhew
Michelle Williams as Elaine Wilson
Millicent Simmonds as Rose Mayhew
Jaden Michael as Jamie
Raul Torres as Jamie's father
Murphy Guyer as Security Chief
Tom Noonan as Older Walter Mayhew
Cory Michael Smith as Walter Mayhew
James Urbaniak as Dr. Kincaid, Rose's father
Amy Hargreaves as Aunt Jenny
Damian Young as Otto
Morgan Turner as Janet
Lauren Ridloff as Pearl, The Maid

Production

Todd Haynes directed Wonderstruck based on an adapted screenplay by Brian Selznick, who also wrote the novel of the same name. Haynes was involved as director by May 2015 with Christine Vachon producing under her Killer Films banner.{{cite news | last1=Kay | first1=Jeremy | last2=Wiseman | first2=Andreas | url=http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/todd-haynes-is-wonderstruck/5088277.article | title=Todd Haynes is 'Wonderstruck' | work=Screen Daily |publisher=Screen International | date=May 18, 2015 | access-date=May 3, 2017 }} Haynes said his previous films had mostly been period films and that Wonderstruck{{'}}s double-period premise, set in the 1920s and the 1970s, intrigued him. The director also considered the story "a classic mystery" in learning why two stories are being told and how they would connect.{{cite magazine | last=Kilday | first=Gregg | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wonderstruck-how-todd-haynes-shot-a-double-period-film-child-actors-lots-silence-q-a-1004617 | title='Wonderstruck': How Todd Haynes Shot a Double-Period Film With Child Actors and Lots of Silence (Q&A) | magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=May 17, 2017 | access-date=October 2, 2017 }} He saw it as a family film and as an opportunity to make a film about children that children could also see.{{cite news | last=Turan | first=Kenneth | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-cannes-todd-haynes-20170519-story.html | title='Wonderstruck' director Todd Haynes reveals how he found the deaf actress so good it gave him chills | work=Los Angeles Times | date=May 19, 2017 | access-date=October 2, 2017 }}

In November 2015, Julianne Moore had been cast in the film, with Pamela Koffler and John Sloss joining as producers.{{cite news | last=Fleming | first=Mike Jr. | url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/julianne-moore-todd-haynes-wonderstruck-carol-far-from-heaven-1201625626/ | title=Julianne Moore To Reteam With Todd Haynes On 'Wonderstruck' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=November 16, 2015 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }} In April 2016, Jaden Michael, Cory Michael Smith, Michelle Williams, Oakes Fegley, and Amy Hargreaves joined the cast of the film.{{cite magazine | last=Kroll | first=Justin | url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/michelle-williams-julianne-moore-todd-haynes-wonderstruck-1201749476/ | title=Michelle Williams to Star With Julianne Moore in Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck' | magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Business Media| date=April 8, 2016 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }}{{cite news | last=Pedersen | first=Erik | url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/sam-richardson-vanessa-bayer-office-christmas-party-jaden-michael-wonderstruck-1201740317/ | title=Sam Richardson & Vanessa Bayer RSVP For 'Office Christmas Party'; Jaden Michael Gets 'Wonderstruck' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=April 19, 2016 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }}{{cite news | last=Lincoln | first=Ross A. | url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/cory-michael-smith-wonderstruck-max-greenfield-glass-castle-1201741074/ | title=Cory Michael Smith Joins 'Wonderstruck'; Max Greenfield Entering 'Glass Castle' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=April 21, 2016 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }}{{cite news | last=Lincoln | first=Ross A. | url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/oakes-fegley-wonderstruck-erick-chavarria-office-christmas-party-1201742397/ | title='Pete's Dragon' Star Oakes Fegley Lands Leading Role In 'Wonderstruck'; Erick Chavarria Attends 'Office Christmas Party' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=April 22, 2016 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }} In May 2016, James Urbaniak joined the cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/wonderstruck-todd-haynes-james-urbaniak-joins-cast-1201758280/|title=James Urbaniak Joins Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck'|first=Ross A. |last=Lincoln|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=May 18, 2016| work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media}} Among those cast was Millicent Simmonds, a deaf actor from Utah.{{cite news | last=Lincoln | first=Ross A. | url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/todd-haynes-wonderstruck-millicent-simmonds-deaf-actress-1201741276/ | title=Deaf Performer Millicent Simmonds To Co-Star In Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=April 21, 2016 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }} Haynes said they wanted to cast a deaf actor since deafness was integral to the two stories and the driving theme in the film. He instructed his casting director Laura Rosenthal to seek out deaf children around the country and if they could not find someone, they would cast a hearing child. They sought out deaf communities and received audition tapes from 200 deaf children. Simmonds was cast,{{cite news|last=Coyle |first=Jake |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_FRANCE_CANNES_WONDERSTRUCK_UTOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |title='Wonderstruck', with deaf newcomer Simmonds, lands at Cannes |agency=Associated Press |date=May 18, 2017 |access-date=May 20, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024155300/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_FRANCE_CANNES_WONDERSTRUCK_UTOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |archivedate=October 24, 2020 |url-status=dead }} and on set, she worked with American Sign Language interpreter Lynette Taylor.

Principal photography began on May 4, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2016/05/02/tuesday-may-3-filming-locations-ydkk-wonderstruck-series-unfortunate-walking-dead-blacklist/|title=Tuesday, May 3 Filming Locations for YDKK, Wonderstruck, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Walking Dead, The Blacklist, & more!|website=On Location Vacations|author=Christine|date=May 3, 2016|access-date=May 4, 2016|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504114549/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2016/05/02/tuesday-may-3-filming-locations-ydkk-wonderstruck-series-unfortunate-walking-dead-blacklist/|url-status=dead}}{{cite tweet|user=kvpi|number=727797362941251584|title=Day One of WONDERSTRUCK (here we go!!)|first=Christine|last=Vachon|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=May 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ssninsider.com/on-the-set-for-5616-taron-egerton-starts-kingsman-sequel-hugh-jackman-begins-on-wolverine-3-rooney-mara-robert-redford-finish-the-discovery/|title=On the Set for 5/6/16: Taron Egerton Starts 'Kingsman' Sequel, Hugh Jackman Begins on 'Wolverine 3', Rooney Mara & Robert Redford Finish 'The Discovery'|website=SSN Insider|publisher=TSS News|author=SSN Insider Staff|date=May 6, 2016|access-date=May 6, 2016}} Filming took place in Peekskill, New York.{{cite web|last=Flores|first=Ricky|url=http://www.lohud.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2016/05/05/todd-haynes-production-of-wonderstruck-being-filmed-in-peekskill/83976914/|title=Todd Haynes production of Wonderstruck being filmed in Peekskill|work=The Journal News|publisher=Gannett Company|date=May 5, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2016}} Production concluded on July 3, 2016.{{cite tweet|user=kvpi|number=749243307641933824|title=one more day!|first=Christine|last=Vachon|date=July 2, 2016|access-date=July 4, 2016}} The 1927 scenes were filmed in black and white in 35-negative anamorphic, which differs from the aspect ratio of silent films. Haynes, who was a fan of silent film directors F.W. Murnau and King Vidor, watched numerous silent films and observed that there was a wide range of styles that disappeared when sound technology made cameras too bulky to move easily. In Wonderstruck, the black-and-white scenes have a near-continuous musical soundtrack and use some design features that Haynes said were "not naturalistic or literal". The 1977 scenes were filmed with color-negative film in a way that matched the visual language of films from the 1970s, and also had "a gritty urban color" like the films Midnight Cowboy (1969) and The French Connection (1971). Both parts were filmed by cinematographer Edward Lachman.

Release

Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions distributed the film.{{cite news | last=Sneider | first=Jeff | url=https://www.thewrap.com/julianne-moore-todd-haynes-wonderstruck-amazon-studios/ | title=Amazon Studios Near Deal for Todd Haynes, Julianne Moore Movie 'Wonderstruck' (Exclusive) | work=TheWrap | date=December 9, 2015 | access-date=May 4, 2016 }} Amazon Studios partnered with Roadside to distribute Wonderstruck in the United States. It had its world premiere on May 18, 2017, at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival,{{cite web | url=http://affif-sitepublic-media-prod.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/media_pdf/0001/53/78a5dd5bfbf16245a7385ff40f749cd6ac6293e2.pdf | title=2017 Screenings Guide | publisher=Cannes Film Festival | access-date=May 11, 2017 }}{{cite news | last1=Tartaglione | first1=Nancy | last2=Evans | first2=Greg | url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/cannes-film-festival-2017-lineup-full-list-official-selection-1202068596/ | title=Cannes Lineup: Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, Noah Baumbach, 'Twin Peaks' | work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=April 13, 2017 | access-date=April 13, 2017 }} where it competed for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section.{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/actualites/articles/the-2017-official-selection |title=The 2017 Official Selection |work=Cannes |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=13 April 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/04/cannes-2017-lineup-list-film-festival-schedule-1201804813/ |title=2017 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup: Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, 'Twin Peaks' and More |work=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Business Media |first=Graham |last=Winfey |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=13 April 2017}}

It also screened at the New York Film Festival on October 7, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/wonderstruck-new-york-film-festival-centerpiece-selection-todd-haynes-1202124304/|title=Todd Haynes-Helmed 'Wonderstruck' New York Film Festival Centerpiece Selection| work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2017}} The film began a limited release in the United States on {{nowrap|October 20}}, 2017, before a wider release in mid-November 2017.{{cite magazine | last=Lang | first=Brent | url=https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/wonderstruck-roadside-amazon-1202408177/ | title=Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck' Scores Awards-Season Release From Roadside, Amazon (Exclusive) | magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Business Media | date=May 3, 2017 | access-date=May 3, 2017 }}

Reception

=Box office=

Wonderstruck has grossed $1 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $3.3 million.

=Critical response=

Wonderstruck was met with a three-minute standing ovation following its premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-todd-haynes-wonderstruck-gets-warm-standing-ovation-1004260 |title=Cannes: Todd Haynes' 'Wonderstruck' Gets Warm Standing Ovation|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=Chris|last=Gardner|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2017}} On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 68% based on 228 reviews, with an average rating of 6.70/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Wonderstruck{{'}}s efforts to juggle timelines and tonal shifts aren't always smooth, but the end result still adds up to an emotional journey whose visual thrills live up to its title."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wonderstruck/|title=Wonderstruck (2017) |publisher=Fandango Media |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=March 8, 2023}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|title=Wonderstruck Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wonderstruck|publisher=CBS Interactive |work=Metacritic |access-date=January 5, 2018}}

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review writing: "Alive with the magic of pictures and the mysteries of silence, this is an uncommonly grownup film about children, communication, connection and memory."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/wonderstruck-review-cannes-2017-1004568 |title=Wonderstruck Film Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=David|last=Rooney|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2017}} David Ehrlich of IndieWire also gave the film a positive review writing: "A soul-stirring and fiercely uncynical film."{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/05/wonderstruck-review-todd-haynes-brian-selznick-cannes-1201818831/|title=Cannes Review: With 'Wonderstruck,' Todd Haynes Returns With A Profoundly Moving Fable For All Ages |publisher=Penske Business Media |work=IndieWire |first=David|last=Ehrlich|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2017}}

= Accolades =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! scope="col"\| Award ! scope="col"\| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"\| Category ! scope="col"\| Recipient(s) and nominee(s) ! scope="col"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan="3"\| Saturn Awards \| rowspan="3"\| June 27, 2018 \| Best Performance by a Younger Actor \| Millicent Simmonds \| rowspan="3" {{nom}} \| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/\|title='Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations\|last=McNary\|first=Dave\| magazine=Variety \|publisher=Penske Business Media\|date=March 15, 2018\|access-date=March 15, 2018\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023438/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/\|archivedate=March 16, 2018\|url-status=live\|df=mdy-all}}
Best Music \| Carter Burwell
Best Independent Film \| Wonderstruck

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Recipient(s) and nominee(s)

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| Saturn Awards

| rowspan="3"| June 27, 2018

| Best Performance by a Younger Actor

| Millicent Simmonds

| rowspan="3" {{nom}}

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/|title='Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations|last=McNary|first=Dave| magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Business Media|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023438/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/|archivedate=March 16, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Best Music

| Carter Burwell

Best Independent Film

| Wonderstruck