Now that I've seen the movie four times and had a bit to think on it, I'm ready to review it. Keep in mind that I am not a movie reviewer, just a person rattling about what I thought. If you want a plot summary, you'll have to check elsewhere. Of course, talking about the plot to this movie is on the line of talking about the plot to the dream you had last night. Dream logic rules.
First off, the opening credit sequence is about the most visually captivating that I have ever seen. Dave McKean really knows his stuff. From the first moments of the film, I was unable to tear my eyes away from the screen for a second. All thoughts of fidgeting or settling in fled and I was transfixed. The rest of the movie continued in that vein.
The framing story, set in the circus and in Brighton, England is beautifully photographed. The council flats, the tumbledown remains of the burnt Brighton Peir, and the circus are all very real and filmed realistically as a grounding point for "real life". The images are crisp and vivid. The pier and the block of flats in particular made me want to be there with my camera.
The computer images section of the film had so much going on that even after 4 viewings of the film I was discovering new things every time I saw it. (Watch closely when Helena is reaching for a book on the shelf at the library...try to read the titles.) You can get lost in the visuals. The design aspect of the costumes is also wonderful. I'm trying to decide if I could pull off the Queen of Shadows or Dark Helena for Halloween next year.
Of course, there is more to MirrorMask than just looks. Stephanie Leonidas keeps the film moving as Helena with a very self-assured performance. She gives the right blend of confidence and confusion for both the waking and dreaming segments: in "real life" she is a teenager who simulateously wants to rebel against her parents and cling to them for comfort, the the dream world she is a dreamer who lucidly knows that she is dreaming and can effect things ("This is *my* dream.") and someone who doesn't quite know the answers...or even the questions.
Jason Barry, as the charming and shifty Valentine, keeps us guessing. He's only looking out for number one, or is he? If we are drawing parallels to Labyrinth, he is our Hoggle. A more handsome, albeit masked, Hoggle.
Gina McKee plays Helena's mother, as well as both the Queen of Light and the Queen of Shadows. Most of her screen time is as the Queen of Shadows, and she really works the darkness. I must say, the air quotes on "quality time" killed me every time I saw them.
I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite sequence in the film, but one that sticks with me the most is Helena's transformation scene. After watching it, it is very difficult to get "Close to You" out of your head. I'm also rather fond of every scene with the sphinxs.
It's theatrical release has been very limited, though I think it is one of those movies best seen for the first time on the big screne. If you haven't seen it yet but would like to, I'd suggest calling the managers of any local movie theaters that play the more "arty" films. Ask them if they can get it. Otherwsie, look for it to be coming out on DVD.
