Back in May, the Weinstein Company acquired the U.S. theatrical rights to “The Young and Prodigious Spivet,” an adaptation of Reif Larsen‘s charming illustrated novel “The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet,” from “Amelie” director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. While no domestic release date for the English-language 3D movie has even been tentatively penciled in, it’s still coming out in October in France (in IMAX, no less) and thanks to a newly released trailer and a bunch of new stills, we can at least get a little taste for what the noted stylist has up his sleeve. Prepare yourself; heartstrings will be tugged.
Basically, ‘Spivet’ is about a young inventor (played by adorable newcomer Kyle Catlett) who wins a contest at the Smithsonian Institute. So he packs up and leaves his eccentric family’s ranch, headed for his destiny. Of course, along the way he meets a bunch of equally eccentric weirdos who teach him life lessons and hopefully don’t try to do weird stuff to him (he is, after all, a little kid traveling cross-country alone). The movie co-stars Niamh Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter, Callum Keith Rennie and Judy Davis (is she having a moment or what?).
The book was a charming work of discovery, as each page revealed a new diagram or illustration or map. It looks like Jeunet, with his first film since the oddball, little-seen, Fellini-esque heist movie “Micmacs,” has captured that unique sense of discovery beautifully. By the time the trailer wraps up and the music from “Cloud Atlas” comes in, either you’re welling up a little bit or you’re officially a robot. Hopefully the Weinstein Company will schedule this beast soon, although their Oscar season dance card seems to be filling up quick and, barring some kind of resounding critical and financially windfall in France, we probably won’t see this until sometime in 2014.
Watch the trailer below, courtesy of Twitch Film, and check out 15 new photos from the film, each of them pretty as a picture.
Just seen this film at the San Sebastián film festival. Absolutely loved it. It's beautiful to look at, funny, moving, quirky, gentle and thoughtful. Drew massive applause from the audience as the title credits rolled at the end. For me, the best Jeunet film so far.
It's closing the San Sebastian Film Festival Sept 28.
I think this looks great. Imaginative and heart-warming. A little manipulative, but as Scorcese said – that's the object of filmmaking. Or someone like Scorcese anyway.
Rick Mercer is in this!? I knew it was shot in Canada, from B.C. to Alberta to Quebec, and I can see a number of prominent Canadian actors, but weird to see Rick Mercer in a movie.
From the photo, it looks as though he is an American talk show host. I'm interested to see him try and hide his Newfoundland accent, as anytime he tries other accents on the Rick Mercer Report or This Hour, he hasn't done well. Still, neat to see him in something.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 2?
Waay too much quirk and clichéd imaginary of "wonder and adventure" for me to care for this (trailer). Looks like any recent dull Michel Gondy effort.