The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is streaming on Netflix at the time of writing. Rated PG. Common Sense says 8.
STORY: C
There’s not a whole lot to this story.
At first glance, the story seems an odd choice for adaptation. A selfish man learns a technique that allows him to see through things. He uses his gift, and he learns a life lesson from it. Plot twists do not exist in this story. “Cinematic” moments don’t even appear few and far between. They’re simply not there.
But though the story may be more empty than most, that just gives Wes Anderson more freedom to fill the free space with oodles of his typically innovative whimsy.
Here’s some info about the original story by Roald Dahl.
PEOPLE: A-
Every actor knows their assignment and aces it.
Wes Anderson is a director known for his trademark visual style. But he also has a very consistent way that he directs his actors. They stand extremely upright. They deliver their lines dryly, often sounding authoritative but confused at the same time.
Ralph Fiennes is well familiar with Anderson’s expectations. He played the lead role in the Academy award winning The Grand Budapest Hotel. Newcomers Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade, and Ben Kingsley all slip into Anderson’s unique aesthetic seamlessly.
FILM NERD STUFF: A+
The creative set design is reason enough to watch (and love) this film.
It took only one moment early in this film to hook me for its entirety. Here’s what happens: Roald Dahl (played by Ralph Fiennes) walks from his writing room to his mailbox.
On paper, it’s not a particularly thrilling moment. Yet what makes it extraordinary is that Fiennes barely takes more than a couple steps. Instead of him actually walking, fancy pieces of set design move and arrange themselves around him like Tetris pieces. Shrubbery descends from the rafters. The front fence rolls into the camera’s view. His house disappears up into the sky.
The way the actors remain stationary makes the film feel like a play. They barely move throughout the film while their entire world either flies away or rolls into place with impeccable timing.
HOW YOU SAY IT (Elective Class): A-
Wes Anderson is a filmmaker you want to watch, no matter what story he’s telling.
A memorable story almost always requires two things. One, the story needs to be a good story. Second, it needs to be told well. If you’ve got those two things, you’re golden. If you’ve got neither, forget about it.
And if you’ve only got one of those two things, usually your story is in big trouble. Unless your name is Wes Anderson.
You won’t be racing to share plot details with other people. But you won’t be able to stop yourself from ranting to everyone you meet about the way Anderson tells it. You’ll gush about the extraordinary set design. You’ll fawn about how the characters always turn to the camera to say, “He said,” when they’re talking.
Wes Anderson’s incredible filmmaking skills make any movie he makes memorable and worth watching.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Of the four Roald Dahl short that Anderson recently released on Netflix, this is the best. All are worth watching. They’re a delightful, fun reminder of cinema’s storytelling powers.