Last week, I blogged the opening of Mirrormask, a new feature film written by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, directed by Dave McKean, with creature effects by the Henson Creature Shop. Gaiman is the writing genius behind the dream-like Sandman comics and the fable-like novels Coraline, American Gods and Anansi Boys (I finished Anansi Boys yesterday and boy was it a corker). McKean is the artist who has illustrated many of Gaiman's projects, books like The Wolves in the Walls (he also produced the amazing, lush paintings on the cover of my latest novel)
I've just come from seeing the film and I'm here to tell you, it's worth the price of admission and then some. The look of the film is the first thing that takes you: it's pure McKean, gorgeous and lush and surreal and vivid as a dream, perfectly capturing the feel of the Sandman.
Then you notice the writing. It's a rare film that successfully translates the ineffable oomph of a prose writer's style to the big screen. Gaiman's work is quirky, understated, funny and smart. In Mirrormask, it translates brilliantly to the screen. The dialog crackles. It's laugh-out-loud funny. It's spooky. It's weird and perfectly complimentary to McKean's illustration style.
This is a collaboration between three incredibly talented fantasists, two of whom have done so much work together that they clearly are in nigh-psychic communication with one another. I want to see this one again, and again. I haven't seen a film as lovely as this since Brazil. I haven't seen a film as enchanting since The Princess Bride.
The opening weekend grosses will determine the film's long-term success. You've got one more day to see it when it counts — catch it tomorrow and help spread it to a world that needs it.
Update:: The Onion AV Club interviewed Gaiman and McKean about the production — apparently they were at strong odds through the production process, showing that storms are as important as sunshine to collaboration. (Thanks, Ryo!).
Also, check out the Cinematical coverage of the piece, with a long interview. (Thanks, Karina!)
