Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with my thoughts on the latest book-to-movie franchise starter: THE MAZE RUNNER. "Muldoon! Don't start to compare THE MAZE RUNNER to movies like THE HUNGER GAMES or DIVERGENT! That's not fair." You're absolutely right, and you know why? Because this film blows those two out of the water and then some.
I got to the theater and there was a line half wrapped around the outside. So many folks were waiting (with free passes mind you) to get in and check the movie out. I'm sure some of them were fans of James Dashner's novel and perhaps some just needed an excuse to get out of the house - whatever the case, they were there and the theater was packed, just the way I like it. I had seen a preview or two, but didn't know much else beyond "there's a big maze and in the middle is a group of kids who are just as confused as I am with just what the hell "the maze" actually is." That's the question that piqued my curiosity and got my butt in the seat. After the wild ups and downs at cineplexes this summer, I was a tad anxious - clearly wanting to enjoy it, but also not inherently trusting what I was about to see. I'll be honest, until this film, director Wes Ball wasn't really on my radar, so I had little to go on in terms of what to expect stylistically or really in terms of anything at all - I was just there to watch a new movie. I'm glad I was able to see it - it's damn good.
So you've picked up on the basic premise, "Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape" and that's just about all you should go into this film knowing. In fact, avoid the trailers and toss on any "ear muffs" when you hear folks chatting about it at the water cooler. I won't go into a play by play, but I will still give you some insight as to why I'm so impressed with the thing.
Let's start with cast. With a group of boys/young men carrying your film, you damn well better lock in a solid cast across the board or else you're stuck with an empty shell of a Hollywood spectacle, a "it could have been so much more!" kind of flick. It's rare you're afforded an ensemble of younglings who individually knock it out of the park and this film's got it. Strip away the CGI set extensions, the creepy music, and the bizarre otherworldliness of the situation at hand and you're still left with incredible performances from some fine young actors. The lead, Dylan O'Brien, absolutely demands to be watched. I'll admit, after watching the trailer - I thought "Okay, so they hired a pretty boy to nab the young female demographic, franchise stuff - got it." Holy hell, O'Brien's intensity and vulnerability, the range that kid showcases in this flick absolutely blows all of that preconceived BS out of the way. When the film starts and the kid is thrust into this bizarre situation and is lost/confused - you're just as lost and confused as he is and a massive part of that comes from just how "real" the kid was. Clearly he's the lead, thus the guy we're supposed to relate to and cheer on the most, but he brought his A-game and genuinely left me thinking "Okay, I don't know who this guy is, but I'm sure he'll be a household name in a few years," (well assuming he keeps his head on straight and doesn't Lohan himself). The lead's got chops; he's not just a pretty face, but someone you should look out for.
I can't talk about the level of quality acting and not mention Aml Ameen, the young man who plays "Alby," the leader of the tribe of boys. It's a strong character played by a damn fine actor. He gave me goose bumps twice during the thing despite not having as much screen time as O'Brian. There's a specific moment in the film when shit's just going to hell and this guy who has had to deal with so much, be there for everyone, keep everyone in high spirits, etc... lets out a brutal chunk of raw emotion and holds nothing back. Talk about "real," I mean it's how he took that moment by the horns that grounded the scene (let's just say it's a science fiction - "otherworldly" - scene that could have fell flat, like the climax of THE MUMMY RETURNS). It's obvious he trusted Ball and took this opportunity to showcase some real skill. With O'Brien and Ameen playing off each other, they bring the reality into this larger than life story, something I wasn't expecting from a spectacle movie.
Enough about acting, let's touch on the style of the film and the visual aesthetics of the thing. Enrique Chediak, the DoP, has a long list of credits on films with a clean hand held style (127 HOURS, CESAR CHAVEZ, 28 WEEKS LATER...) and that's how this film felt. While there absolutely were locked shots and standard set ups here and there, the bulk of the camera work felt truly intimate. It's no JASON BOURNE (not hating on it at all, just want to clarify). There's a true restraint here and one sequence in particular (SLIGHT SPOILER - but not if you've seen any trailer and/or have common sense) when the film's lead runs into the Maze as the doors are shutting. The frantic camera work and choppy editing really helped put you in that "oh shit, the walls are closing in on me and I'm freaking the hell out" kind of mood. There was obviously a lot of thought put into each shot, not just the shots that have a ton of CG composited on top.
The design of the box of land these kids are kept in is pretty cool, very Hook/"The lost boys" tree house mixed with LORD OF THE FLIES (obviously) with a dash of SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. It's aged and gives a little perspective as to how long these kids have been there. It's not fresh/fake looking and actually felt like something the kids could have hobbled together. Once we are in the maze however, it's a beautiful mix of old temple-style stone mixed with industrial technology, an interesting blend that feels very alien. All in all, the movie never feels cheap - instead you're pleasantly bombarded with strong epic imagery that compliments the close ups of O'Brian and the rest of the young cast.
So did I enjoy this film? Yes. Would I pay the $10.00 to see it in theaters? Yes. Was it the best movie I've ever seen, of all time? No, but that's some tall order. I liked it and think if you're on the fence or are at least slightly aware and thinking "Maybe I'll check this out" - I say go for it. Hell, wait until it hits the dollar cinema if you're really on the fence. I'm just saying it's definitely a film worth your time. Cool story. Great cast. More fun than THE HUNGER GAMES. If you have a chance, go check it out. This isn't "just a teens movie" in case you were thinking that... This is a fun movie that I think folks of all ages (well, really 10 to 60) can really get into.
- Mike McCutchen
"Muldoon"
Mike@aintitcool.com
