'Matilda' by Danny DeVito Review: A simple story with creative filmmaking

I really cannot recall how many times I have seen Matilda throughout my life. Growing up owning it on VHS and having siblings that loved the film and thus seemingly had it on repeat over the uears of our childhood. Matilda was a film that we loved, even though it felt strange and cruel. A tale meant for the family that displayed kindness and childhood innocence with a passion for learning. Of course as mentioned still detailing much of the cruel found within the world, ranging from mean parenting, to the harsh and seemingly militarised nature of school principles. Of course from a child's perspective, the two potentially most evil types of people to exist. Though in the case of Matilda, this story isn't met without some type of supernatural gift that makes our protagonist stand out a little more from other children, giving off another look at the idea of a gifted child.

It seems I often forget that Matilda was also directed by the much loved Danny DeVito, of which most would recognise in his more recent performance as Frank in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Though also holds a position in the film as Matilda's father. This always makes me end up enjoying the film a little extra as the years go by, seeing the talent of the actor and director, versatile is his knowledge of filmmaking and capable of playing both serious and highly comedic roles; though he started off in the days of Taxi, which some may know of. Funnily DeVito goes as far as even narrating the film as well as acting in it.

To add, Matilda is a film that is meant for the family, but holds some really appealing and creative directing to it, utilising many camera movements and perspectives that add to the film's almost comic like nature. Something I only came to notice with this most recent reviewing. Adding to my appreciation for the film.

Matilda

Anyone familiar with Matilda may be familiar with the source material it is based on. Originally created by a British author named Roald Dahl that wrote many stories aimed for children. Including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, and The Witches. This of course gives you a general idea of what Matilda is in terms of how it perceives the idea of a children's story while still very much grounded in displaying the weirdness and cruelties often found in life, even for the youth. Matilda explores the idea of childlike innocence surrounded by modern idiots. Taking certain stereotypes of certain characters within a child's life and exaggerating them for the purpose of story. Matilda follows a bright young child with a drive for learning, though born into a family that holds no ambition outside of material possessions and the consumption of television. This contrast serving up as the disconnect between a young girl's curiosity for the world and a struggling working class family that doesn't care much else for anything but money.

The way in which Roald Dahl creates stories can be quite, well, disturbing in part. Where characters and their cruel nature particularly towards children that results in a rather unsettling world, typically where other adults seem completely oblivious to it all. Though it works in establishing this idea that the world is from a child's perspective. This also adds to a wide range of characters that feel unique, both in visuals and characteristics. Something that seems a bit more rare in today's filmmaking as characters almost seem identical, even through appearance. DeVito translates this all into a film adaptation very well, particularly through the simplicity of colour to display positivity and negativity. Bright colours around Matilda to display their innocent and good nature, and dirty dark tones to display the bad that surrounds. Even going as far as displaying the mould that appears on the ceiling of Matilda's school that is seen for only brief moments during one scene, where it is only seen in the background. It adds so much to the environment and world building just with a little attention to detail that expands upon characters themselves. Of which even the characters stand out: Matilda's friends having defining characteristics. One tall and long, another short with rounded features, even as far as large circular glasses. It reminds me much of animations where character designs are exaggerated and made to stand out.

Set design contributes to all of this so well, as mentioned in regards to the mould. Though the school goes as far as holding additional signs that our principle is just evil. The text: 'you are not learning if you are having fun' sits above the chalkboard in the classroom. A set of rules on either side that details the very militarised expectations she holds for the students that must obey at all times. This adds to colour and design of the world they are within too. Showing a New York urban environment but mixed alongside the strange futuristic look of the 60s as buildings have interesting designs and colours that certainly would not be used today. Vibrant and standing out, almost nightmarish in their look. This all places us into a world that doesn't quite seem all that similar to our own, showing something that does seem more of the works of fiction than reality, not quite allowing you to pinpoint exactly where this may be located. Only more through the accents that pertain to a very thick New Jersey and New York nature.

To add to this all is the use of creative camera movements that are used to amplify the characteristics visible. Dutch angles throughout the film on the mean characters, revealing their off-balance nature in society and displaying how it doesn't really serve much place here. Slow camera movements and up-close perspectives of Matilda, often looking down at her to show her small but powerful personality in regards to her innocence and intelligence. We see the camera even panning upward at characters to reveal their size and give us the view from those smaller, those who would be considered their victims. Children, to be exact. These creative angles are used throughout the film, and it seems like the camera is rarely still, and instead is in constant motion. It makes things more immersive and fast-paced when otherwise the scenes might not be that engaging in terms of action. This pushes these moments forward to the audience in a way that makes us feel that things are more serious. The introduction of a character or location. The tension building in a scene where children are challenging an adult.

As the film progresses we see how Matilda is capable of so much more. Extending beyond regular young intelligence and passion for learning, and into the real of holding supernatural powers to some degree. Capable of manipulating items with her mind. I guess there are plenty of ways in which we could analyse this aspect of her character and connect them to various potential metaphors, like the example of a gifted and misunderstood with underlying conditions, not quite getting the help they need to flourish and understand themselves, surrounded by people that make things worse. Some might refer to the idea of autism here, but I think I would be pulling at strings to make that connection. Though it is interesting to know such a comparison can be made.

Filmmaking

DeVito's directing talent takes a wholesome but strange approach to the Matilda story. With vibrant colours and cartoon inspired character designs and sounds. Often enough using cartoon like sound effects in moments of comedy. They work quite well given they aren't used too often. Though one of the best parts of the film comes down to its music choices. The score is great and fits the film perfectly. With songs containing lyrics only really used two or three times in the film, but during the moments of Matilda's greatest joys, when she gets to be herself. Over the span of montage sequences. Though the film still feels very much related to the family film genre that was so much larger back in the 90s and earlier 2000s.

Though Matilda's directing seems to be on a more serious note throughout the runtime. While still showing some of the comedic and relaxed aspects that make the film a wholesome story in which a young girl finds where she belongs in life, escaping the hardships she faced for most of her life before that. Still coming to an end on a positive note under DeVito's narration.

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