Alice in Wonderland *** (2010, Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway) – Classic Movie Review 3715

Tim Burton’s sweet and nice 2010 Disney movie is a pleasant plod through English literature, aimed particularly at teenaged girls and their mothers. It is pleasing and lovely to look at but disappointingly mild, bland and predictable, adding nothing to the legend and lore of the Lewis Carroll book or previous film versions, including Disney’s own beloved animation version, Alice in Wonderland (1951).

Who’d have though a Tim Burton film could be quite so dull, uninventive and unimaginative? It is conservative film-making when he used to be all about exciting and provocative alternative cinema. Yet it is his most successful film at the box office, and prompted a belated sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass, in 2016.

Alice in Wonderland won two Oscars – for Best Achievement in Costume Design (Colleen Atwood) and Best Achievement in Art Direction Robert Stromberg (production designer)  and Karen O’Hara (set decorator). It was also Oscar nominated for Best Achievement in Visual Effects (Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas, Sean Phillips). It won two Baftas, Best Costume Design and Best Make Up & Hair (Valli O’Reilly [Make Up] and Paul Gooch). It also won Best Fantasy Film and Best Costume at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA 2011.

Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter in a weirdly fey way, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, and Danny Elfman for Best Original Score – Motion Picture. It’s a sign of decent, crafted work, but that’s all. 

Mia Wasikowska is a reasonably feisty Alice, though not specially appealing, Anne Hathaway feels a bit lost as the White Queen and Helena Bonham Carter enjoys herself extravagantly as the evil Red Queen.

Outstanding among the vocal cast, Alan Rickman provides the voice of the Blue Caterpillar. And Christopher Lee provides the voice of the Jabberwocky. Michael Gough voices the Dodo Bird.

RIP Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough. Adieu dear departed.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3715

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