Sublime adaptation of timeless tale
The BFG (PG) 117 mins
Roald Dahl’s story proves timeless (even 34 years after publication) in this lovingly crafted, sublime bit of live-action-with-clever-CGI filmmaking by everyone’s favourite childhood movie director, Steven Spielberg.
Smart, plucky Sophie is an orphan whose middle-of-thenight encounter with a big friendly giant takes her to Giant Country where their touching relationship develops, thanks to Sophie’s maturity and the BFG not, in fact, being today’s type of child-stealing predator. Adventures ensue as the BFG introduces Sophie to his job as a dream distributor, while also keeping her safe from the humaneating giants in his community.
Spielberg’s handling of The Adventures of Tintin ,in collaboration with Weta Workshop, is evident here, as familiar faces like Jemaine Clement are rendered visually unrecognisable (but characteristically excellent) as the chief bad giant, Fleshlumpeater (Dahl’s wacky names and neologisms are delightfully intact).
Moreover, the set design and accompanying cinematography is simply stunning – you literally can’t be too old for this film; remarkably it taps straight into your very human-bean-ness and transports you to the wonder of childhood, despite having none of the usual adult jokes or double address of recent animations.
Central to its unrelenting charm is the relationship between Mark Rylance’s BFG (the great actor’s features brilliantly illustrative) and 12-year-old Ruby Barnhill, in her second screen role. Although the plot stumbles slightly during a visit to the Queen (how very Dahlian, how very 1980s), a terrific climax with astounding camerawork puts The BFG at the top of anyone of any age’s movies of the year.