The 90s in a Nutshell (Wonderland (DVD))

Member Name: flodombey

Product:	Wonderland (DVD)
Date:	15/03/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Perfect snapshot of 90s and great scenes of London

Disadvantages: Some stilted dialogue and weak scenes

I am currently re-watching lots of old films which I have recently bought on dvd, finally replacing old VHS when I get the chance. I hadnt watched this for about 8 years but having read another review of it on here I decided it was about time I revisted it.

This film was released in 1999 and was directed by Michael Winterbottom (more recently famed for 24 Hour Party People - one of my favourite films of all time). It was a bit of an 'indie' flick when it was released and I distinctly remember having to travel to Wolverhampton to watch it at the Lighthouse Cinema (doyen of Indie and art house films in the midlands) because it was given a very limited release on the big screen. At the time this most definitely heightened its appeal to me, then a student with a need to appear 'cool'.

So how did it fair 10 years after its release? Actually I was quite surprised at how affected I was by revisiting it. I never really noticed that I was a child of the 90s or even that the 90s had a particular look or feel to them (especially given their proximity to the incredibly distinctive 80s and 70s) but watching this film again now bought it all back with stunning clarity.

Notably this film was nominated (but did not win) the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Winterbottom has also had two of his other films nominated for the same, these being 24 Hour Party People and Welcome to Sarajevo.

Cast
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Being an indie flick, most of the names were not known at the time, the main characters are as follows and a couple of the names you might recognize:

Shirley Henderson - Debbie
Molly Parker - Molly
John Simm - Eddie
Gina McKee - Nadia
Ian Hart - Dan
Kika Markham - Eileen
Jack Shepherd - Bill
Enzo Cilenti - Darren


Plot
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The film charts the intertwined lives of three sisters living in London in the mid 90s. Their lives are very different, Molly is about to have a baby with Eddie (Simm) but all is not as perfect as it seems, he loses his job but doesnt have the courage to tell her and the film charts the last few weeks of her pregnancy and shows the cracks and the strengths in their relationship. The second sister Nadia is desperate to find a new relationship and spends the film on a series of blind dates with varying degrees of success, yearning for an end to the classic loneliness of suburban city life in a tower block.

Debbie (Henderson) is the third sister who struggles to bring up her son on her own with a particularly useless biological dad on the sidelines. She seems to be the bridge between the other two sisters and the one with whom they both have a healthy relationship. It is never really touched on but is clear that Molly and Nadia, for whatever reason, do not particularly get on. It becomes clear that there is a fourth sibling who features minimally, this being a brother called Darren.

The parents of the three sisters are Bill and Eileen (Shepherd and Markham) and their relationship is like a textbook marriage from hell. He is the downtrodden, nagged at husband and she is the entirely dissatisfied wife. Trapped in middle age with no children at home it seems that they are destined to grow old with increasing irritation at each other.

Nothing major really happens, the film just charts the intricacies and complications of family life in a very literal, warts and all way.


The Good
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This film is so very 'of its time' that it gave me a massive dose of nostalgia revisiting it now. I mean this in a number of ways, I never realised how, well, how 90s the 90s were. The fashion, the hairstyles, the way EVERYBODY smoked (you will be seriously amazed at the way virtually every character - except for pregnant Molly - has a cig in hand in most scenes, im sure it would not be allowed now).

The scenes around central London are beautifully shot and capture the best side of the capital, all landmark buildings, famous bridges, neon signs and red buses. The faded, filthy glamour that we all associate with the city comes across so clearly and as an ex London resident it resonated with me.

Also very 90s is some of the stop-frame editing and techniques used to portray time going at different speeds, it just has a particularly 90s feel to it, think Madonna's Ray of Light video and you will get what I mean.

The score of the film is interesting on its own, arranged by Michael Nyman it is beautiful and quite haunting at points, Nyman has apparently called it his favourite score of all time.


The Bad
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When I first watched this film in 99/00 I thought it was the epitome of hip, cool, indie cinema. Watching it now, I realise that it is flawed by trying to be so achingly cool. The dialogue in parts is very weak and Simm (arguably the strongest actor at the time this was made) is just ok in what is actually a pretty lame part. Henderson stands out as a quirky and interesting actress more than as a good character. At times it really is cringeworthy watching the stilted scenes between the sisters, it is hard to tell now whether they were meant to feel this awkward or not.

Winterbottom has proved himself as a director with his other films and I think this was a poor forerunner to 24 Hour Party People where he really hit his stride.


Overall
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A good nostalgic visit to the 90s with some really interesting and enjoyable scenes. Not perfect in terms of plot and dialogue but a worthwhile watch and a great, well scored, piece of film which documents a particular time and place very well. Rent it if you can and reminisce about a decade largely overlooked.

Run time: 108 mins

Summary: A nostalgic journey through the lives of a 90s family.