Review: What Maisie Knew

What Maisie Knew takes the not so original story of divorce and places its own spin onto it. 

Director(s): Scott McGehee and David Siegel

Writer(s): Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright

Starring: Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Steve Coogan, Joanna Vanderham, Onata Aprile

Released: September 7, 2012 (Toronto International Film Festival), May 3, 2013

Based on: What Maisie Knew by Henry James

Plot: In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.

4/5 Tonies 

“We're supposed to go on a boat tomorrow.”

What Maisie Knew is a film that embodies all the obstacles of divorce, despair, and helplessness, and throws it right in your face. From the start the movie tugs at your heart strings; however, the primary driving force of the film is not, simply, the story but the main character, Maise (Onata Aprile).

The story follows Maisie, a loving, yet quietly precocious and observant girl, who begins to understand how essentially selfish, irresponsible, and damaged her parents really are. As each of their new relationships disintegrate, Maisie becomes part of a whole new family. Her mother, Susanna (Julianne Moore), is a pushy but seductive rock and roll icon who lives with Beale (Steve Coogan), a charming and distracted art dealer. Unnerved by the prospect of middle-aged stasis and drawn to other lovers, the couple eventually separate. Maisie, their only child, is caught in the middle and shuttled back and forth between her parents. Susanne and Beale attempt to start their lives afresh by using two new partners, Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard) and Margo (Joanna Vanderham), as a means of competing for custody of Maisie.

The film provides an insightful look at a universal topic: divorce. It allows you to see it through the eyes of the child rather than the divorcees, which works to its advantage. Maisie embodies much more than a cute face; she portrays the very essence of humanity. Of course in a much more naïve way, but in no way warped or hazed from the actual problem. Maisie is played by Onata Aprile who gives an amazing performance. At such a young age (seven years old), she provides a heart-wrenching portrayal that is both believable and outstanding. She doesn't say much, but her actions and mannerisms speak for her. Throughout the film, you see her develop from a young girl to a fully formed person who understands the complications and complexities of her dysfunctional family. Onata is not the only one to impress, however. The cast as a whole creates a performance that is nothing but extraordinary. They give us a sense of the true emotions going through their minds as they face every obstacle; it brings you in and doesn't let you go.

The story may seem a bit unoriginal (that's what I thought when I first read about the film) but, after watching it, you enter a full realm of complexities. Yes, the story alone is something that you may have heard before, but the outlook and tone of the film are something of its own. It helps you understand that, during situations such as this, those affected aren't, as much, the divorcees themselves but the ones around them. It allows you to see through the eyes of an unexpected character, the child.

A standout element was the script. There was dialogue and lots of it. But none of it was truly crucial to the story. It did nothing more than work as a simple aid, guiding the viewer through the film. The big player within the script is the action. It starts subtly and breaks out into a grand performance. Watching each character build is quite amazing. What you thought of one person evolves and becomes something completely different by the end of the film, which goes back to the adept performances.

Another component to add to the list is the cinematography. Each shot felt specifically placed and helped the film move fluidly. The camerawork throughout provides a feeling of intimacy giving you more room to connect with each character. It wasn't anything that hadn't been done before, but it definitely helped set the tone of the film.

What Maisie Knew faced little to no problems. However, I did notice an issue within the pacing and development of the film. It told a story, but in such a manner that, at times, it felt unattainable to the eye. There was so much story compacted that it began to feel as if you were racing behind trying to reach the end. Overall, this does not affect the quality or story within, but it did leave room for some unanswered questions and awkward jumps in the film.

All in all, this film was fantastic, filled with an amazing cast and an equally impressive story. What Maisie Knew is a film that will leave you both emotionally distressed and with a complete sense of hope at the same time.

Pros: Strong performance, great acting, strong characters and story

Cons: Development and pacing

4/5 Tonies.

Written by Anthony Centeno