Phoebe in Wonderland

This was an ok film - but I was SO aware of the 'acting' going on that it wasn't believable for me. I thought Bill Pullman, although he didn't have many scenes, the most believable. Elle Fanning . . . in my mind I kept seeing the director say, "now ACTION".She got on my nerves with her 'so perfect' diction and wide-eyed wonder at everything. And Felicity Huffman, I guess if she changes her hair color it makes her a better actor - but not here. Patricia Clarkson's character was just plain silly. I felt like I so wasted my time watching this movie.

I agree with the other reviewers that this is a brilliant movie and especially Ella Fanning's ability to handle the part very convincingly as has her sister Dakota has done in her roles-- talent seems to run in the family. I will however disagree that Phoebe had OCD -- I am not a psychiatrist and don't think much of psychiatrists. Instead I feel the whole country of adults are obsessed with a compulsion to not listen to children going back to the ageist chauvinistic philosophy that children should be seen and not heard. This observation is not without merit as I noticed the theatrical version doesn't even list Ella Fanning as one of the actors. Possibly another rating is needed. We have PG (parental guidance) and could use a rating CG (child guidance).

This is an odd tale of a young girl who turns out to have several OCDs that cause her problems at home and especially at school. Elle Fanning does a fantastic job as Phoebe, who doesn't know why she does these things and wants to stop. Her sister is adorably outspoken, and the kids in the movie are more fun to watch than any of the adults. Campbell Scott is oddly cast as the principal, while Patricia Clarkson gives her usual strong performance as a drama teacher who is eccentric yet caring. Felicity Huffman and Bill Paxton play some rather strange parents who seem to live a life of the mind as writers but also have a nice house and apparently a nice chunk of income too. There are also some interesting visual effects that occur when Phoebe imagines herself interacting with the characters from Wonderland. Worth watching for young Fanning's talent.

By now, you know this is not another rendition of Alice or some x-rated story. However no review can come near to preparing you for what you are about to watch. An intelligent young girl is facing people that force structure in everyday life on her and seem to have an unreasonable in for her. Her mother defends the daughter's actions, as children will be children. Phoebe seems to do best when she is concentrating on a school play of Alice in Wonderland. Yes, the film centers on Phoebe but looking at the story and you will see that most of the major characters from the family, to the school, to others each carries their own emotional baggage and not just through Phoebe's eyes. How each person deals with Phoebes' onset of OCD; will they recognize it? More important is how would we react as any of the charters in this drama? Pan's Labyrinth [Blu-ray]

Wow. I put this on at 2 am thinking it was a kids movie that I could watch as I drifted to sleep. I was very wrong. Instead, it's a complex, deep, insightful masterpiece that made me cry two or three times. Don't be fooled by the cover. This is not a movie for children. The story focuses on a free-willed family with writer/scholar parents, and very bright young daughters. The lightheartedness slowly gives way to a deep heartfelt story of a young girl developing OCD and Tourettes while just trying to keep her lead in the school play of Alice in Wonderland. Her drama teacher, played by Patricia Clarkson, is a quiet, Nanny McPhee-type who is able to connect to Phoebe a little bit better than everyone else. I almost got annoyed with that, since it is rather cliche, but it's really Phoebe's mom (the brilliant Felicity Huffman) who connects with Phoebe the most. You'll laugh one moment and cry the next as you take this journey with such an endearing and interesting family. Phoebe befriend... Read more