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View Full Version : Mary and Max (2009)


earlsmoviepicks
02-09-11, 12:24 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgRjB8PEDkM

I was blown away by this claymation feature by award-winning animator Adam Elliot. This is the story of a pen-pal relationship between Mary, a lonely 8-year old Australian girl, and Max, an overweight, middle-aged, troubled recluse in New York.


This film features the most original and skilled claymation you will see. However, beware, Wallace and Gromit, it is not. Some serious issues going on here, including alcoholism, depression, mental illness, sexuality, suicide, death, and violence. And for your pleasure, presented in the most charming and often hysterical way.


Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette offer up their voices for the main characters. PSH absolutely nails it with a spot-on Jewish New York accent and perfect sensibility for the troubled Max. The mighty Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) narrates.


Max suffers from Asperger syndrome, which is an autistic-like disorder that plagues him with a crippling disconnect from other people, coupled with obsessive behavior. He's smart and fully aware of his problems, like so many people are in the world today.


Wow. Painful and beautiful, and often funny-as-hell.

wintertriangles
02-09-11, 01:14 PM
Adult animation is fantastic. Harvie Krumpet, Adam Elliot's film before this, was also really good.

stevo3001
02-10-11, 11:57 AM
Superb film, moving and very funny.

Vladivostok is one of my favorite words too.

christine
02-17-11, 02:43 PM
Lovely film which dealt with those issues mentioned above so well. I've worked with teenagers with Aspergers Syndrome and Max portrayed so well the difficulties they can encounter in day to day life.