MirrorMask (2005)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Dave McKean

Writers (WGA):

Neil Gaiman (story) &
Dave McKean (story) ...

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

An extraordinary dream quest to rescue a world out of balance.

Plot:

In a fantasy world of opposing kingdoms, a 15-year old girl must find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save the kingdom and get home.

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Dream | Fantasy World | Queen | Grandmother

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Stephanie Leonidas	...	Helena / Anti-Helena
Jason Barry	...	Valentine
Rob Brydon	...	Morris Campbell / Prime Minister
Gina McKee	...	Joanne Campbell / Queen of Light / Queen of Shadows
Dora Bryan	...	Aunt Nan
Stephen Fry	...	Librarian
Andy Hamilton	...	Small Hairy
Simon Harvey	...	Sphinx
Lenny Henry	...	Cops 1-4
Robert Llewellyn	...	Gryphon
Eryl Maynard	...	Mrs. Bagwell
Eve Pearce	...	Future Fruit Lady
Nik Robson	...	Pingo / Bing (as Nik Robinson)
Victoria Williams	...	Nurse
Rick Allen	...	Man In a Box

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:PG | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Ireland:12A | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:(Banned) | Italy:T | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Germany:12 | South Korea:All | New Zealand:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Black Island Studios, Alliance Road, Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Jim Henson Productions

Trivia:

Josefine Cronholm's version of Burt Bacharach's classic song "Close to You", performed in the film during the scene where Helena is dressed by mechanical handmaidens, was inspired by composer Wayne Horvitz's 1997 cover version of the song featured in the tribute album "Great Jewish Music: Burt Bacharach" (sung by Julie Wolf and Robin Holcomb).

Quotes:

Valentine: What the hell have you got on your feet? Is that some kind of sick joke? Going around on little rabbit-like animals with every step? That's just... nasty.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'MirrorMask' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

If I Apologise

MirrorMask is the quintessential Alice in Wonderland story.

Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman's MirrorMask is the quintessential Alice in Wonderland story. The world that these two immensely gifted artists and storytellers have created is the very definition of mind-blowing, offering up one of the most astonishing and original fantasy realms since Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's The City of Lost Children over a decade ago. The amazing dreamscapes of Helena is truly Dave McKean's art brought to life, and is just through and through a perfect fit for Neil Gaiman's highly imaginative and at times quirky style of writing. The character inhabiting this strange tale, both the flesh and blood ones as well as those digitally rendered, are every bit as memorable as their surroundings. Stephanie Leonidas is quite simply a revelation as Helena, giving her a childlike innocence that, together with the emotionally rough seas of a teenager, makes for a very fascinating and real-felt performance. And you wouldn't for a second believe her to be anything but a troubled teen, despite her actual twenty-two years of age. Gina McKee delivers an equally impressive performance as Helena's mother, Joanne, and as the Dark Queen she has such a stunning presence about her that not even the most wicked of witches or evil of step-mothers could overshadow her for even the fraction of a second. Dave McKean's feature film directorial debut is a masterpiece, short and simple, and the feast that he serves up with MirrorMask is one that I most definitely will never tire of...