-By Daniel Eagan
For movie details, please click here.
A fanciful account of one of the cornerstones of Irish culture,
The Secret of Kells makes few concessions for mainstream
viewers. Taking inspiration from the ninth-century illuminated
manuscript known as the Book of Kells, director Tomm Moore employs
an extremely stylized animation scheme that leans heavily on hand
drawing. With its narrow color palette and flattened perspectives,
this surprise Oscar nominee looks like no other current
feature.
Few commercial releases have plots like this, either. Set in an
abbey at Kells, the story opens with the community under threat of
attack from Northmen. Some monks want to concentrate on their
traditional work of copying and illustrating biblical texts. But
Abbot Cellach (voiced by Brendan Gleeson) has thrown the resources
of the abbey into constructing an enormous wall around the village.
His young nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire) is drawn to the forbidden
forest outside the walls.
The arrival of Aidan (Mick Lally), a famous illustrator from the
Scots island of Iona, brings the conflict between Cellach and
Brendan to a head. Aidan carries with him a magnificent but
unfinished book of sacred texts, and urges Brendan to contribute to
it instead of working on fortifications. In search of material for
ink, Brendan ventures into the forest, where he meets Aisling
(Christen Mooney), a young girl with magical powers.
Spirits dominate the second half of
The Secret of Kells,
with Brendan at one point venturing into what looks like a
subatomic world to battle an evil demon for possession of a magic
crystal. The Northmen, who resemble villains in
Samurai
Jack, seem to have mystical powers as well. They also point out
Moore's wide-ranging influences: the Book of Kells, of course, but
also everything from Japanese watercolors to Warner Bros.
cartoons.
Not everyone will appreciate how Moore attributes one of Ireland's
premier religious treasures to shape-shifting foxes and
hallucinogenic inks. The story as a whole may have made more sense
as an illustrated book than a movie, especially one whose
repetitive dream sequences and flashbacks come off as padding.
While older viewers may grow impatient with the film's slow pacing,
youngsters may have trouble simply following the plot.
For much of
The Secret of Kells, the animation is
serviceable, even pedestrian. But at times Moore offers new
insights into how the original artwork was created, especially when
he puts into motion the Celtic knots and other decorative devices
that adorn the Book of Kells. While his film is simplistic and at
times disappointing, it does draw welcome attention to a true
masterpiece of art.
Film Review: The Secret of Kells
Helped by the spirit world, an Irish youth illuminates an ancient sacred text. Meticulous drawing helps compensate for this cartoon feature's obscure storyline.
March 4, 2010
-By Daniel Eagan
For movie details, please click here.
A fanciful account of one of the cornerstones of Irish culture,
The Secret of Kells makes few concessions for mainstream viewers. Taking inspiration from the ninth-century illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells, director Tomm Moore employs an extremely stylized animation scheme that leans heavily on hand drawing. With its narrow color palette and flattened perspectives, this surprise Oscar nominee looks like no other current feature.
Few commercial releases have plots like this, either. Set in an abbey at Kells, the story opens with the community under threat of attack from Northmen. Some monks want to concentrate on their traditional work of copying and illustrating biblical texts. But Abbot Cellach (voiced by Brendan Gleeson) has thrown the resources of the abbey into constructing an enormous wall around the village. His young nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire) is drawn to the forbidden forest outside the walls.
The arrival of Aidan (Mick Lally), a famous illustrator from the Scots island of Iona, brings the conflict between Cellach and Brendan to a head. Aidan carries with him a magnificent but unfinished book of sacred texts, and urges Brendan to contribute to it instead of working on fortifications. In search of material for ink, Brendan ventures into the forest, where he meets Aisling (Christen Mooney), a young girl with magical powers.
Spirits dominate the second half of
The Secret of Kells, with Brendan at one point venturing into what looks like a subatomic world to battle an evil demon for possession of a magic crystal. The Northmen, who resemble villains in
Samurai Jack, seem to have mystical powers as well. They also point out Moore's wide-ranging influences: the Book of Kells, of course, but also everything from Japanese watercolors to Warner Bros. cartoons.
Not everyone will appreciate how Moore attributes one of Ireland's premier religious treasures to shape-shifting foxes and hallucinogenic inks. The story as a whole may have made more sense as an illustrated book than a movie, especially one whose repetitive dream sequences and flashbacks come off as padding. While older viewers may grow impatient with the film's slow pacing, youngsters may have trouble simply following the plot.
For much of
The Secret of Kells, the animation is serviceable, even pedestrian. But at times Moore offers new insights into how the original artwork was created, especially when he puts into motion the Celtic knots and other decorative devices that adorn the Book of Kells. While his film is simplistic and at times disappointing, it does draw welcome attention to a true masterpiece of art.
