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Roald Dahl's Matilda (1996)

Director: Danny DeVito

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4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

This adaptation is paradoxical, a film celebrating the fruits of book-reading that's not as good as the original novel. DeVito can't resist the Hollywood touch - special effects, suspect stereotypes, crushing music - especially in the latter stages. Still, mainly he's stuck to the book, and anyway, there's scope enough in Dahl's slipstream for something worthwhile. Our heroine (Mara Wilson) is a precocious, bright, spunky young thing somehow born to mindless, amoral, stupid neanderthals. Dad (DeVito) is a crooked car dealer, Mum (Perlman) a bingo junkie; they both ignore her. When she's finally sent to school, it's as part-receipt for a used car Dad's sold to the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull (Ferris). Alas, the teaching methods of this Olympic hammer-throwing harridan are open to question - her idea of a perfect school is one with no children. DeVito's snappy, kinetic visual style fits the cartoon feel of the material, and the cast is great. It's a modern-day pantomime about childhood solidarity and self-empowerment: the real joy here is the view of generational war, the children's assumption of zero tolerance for injustices inflicted by absurd adults, and the recognition that the big meanies should be punished, by fair means or foul.

Author: NB 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • maddie said...
    Posted on Nov 12 2009 18:03 you suck for not putting a pictua hoe man.re with thiis.your
    Report as inappropriate
  • Bruce013 said...
    Posted on Apr 23 2009 23:22 Wonderful film with a fantastic cast. Little Mara Wilson is so adorable in the title role (and indeed in any role she is in), and when she is treated so unfairly, one wants to shield and protect her from further abuse.
    Report as inappropriate
  • sara said...
    Posted on Dec 31 2008 16:27 i love this film the best!
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  • Hannahh x said...
    Posted on Feb 27 2008 14:12 Fab Film =)
    One Of My Favorites
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Cast & crew

Director: Danny DeVito

Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Liccy Dahl

Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris, Brian Levinson full cast

Genre(s): Children's

Duration: 98 mins


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