Director: Steven Spielberg.
Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jermaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
Score: John Williams
First Spielberg film directed for Disney and Disney's Second Roald Dahl adaption after 96's James and The Giant Peach; finding out DreamWorks Pictures (not the Dreamworks Animation) signed a 30 picture deal with Disney back in 2009, with BFG being the first collaboration film since Dragonslayer with Paramount in '81.
Based entirely on Dahl's personal favourite of his children's novels, with the screenplay written by Harrison Ford's ex-wife and Spielberg's good friend Melissa Mathison, who was also the brain-child behind E.T. She sadly passed away last November due to cancer, who this film is dedicated to.
A young Ruby Barnhill plays the kidnappee Sophie very well but a little annoying; I'm blaming the character more than her acting. But it has to be Mark Rylance who's the big star of the film and rightly so. His diction is incredible and if there was only one thing good to come out of Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, it would be where the two met leading to Rylance being casted for BFG. (I actually like Bridge of Spies, especially for Rylance.) his facial expressions says so much.
Some might think it's all CGI but Disney/DreamWorks did something not done before, well, Weta digital did; and that was actually using a hybrid blend of performance and live action on real sets. Unfortunately, whilst looking impressive in parts, it does look weak and cheap in others but not so bad you dislike the film. Maybe it looks so real it doesn't.
Spielberg regular John Williams, does the score but isn't wholly noticeable, but Williams has spoilt us with iconic film themes spanning the decades, especially Spielberg's and Lucas' masterpieces. It's not a score that grabbed me, enchanted me or be one I would purchase, but, that doesn't mean it bad, because it's not, it suits the film.
I'm not a great fan of Dahl, though not a disliker of his works or the film adaptations, just never enjoyed them as much as most kids at school. I don't actually remember owing any of his books and I think our literature classes skipped him altogether so unfortunately I wasn't as hyped and I mildly entertained by the film if not disappointed with Spielberg final cut; didn't even feel like a Spielberg movie, but I believe fans and children will love it.
Running Time: 7
The Cast: 8
Performance: 9
Direction: 7
Story: 8
Script: 8
Creativity: 8
Soundtrack: 6
Job Description: 6
The Extra Bonus Point: 5 purely for Mark Rylance's expressive performance.
72% 7/10
