The often prolific Michael Winterbottom has been known for directing several films in different genres whether exploring eroticism in 2004's 9 Songs or 1998's I Want You, exploring the music scene again in 9 Songs and 24 Hours Party People. More recently, Winterbottom went to the making of a making-of film in making an impossible film adaptation of Tristram Shandy. In 1999, Winterbottom goes into more intimate detail from his early films to explore the dynamics and dysfunctions of a family dealing with their own individual lives and the people around them in the film Wonderland.

Written by Laurence Coriat and directed by Winterbottom, Wonderland is an ensemble-based feature about three sisters and their parents preparing for Guy Fawkes Day while dealing with their own individual lives. The film reveals the dysfunctions and loneliness in family life as sisters often coming together to talk about real-life problems. With an all-star cast that includes Gina McKee, Molly Parker, Shirley Henderson, Ian Hart, and Stuart Townshend. Wonderland is a powerful, poignant family drama from Michael Winterbottom.

It's Thursday night as Nadia (Gina McKee) is currently in London socializing at a party while looking for love. Meanwhile, her elder sister Molly (Molly Parker) is late in her pregnancy talking to her eldest sister Debbie (Shirley Henderson) about the pregnancy as well as Debbie's life as a single mother to her 11-year old son Jack (Peter Marfleet). Nadia returns home failing to find connection with someone as she hopes the next day would be better. It's Friday as Molly's husband Eddie (John Simm) is leaving for work. Nadia runs into her father Bill (Jack Shepherd) who asks her if she needed a ride. Nadia works as a waitress where she meets Debbie who asks Nadia to babysit Jack for the night. Debbie works at a salon while seeking her own love life after divorcing Dan (Ian Hart). Nadia gets a call from a personal ad where she's to meet a photographer named Tim (Stuart Townshend) for lunch. The meeting becomes a success as Nadia's hopes are blossoming.

Meanwhile outside of London, Darren (Enzo Cilenti), the youngest brother of the sisters, is taking on a trip with his girlfriend Melanie (Sarah-Jane Potts) as he hasn’t seen his family in years. Back in London, Bill’s wife Eileen (Kika Markham) is becoming frustrated with a dog next door as well as Bill's inability to help around while he's trying to fix his car. Nadia watches Jack as Debbie goes on a date with a man where Nadia remembers that Jack's own birthday is coming who shares the same day with his uncle Darren. Around this same time, a shy, lonely young man named Franklyn (David Fahm) is shutting himself in his room. Eddie meanwhile, is feeling the pressure of his upcoming new life with the birth of his new child as he finds himself unhappy with his job selling kitchen appliances and wants to quit his job.

Saturday arrives as Dan is set to take Jack for the weekend as his mother is about to go out and work. Dan takes Jack to a football game but things get tense as Dan seems to favor himself more than his son. Meanwhile, Molly gets her hair done by Debbie as she talks about a weird dream and later on, she calls Eddie at his job and learns that he's not working there anymore. When she confronts Eddie later that night, Eddie is unsure of what to do as he wander around in London.

After accidentally being locked out in his own home, Bill hangs out with Eileen's friend Donna (Ellen Thomas) as the two have fun for a bit before Eileen returns home from a bingo game. Eileen's frustration over her marriage and the barking doll takes its toll as she does something drastic. After dropping Jack off in his apartment, Dan goes out to the pub where he meets Nadia knowing about her dating thing as she leaves a bit upset about Dan calling her. Nadia leaves to go on her date with Tim but left unhappy and disappointed as she mulls over her loneliness.

Sunday comes as Eddie hasn't returned home. A distraught Molly talks to her sisters about Eddie's disappearance only later to start having labor pains. Nadia attempts to make a connection with Tim only to learn that night that Jack is missing. Jack left his father to go to the bonfire for Guy Fawkes Day as Nadia and Dan search for him. With Molly in labor, the family comes together while Eileen's criticism over Eddie annoys Bill who reveals the reason why Darren hasn't made contact with the family for such a long time.

While family life isn't always easy and at times, very lonely. Director Michael Winterbottom chooses to convey realism in a documentary-like fashion in his approach to the film. The theme of the film is indeed loneliness and the urge to connect with people. A family as unique as the ones in this film are portrayed with sympathy and complexity. They don't make the right choices sometimes and they let things get in the way.

Yet, Winterbottom lets the audience to relate to the characters and get to know them in the film's first act. The structure of the screenplay is set on a weekend where the Thursday-Friday segment reveals on who these people are and how they're dealing with everyday stuff. The second act reveals more of those troubles and alienation and this is where the story really begins. By the third act, we see everyone be more human as well as secrets into why this family who aren't often together trying to seek some form of happiness.

It's Winterbottom's direction that really brings life to the film. He observes every moment captured on film. Whether it's Franklyn wanting to get the attention of Nadia, Nadia seeking love, or Eddie struggling with the arrival of a child and a huge responsibility that comes with it.

It's in that direction, that is almost similar to the improvisation styles of both Britain's Mike Leigh and the late American director Robert Altman, where the audience get to see these characters and how they're connected in some way. Even the shots of London reminds the audience of where they are and how vast this city is where people try to find something and as big as it is, it's also easy to feel very lonely there. Winterbottom surpasses the expectations of what is needed in a family drama or an ensemble drama. He chooses to capture a moment, even when audiences know it's going to be happy or sad.

Helping Winterbottom in his documentary-like vision is cinematographer Sean Bobbitt. Using 16mm film and with low light, the film has a grainy yet homemade feel that adds not just a sense of realism but also style as if the audience themselves are immersed in the moments. Bobbitt's photography is exquisite in its authenticity that includes for the fact that all the camera work is hand-held. Production designer Mark Tildesley helps create the look of working-class London with its array of appliances and such along with the pictures and posters that surround Franklyn's room. Costume designer Natalie Ward also adds to the look of the working-class by not choosing anything flashy or expensive but rather the clothes that everyday people wear.

Editor Trevor Waite brings a lot of style to the film's editing with some wonderful speed sequences to convey the energy and loneliness of the characters while slowing things down at times. With uses of jump-cuts and perspective cuts, the editing is stylized yet works to convey the drama and observation of Winterbottom's direction. Sound editors Louis Bertini and Ian Wilson help capture the feel of London with natural sounds and a feel from the fireworks and the noises that the audience can feel right at home.

The film's soundtrack features cuts by acts like Pulp, Massive Attack, James, Faithless, the Jam, Ali, Alisha's Attic, and Dusty Springfield. The songs in the film are often played in the background on a radio or something just to give it a feel of realism or as someone's personal soundtrack. A lot of the music is performed by composer Michael Nyman. Nyman's score is really a highlight of the film. Nyman adds a somber yet delicate touch to some of the film's piano cuts to convey the loneliness and struggles of everyday life. Then there's his orchestral work with is filled with huge arrangements and power that isn't manipulative or overdone. It's very real and also emotional to convey where the characters are at the point of the story. If there's anyone other than Winterbottom that should be commended for his work, it's Michael Nyman.

Then there's the film's wonderful ensemble cast features memorable small performances from Sarah-Jane Potts as Darren's girlfriend Melanie, Ellen Thomas as Franklyn's frustrated but caring mother Donna, and Ian Hart as Jack's irresponsible, pub-going father Dan. Peter Marfleet is great as the neglected Jack who is forced to fend for himself when his own father isn't doing a lot while having to grow up quickly that his parents aren't always there despite the fact that they along with his immediate family do care for him.

Enzo Cilenti is also good as Darren, the son who is estranged from the family as he spends the weekend with his girlfriend though is desperate to reconnect with the family he left. Stuart Townshend is also in fine form as a flirtatious photographer who seems to be the right guy for Nadia but is also very shady in his own intentions. David Fahm is excellent as the shy, lonely Franklyn who often hides in his own room while often seeing Nadia from afar as he tries to find the courage to speak to her.

Kika Markham is excellent as Eileen, a frustrated, agitated woman who seems to find fault in a lot of things while dealing with a barking dog next door. Jack Shepherd is also excellent as Bill, who seems to be overwhelmed in his rocky marriage as well as being the only man in the house. Shepherd's performance is amazing for how he tries to deal with all the turmoil as well as his wife's own cruelty. John Simm is great as Eddie who is trying to deal with the new changes in his life while wandering London looking for some answers about his upcoming new role as a father.

Molly Parker is amazing as the pregnant Molly who is anxious awaiting for her new child but when she learns Eddie quits his job and disappears, Parker's performance is amazing in reveal her sadness and anger. Shirley Henderson is also great as the eldest yet irresponsible Debbie who is more interested in sleeping with other man than taking care of her own son. When Jack gets lost, Henderson reveals the depth of her performance as she realizes her own faults and such. Gina McKee is also great in her role as the youngest sister Nadia who seeks companionship with men only to find disappointments and heartbreak while dealing with her own role as a sister, aunt, and daughter.

Released in 1999 where it was nominated for the Palme D'or at the Cannes Film Festival, the film helped raise Michael Winterbottom's profile as an auteur for British cinema. The film would win a Best Film Award at the British Independent Films award while nominated for Best Picture at British Academy Awards. While not as entertaining as 24 Hour Party People or as epic as The Claim, Wonderland is still a brilliant yet dramatic masterpiece from Michael Winterbottom thanks to a great cast and a powerful film score by Michael Nyman.

Michael Winterbottom Films:

Jude (1996):

(Coming in 2007)

I Want You (1998):

http://www.epinions.com/content_392856309380

The Claim (2000):

(Coming Soon)

24 Hour Party People (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_74688597636

In This World (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_145666576004

Code 46 (2003):

http://www.epinions.com/content_394013675140

9 Songs (2004):

http://www.epinions.com/content_290447658628

Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story (2005):

http://www.epinions.com/content_297383136900

The Road to Guantanamo (2006):

http://www.epinions.com/content_397638405764

A Mighty Heart (2007):

http://www.epinions.com/content_381302509188




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age