4/11/2023 0 Comments Ivan the silverback gorilla![]() The ever-resilient Rockwell brings something fresh-feeling to a philosophical character, one who discovers a surprising aptitude for drawing when he’s given broken crayons by the daughter (Ariana Greenblatt) of Mack’s production assistant (Ramón Rodríguez). The film never spills over into pathos thanks to the measured direction of Thea Sharrock (2016 romantic drama Me Before You) and the thoughtful performances. There’s a palpable melancholy running throughout, not to mention a poignant thread of Charlotte’s Web woven into both the Applegate book and the adapted screenplay by Mike White (who also voices Frankie the seal and pops up in a brief cameo). He spends his off-hours hanging out with the aging Stella ( Angelina Jolie), a soft-spoken maternal elephant literally on her last legs, and Bob ( Danny DeVito), a scrappy and loyal mutt.īut the arrival of Ruby (Brooklynn Prince), a cute baby elephant whom Mack is depending on to turn things around, forces Ivan to confront his long-repressed past and for the first time address a potential future while keeping a promise to Stella regarding Ruby’s well-being. Meanwhile, his mighty 400-pound star attraction has settled into a steady (by his own count, 9,855-day) routine, even as he begins wondering if he’s lost his chest-pounding edge (“Why do they want an angry gorilla anyway?”). Like the circus show itself, the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade off Exit 8 can’t help but feel like a fading anachronism with its dwindling audiences and struggling ringmaster/proprietor, Mack ( Bryan Cranston), who faces each new day fending off a creeping, sweaty resignation. Seven Impossible Things Before BreakfastĮnter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.While the result isn’t exactly the stuff of broad, rousing summer escapism, those animals in captivity certainly capture the ongoing lockdown zeitgeist, making for a fitting home-viewing shift from the film’s intended Aug.One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books.Watch The One and Only Ivan book trailer: Tackling themes of mortality and compassion, all while remaining an accessible and satisfying, this is a book that will stick with readers. If The One and Only Ivan ends up with Newbery recognition this year (and it will definitely be in the discussion), it will be Ivan’s voice that carries it there. Stoic, concise, and honest, I think this works perfectly for the character. Applegate has described her approach of leaving a lot of space as reflecting Ivan’s spare voice and isolation. While the style resembles a novel-in-verse, that label doesn’t quite fit. A difficult feat to imagine from a tiny cell. The gorilla makes a promise – to take care of the young elephant by getting her into a Zoo. When a young elephant, Ruby, comes to the Mall it snaps Ivan out of his malaise. Brought out of Africa by hunters and bought to act as the main attraction at an open air mall, Ivan whiles away his days in a plexiglass and concrete cell watching tv, painting, and interacting with the other “attractions” at The Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Through first-person (or rather, ape) perspective, Ivan shows the reader his world. Ivan is a silverback gorilla, and he is far from his true home. A fine piece of storytelling with well-realized characters that packs an emotional punch. The One and Only Ivan is this sort of book. But when it works, animal fiction has a way of endearing itself to readers in a uniquely lasting way. Must be that whole “trying to authentically convey the thoughts and actions of a completely different species” thing. While the appeal is broad, it seems like the rate of true success is comparatively small. For a children’s book, inhabiting the world of animals can be a dicey proposition. ![]()
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