A Series of Unfortunate Events
Directed By: Brad Silberling
Screenplay by: Robert Gordon
Produced By: Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes, Jim Van Wyck
Based on: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Cedric the Entertainer, Luis Guzmán, Jennifer Coolidge, Meryl Streep
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
Edited By: Michael Kahn
Music By: Thomas Newman
Production Company: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Parkes, Macdonald Productions
Release Date: December 17, 2004Plot: In a clock tower, investigator Lemony Snicket begins writing a documentation regarding the whereabouts of the Baudelaire children: 14-year-old inventor Violet, her 12-year-old bibliophile brother Klaus, and their mordacious baby sister Sunny. One day, the children are orphaned when a mysterious fire destroys their mansion, killing their parents. Mr. Poe, the family banker, manages their affairs and leaves them in the care of Count Olaf, a nefarious stage actor intent upon obtaining their family fortune, which will remain in the custody of the bank until Violet turns eighteen. He forces them to do heavy chores and belittles them.
Driving back from the court where Olaf has legally obtained custody of the children, he stops to go into a general store, leaving them locked in the car parked directly on train tracks with a train heading towards them. They manage to divert the train by building a device to remotely activate the railroad switch. Mr. Poe arrives and takes them away, thinking that Olaf was allowing Sunny to drive.
The orphans are taken to their uncle, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery, an eccentric but kind herpetologist. However, Olaf arrives disguised as his assistant "Stephano". The orphans attempt to warn him, but he believes he is after the Incredibly Deadly Viper, a giant misnomer snake, in his laboratory. Montgomery is discovered dead shortly after, his death blamed on the viper. They are almost placed in Stephano's care by Mr. Poe, but Sunny proves his guilt by showing the viper is harmless and he escapes.
Mr. Poe leaves them with their Aunt Josephine, a grammar-obsessed widow with panphobia. Olaf appears, disguised as a sea captain named "Captain Sham", to meddle with their plans again. One day, Josephine is not at the house, leaving an apparent suicide note entrusting them to Captain Sham. Klaus deduces that Olaf forced her to forge the note, but she left a hidden message revealing her location. They sail to the cave where she is hiding and rescue her but attract leeches. Olaf appears and takes the children, leaving Josephine to be eaten by the leeches. Mr. Poe finds him with the children, and Olaf pretends to have rescued them. Mr. Poe is fooled and gives the children back to him.
Review: Fourteen-year-old inventor Violet Baudelaire, her twelve-year-old bibliophile brother Klaus, and their mordacious baby sister Sunny are orphaned when a mysterious fire destroys their home, killing their parents. Mr. Poe, the family banker, manages their affairs and leaves them in the care of their geographically closest relative, Count Olaf. He is a stage actor and either their third cousin removed four times or the inverse. He is intent upon obtaining their family fortune, which will remain in the custody of the bank until Violet comes of age. He forces them to do heavy chores and belittles them.
Later the orphans are taken to their uncle, Dr. Montgomery, an eccentric but kind herpetologist. However, Olaf arrives disguised as his assistant Stephano. The orphans attempt to warn him, but he believes he is after the Incredibly Deadly Viper, a giant misnomer snake, in his laboratory. Montgomery is discovered dead shortly after, his death blamed on the viper. They are almost placed in Stephano's care by Mr. POE, but Sunny proves his guilt by showing the viper is harmless and he escapes.
The story is cleverly woven and crafted. A litany of tragic events that lead the children through many adventures and dangers. Perhaps to get the complete story it would be best to read the book series. But for an enjoyable family film this is it.
M J Flack