What Maisie Knew (2012) Film Review

Director:- Scott McGehee and David Siegel
Starring:- Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Onata Aprile, Steve Coogan and Joanna Vanderham

For David Siegel and Scott McGehee, two directors who have only been involved with a handful of films (their previous one being in 2008 with Uncertainty), What Maisie Knew represents a wonderfully mature offering that delves into the lives of several characters each individually wrapped up in a child who is locked in the middle of a cruel custody battle. 

In this highly watchable feature, we follow the lives of Susanna (Julianne Moore), an ageing and failing rockstar desperate to recreate her glory days at any cost and her freelance art dealing husband Beale (Steve Coogan) as they battle for full custody of their daughter Maisie, incidentally a difficult part played wonderfully and maturely by Aprile Onata. As their respective careers become more demanding, they each lose focus of their child. Fortunately for Maisie, Beale has in the mean time married Maisie's long term nanny Margo (Joanna Vanderham) and in turn Susanna has, by revenge more than for love, married the attractive bartender Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard). Despite their age, the two spouses are mature and selfless enough to pick up the pieces when Maisie is left with nobody to look after her.

There are some powerful performances in this picture. However Steve Coogan, I'll be honest, the only reason I watched this film, was poor to middling and thankfully picked up before his tour de force that was Philomena. His character is often seen as unconvincing and not helped by the fact he was speaking with a strange pseudo London/New York accent. For a man who prides himself on his ability to ape almost any voice, this offering was troubling at best. Despite this, Skarsgard played the uneasy Lincoln with aplomb, as does Julianne Moore playing the ageing rockstar role perfectly. The undoubted star however was Onata Aprile- a beautiful young girl with a temperament and calm to match, soberly playing the forgotten child expertly. One to watch for the future. 

This film is based on the Henry James novel of the same name, so the script is duty bound to follow his words. However, as is my wont, I screamed and cried at the screen for the obvious not to happen, and oh look it did! Typical Hollywood. You'll have to find out what this was when you watch it, and make sure that you do because it is 90 minutes well spent- effectively a crueller modern day Kramer vs. Kramer. Incidentally, this was the first film that I have seen completely on my mobile phone, and I have to say that the experience was agreeable.

IMDB.com Rating:-  7.5 out of 10 from 14,947 votes     

Supermegahybrid Rating:- 3.5 stars