Not Oscar material

Rating: 5/10 (10 March 2012)

A nice-enough little movie, but really, if it hadn't been a Schepisi movie that gives the life of Georges Melies a happier ending no way would it have been an Oscar contender. Hollywood self-referentialism strikes again.
The children are attractive and not bad actors, and some the the byplay among the supporting cast, particularly Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths, is fun. However Sacha Baron Cohen didn't seem to have his heart in it and Emily Mortimer is completely wasted.
I also found the film rather slow and in places the music was intrusive. Some of the foleying was odd, sounds in places I wouldn't expect them and none in places I would. The sets and effects are good, but that's not all that special these days. I don't get what all the fuss was about.