Mara Wilson

Danny DeVito

Rhea Perlman

Embeth Davidtz

Pam Ferris

Paul Reubens

Tracey Walter

Jean Speegle Howard

Brian Levinson

Sara Magdalin

R.D. Robb

Gregory R. Goliath

Fred Parnes

Kiami Davael

Leor Livneh Hackel

Jacqueline Steiger

Jimmy Karz

Michael Valentine

Liam Kearns

Mark Watson

Kira Spencer Hesser

J.C. Alexander

Malone Brinton

Marion Dugan

Joshua Alvarez

Max E. Blum

Erin M. Gray

Misty L. Oppenheim

Christopher Shepard Hughes

Rachel Snow

Craig Lamar Traylor

Jennifer Key

Marty Bautista

Anthony Hernandez

Raina Cease

Jonathan Osser

Vinnie Buffolino

Marcella Sassano

Johnny Thomas III

Shannon Hughes

Christel Khalil

Cassie Colaw

Austin Stout

Cindy Tran

Jonathan Feyer

Alissa Graham

Amanda Graham

Trevor Gallagher

James Gallagher

Kayla Fredericks

Kelsey Fredericks

Amanda Fein

Caitlin Fein

Nicholas Cox

Amanda Summers

Kristin Summers

Phoebe Garcia-Pearl

Kathy Barbour

Donna Spangler

Marianne Curan

Penny Holland

Richard E. Coe

Sabrina Bryan

Trevor Coppola

Simon Jones

Jon Lovitz

Kira Spencer Cook

Nicholas Kazan

Liccy Dahl

Roald Dahl

Stefan Czapsky

David Newman

Lynzee Klingman

Brent White

Gary Archer

Dana Dru Evenson

Jennifer Polito

Cara Giallanza

Michael Peyser

Ve Neill

Michael Lantieri

R.A. Rondell

Yolanda Toussieng

Robin Swicord

Stacey Sher

Lucia Mace

Renee Rousselot

Bobby Porter

Rusty Hanson

David Rubin

Martin Bregman

Bill Brzeski

Michael Shamberg

Jane Ruhm

Philip Toolin

Laura Dash

Janet Brady

François Duhamel

Eddie Hice

Jeffrey J. Dashnaw

May Boss

Larry Nicholas

Deep Roy

Edouard F. Henriques

Marge Piane

Kent W. Luttrell

Dianne L. Wilson

Robin Tracey Sherwood

Janek Sirrs

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Matilda

Jersey Films

TriStar Pictures

United States of America

English

based on novel or book

parent child relationship

difficult childhood

child prodigy

childhood trauma

telekinesis

school

teacher student relationship

schoolmarm

based on young adult novel

Gimly

Hold on to this gem tightly, because movies like _Matilda_ will probably never get made again.

_Final rating:★★★★ - Very strong appeal. A personal favourite._

Filipe Manuel Neto

**An excellent family comedy with some social criticism in the mix.**

The film is one of the most famous family comedies of the 1990s, adapting the story of the same name by Roald Dahl for the screen, where a girl, who was born into an idiotic family unable to understand it, decides to win the right to go to school and to learn, which their parents do not value. However, at school, she comes across a cruel and sadistic headmistress who will become her biggest adversary, while her teacher becomes her best friend.

It's a very good and enjoyable film, with a nice comedy genre and some fantasy. The characters are reasonably well done, albeit a bit artificial in their conception, and the cast is very good. Mara Wilson, despite her youth, shone in the lead role and guaranteed the start of her acting career. Danny DeVito, who also ensures an effective and well-executed direction, does a very intelligent job as an actor, being well assisted by Rhea Perlman. And while Embeth Davidtz delivers a good performance, it's Pam Ferris's overwhelming and committed performance as a villain that steals our attention, in a work that is as iconic and striking as it is histrionic and over-the-top.

It may go unnoticed, in the midst of the comedy and lightness of the film itself, but I felt that there is here, well marked in the Wormwoods, a harsh sarcastic critique of a certain American middle class: like many American families, they learned to do everything, or almost everything, in front of the television screen, and they do not value each other, being in every respect a largely dysfunctional family. He's a crook, she's vain, vain and addicted to gambling, the eldest son doesn't seem to have any prospects for the future or know what he wants from his own life. As a family, they value nothing but easy money, as evidenced by the weird TV show style they adore and the cheap, tasteless decor of their home. Despite everything, they think they are much smarter than others for being that way.

Technically, it's a low-key film. The cinematography is in line with what one would expect in a comic film of this decade, prolific in good comedies, and the sets and costumes are good and convincing, particularly the school. The film has some special, visual and sound effects, most of which do their job well, without demerits. The soundtrack, composed by David Newman, doesn't bring anything really remarkable.

Theatrical Trailer (35mm)

Matilda( 1996)

A little magic goes a long way.

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A review by Gimly

Written by Gimly on Sat Sep 08 2018

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