NIM'S ISLAND (2008) ** "The problem with that movie," quoth my ten year-old son, "is that it wasn't a giant rat." I'm not sure that I understand the statement in its most elevated sense, but I think that's right. It's a nice story with interesting characters (a well done film with quality actors) and it definitely never gets tiresome or irritating, but it never quite grabs you by the gut or brain or anywhere else either. And I really like tropical islands, and I like Jodie Foster too. The device of the imaginary hero connecting real individuals is a very good one. And Abigail Breslin is such a good, strong, convincing character...if you have a young female rugged individualist in the group, this may well mean something special to her. Whether they might have improved on things by the introduction of a giant rat-or at least somehow imposing the drama and gravitas of a giant rat...ah, that's really just probably a matter of taste, really, isn't it? I wouldn't have minded a little bit more giant rat, myself. It's the kind of movie where it's fun and appropriate to hear the latest U2 smash hit come blaring out at the end, all full of drama and itself, and most particularly the drama of itself.
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