Film Review: 'Wild Things' lacks warmth, whimsy Oct 16, 2009
"Max Records plays Max, a kid who should be beyond donning his old whiskered wolf suit and terrorizing his mom (Catherine Keener). In a wintry opening built around an ends-in-tears snowball fight with his sister's teenage friends, Max comes off as an impulsive, hyper and self-centered brat. But he's sensitive enough to escape to his plush-toy filled room, and to oblige with a fanciful tale when his hard-pressed single mom sighs, "I could use a story. " WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE HH (out of 5)... (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Return to Sendak Oct 16, 2009
At the same time, in their overly earnest attempt to flesh Sendak s story out to 100 minutes, Jonze and his co-screenwriter, novelist Dave Eggers, have laboriously spelled out motivations (divorce is bad ... At the same time, in their overly earnest attempt to flesh Sendak s story out to 100 minutes, Jonze and his co-screenwriter, novelist Dave Eggers, have laboriously spelled out motivations (divorce is bad. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Fun Film Trivia from Where The Wild... Oct 16, 2009
Fun Film Trivia from Where The Wild Things Are. Fun Film Trivia from Where The Wild Things Are. (Suite101.com)
A look at the National Book Awards nominees Oct 16, 2009
Honorary medals will be presented to Dave Eggers and Gore Vidal. Fiction judges picked Colum McCann's "Let the Great World Spin," Daniyal Mueenuddin's "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders," Jayne Anne Phillips' "Lark te" and Bonnie Jo Campbell's "American Salvage.". (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Newsweek: Are new kids' movies too scary? Oct 16, 2009
For the past five years, Wild Things had been his life: writing the screenplay with author Dave Eggers in San Francisco; brainstorming with the picture book's author, Maurice Sendak, in Connecticut; filming on the cliffs of southern Australia; clashing with studio executives in Los Angeles. "I was looking at him, trying to seeis he just messing with me now?" Jonze told NEWSWEEK in an. (MSNBC -- News)
Where the Wild Things Are: Sendak with Sensitivity Oct 15, 2009
" Jonze, chronicler of uncertain adulthood in Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, has done a masterly job of bringing Sendak's work to the screen. He has broken one Hollywood doctrine: the notion that children's cinema is best devised for miniature couch potatoes who require a steady stream of laughs, action sequences and references to flatulence. Even the best American children's movies, like those made by Pixar, embed their heartfelt messages in what are fundamentally entertainments. The... (Time.com)
Wild Things easy to admire but hard to love Oct 15, 2009
Theres so very much to like about Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers adaptation of Maurice Sendaks beloved book Where the Wild Things Are it fleshes out the originals themes brilliantly, its lovely to look at and listen to but it winds up being a well-crafted vehicle that never soars. While many of the individual filmmaking choices are intelligent, the finished product lacks that spark of magic that marks a classic. (MSNBC -- News)
Wild Things proves no book is unfilmable Oct 15, 2009
Once the author, who is also a producer on the film, gave his blessing, Jonze and co-screenwriter Dave Eggers went to work on fleshing out the story and beginning the rumpus ... Maurice Sendak's classic kids story comes to life in this new film from Spike Jones and writer Dave Eggers. (MSNBC -- News)
Kids books face a rough path to the big screen Oct 15, 2009
In Wild Things, screenwriters Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze start the story before Sendak does, giving us an idea of Maxs life and the factors that guide his behavior ... Maurice Sendak's classic kids story comes to life in this new film from Spike Jones and writer Dave Eggers. (MSNBC -- News)
'Where the Wild Things Are' Oct 15, 2009
Jonze and Dave Eggers, with whom he adapted the screenplay, must necessarily augment the story, and while that might scare some of the book's devoted fans, they needn't worry, at least not at first. The opening sequence, in which we learn the source of Max's frustrations, is as good as anything in the movie. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
Tycoon tales and Darwin get award nominations Oct 15, 2009
Susan Ragan / APIn this April 2, 2001 file photo, author Dave Eggerstalks to readers at The City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco ... Humorist Andy Borowitz will host and honorary medals will be presented to Dave Eggers and Gore Vidal, to be introduced by actress and longtime friend Joanne Woodward. (MSNBC -- Lifestyle)
What's Playing Oct 15, 2009
Where Wild Things Are - Going by the early buzz, director Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's seminal children's book, based on a screenplay by Jonze and Dave Eggers, is going to be some kind of special. Max Records stars as Max, the lonely boy who becomes the ruler of an island populated by huge, shaggy beasts. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Wild Things author isnt wild about Hollywood Oct 14, 2009
Maurice Sendak, Dave Eggers and Spike Jones talk about how Sendak's book inspired Jones' big-screen adaptation. Slideshow. (MSNBC -- Lifestyle)
Movie Review: Bold, gorgeous 'Where the Wild Things Are' roars its way to the big screen Oct 13, 2009
What keeps it from reaching complete excellence is the thinness of the script, which Jonze co-wrote with Dave Eggers. The beloved and award-winning children's book, which Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated 45 years ago, still holds up beautifully today because it shows keen insight into the conflicted nature of kids the delight and the frustration that can often co-exist simultaneously. (FOX61, CT)
Naughty Boys Oct 12, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are, An Education review : The New Yorker (New Yorker)
Best bets: Go Where the Wild Things Are Oct 12, 2009
Spike Jonze (Adaptation) and writer Dave Eggers team up to bring viewers the story of a magical world that a disobedient boy creates when hes sent to bed without supper. (Opens Oct. 16). (MSNBC -- News)
In Max's mind Oct 12, 2009
Considering what Hollywood has done to Dr. Seuss (check out "The Cat in the Hat" with Mike Myers), fans of Maurice Sendak were right to worry about the movie version of "Where the Wild Things Are." The film is here, and judging by what's on the screen, they can rest easy: "Wild Things" was clearly put in good hands, those of director Spike Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers. Images. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
The wildness within Oct 11, 2009
Dave Eggers unpacks the conflicts colliding inside a burdened boy ... I suspect Dave Eggers terrific new novel, The Wild Things, will render the issue that much more muddled ... THE WILD THINGS By Dave Eggers McSweeney s, 288 pp. (Boston Globe)
NW: Jonze, Eggers, Sendak discuss Wild Things Oct 10, 2009
To discuss the dark, unorthodox adaptation, Sendak invited us over, along with Jonze and novelist-screenwriter Dave Eggers (who participated via speakerphone from San Francisco) for an exclusive group interview. What makes a good kids' story. (MSNBC -- News)
Litquake shakes up literary world in Bay Area Oct 7, 2009
Best-selling author Dave Eggers wrote the recommendation for Litquake to be considered for the award. In choosing Litquake, the Patterson Foundation wrote of Litquake's "highlighting the lively, wilder side of the literary world. The event is a literary version of San Francisco's other music, film and cultural festivities and exists to remind people - in an entertaining way - that reading truly is FUN!". (San Francisco Chronicle)
No sweating the small stuff Oct 5, 2009
Directed by the resourceful Spike Jonze and adapted by Dave Eggers, this live-action big-screen version of Maurice Sendak's beloved 1963 kiddie book certainly has the right look. The trailers look great. (Erie Times-News, PA)
‘Where the Wild Things Are’ screening at AMC Boston Common Oct 5, 2009
The PG-rated movie screens tonight preceded by an audience Q&A with screenwriter Dave Eggers. The movie opens nationwide on Oct. 16. (Boston Globe)
Where the wonder goes Oct 4, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are ups the ante: The film s production team is dripping with indie/alternative cinema bona fides, from director Jonze ( Being John Malkovich, Adaptation ) and screenwriter Dave Eggers to its stars - both live-action (Catherine Keener as Mom) and vocal (James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker). Jonze was recently profiled in the New York Times magazine. (Boston Globe)
10/1: 'Wild Thing' event Oct 1, 2009
The film was directed by Spike Jonze, with a screenplay by Jonze and author Dave Eggers. Pastores said children ages 3 and older are invited to come dressed as their favorite character or in their pajamas to spend the afternoon being a Wild Thing. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
Wildly wise Sendak respected kids' experiences Sep 13, 2009
San Francisco writer Dave Eggers collaborated on the screenplay. In the meantime, visitors will leave "There's a Mystery There" more sure of Sendak's worthiness as a subject than of the exhibition's handling of it. (San Francisco Chronicle)
A look at this fall’s movies Sep 13, 2009
Dave Eggers wrote the script with Jonze. OCTOBER 23 Amelia How do you know it s Oscar season. (Boston Globe)
Fall Movie Preview: Studios save best films for fall Sep 11, 2009
"Where the Wild Things Are" (PG): It's based on a fabulous kids' book; Spike Jonze directs; he and Dave Eggers wrote the screenplay; voices include James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Forest Whitaker and Catherine Keener. If it's not great, we're going to bed without our supper. (Florida Today)
Fall movies not to miss Sep 7, 2009
The film, which Jonze co-wrote with Bay Area author Dave Eggers, took more than two years to shoot. Jonze has blamed the delay on wanting to present the creatures in Sendak's book in a believable way rather than rely on CGI. Newcomer Max Records stars as the boy Max who is sent to bed without dinner for creating mischief in a wolf costume. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Leaves and pages turn in the fall books preview Sep 7, 2009
Just a sampling of those on the season's local roster: Po Bronson, Michael Chabon, Dave Eggers, Stephen Elliott, Kathryn Ma and Richard North Patterson ... by Dave Eggers (McSweeney's). (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
200 '9 fall film preview Sep 6, 2009
Spike Jonze directs, Dave Eggers writes this trippy adaptation of the classic children s book ... Spike Jonze directs, Dave Eggers writes this trippy adaptation of the classic children s book. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Eggers: Were Darfur promises for real? Sep 4, 2009
By Dave Eggers and John Prendergast Special to CNN. Editor's note: Dave Eggers is the author of "What is the What," a novel about the Sudanese civil war ... Dave Eggers says we've seen the birth of a broad-based movement against genocide. (CNN -- US)
Good Books Dont Have to Be Hard, Lev Grossman, The Wall Street Journal Sep 1, 2009
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. All of this is changing. (Harper's Magazine)
New Fall Books Penned by Prizewinners Aug 28, 2009
Maurice Sendak should be in high demand, and not for a new book, but because of the film version of "Where the Wild Things Are." Dave Eggers, who helped with the screenplay, also completed a novelization, in a fur-covered edition. Gregory Maguire of "Wicked" fame has written "Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation.". (CBS News -- Entertainment)
Genocide From the Inside Aug 25, 2009
Dave Eggers' tracks a Sudanese child soldier to the United States, while Barack Obama's follows his distant, dead father from being a boozy Kenyan goatherd tounwittinglyfathering an American president. Kidder picks up the trail of the old New Journalists, like Tom Wolfe, who pioneered in using the techniques of novelists to tell nonfiction stories. (Slate)
Best Sellers Aug 23, 2009
Zeitoun, Dave Eggers, McSweeney s, 24. 7. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
DGC/Interscope to Release Where the Wild Things Are Motion Picture Soundtrack: Original Songs by Karen O and the Kids Aug 21, 2009
"What I initially wanted to do was close to Cat Stevens in Harold & Maude, really simple, but memorably and seamlessly woven into the movie."Working with all these highly-empathetic musicians over of a couple of years on this soundtrack was a lesson in the power of collaboration," says O.Together, Karen O and the Kids created songs that are at times gargantuan and at others stripped-down and bittersweet. Jonze pushed O to pour as much heart and soul as she could muster into the songs, reminding... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Jon says marriage fell apart in October 2008 Aug 5, 2009
The read this recommendation is far less funny: Dave Eggers newest book, the non-fiction Zeitoun, follows a family through their experience with Hurricane Katrina. As someone who remains proud to have called New Orleans home for some time, I can fairly say that Eggers portrays the people and the city in a way richer and more honest than any tome Ive read about New Orleans. (MSNBC -- News)
City transformed into a mecca of literary scene Jul 27, 2009
Independent publishers and "underground" small presses have always thrived in cities like Boston, Seattle and San Francisco, where the landmark City Lights Bookstore began publishing unknown writers in the 1950s and author Dave Eggers started McSweeney's in 1998 in reaction to the increasing conservatism of trade publishers. Now, Pittsburgh has joined their ranks -- in sharp contrast from just a decade ago, when the number of small presses could be counted on one hand. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
San Francisco Chronicle Best-Sellers July 26 / Jul 27, 2009
ZEITOUN, by Dave Eggers (McSweeney's; 342 pages; $24). 4. (San Francisco Chronicle)
61 postmodern reads Jul 25, 2009
Stanley Crawford's "Log of the S.S. Mrs. Unguentine" Mark Danielewski's "House of Leaves" Don Delillo's "Great Jones Street" Philip K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" E.L. Doctorow's "City of God" Geoff Dyer's "Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling With D. H. Lawrence" Umberto Eco's "The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana" Dave Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" Steve Erickson's "Tours of the Black Clock" Percival Everett's "I Am Not Sidney Poitier" William Faulkner's "Absalom!... (Harper's Magazine)
Author Dave Eggers Jul 22, 2009
Qhor Dave Eggers - TIME ... After the publication of his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, critics labeled Dave Eggers the voice of a new generation. (Time.com)
A review of 'Zeitoun,' by Dave Eggers Jul 19, 2009
Zeitoun,' by Dave Eggers. Article:'Zeitoun,' by Dave Eggers:/c/a/2009/07/17/RVHH18JTCE.DTL Article:'Zeitoun,' by Dave Eggers:/c/a/2009/07/17/RVHH18JTCE.DTL advertisement ... Zeitoun,' by Dave Eggers. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Berkeley Rep director heads to Broadway. Again. Jul 3, 2009
A: I'm about to finish "What Is the What" by Dave Eggers, that book about the lost boys of Sudan and a bunch of stuff for projects I'm working on. Before that, I read Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up," his memoir about being a stand-up comic, and "Spook Country" by William Gibson. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Popular literature making its way onto summer reading lists west of Boston Jun 28, 2009
Some of the more unconventional choices are Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, by David Sedaris; A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers; and Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser. Wellesley High School students also must read any 10 poems from Americans Favorite Poems, edited by former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky, who will visit the school next year. (Boston Globe)
'Away We Go' Jun 26, 2009
Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida wrote the screenplay for "Away We Go" after learning they were expecting their first child. Its original ending (included in the Vintage Books published screenplay) was chucked in favor of a far better, more touching one. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Can shared interests -- food, books, the Big Apple -- forge a bond? Jun 21, 2009
I was impressed by his knowledge of books and that he had read Dave Eggers. Mike: About 15 minutes into the date, I thought to myself that I wouldn't be seeing her again. (Boston Globe)
A Road Trip Worth Taking Jun 18, 2009
But Away We Go, written by real-life literary couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, is the antithesis of Revolutionary Road. Where the Revolutionary Road couple tears each other apart with a breathtaking savagery, Verona and Burt are a sweetly unified force, the straight couple looking warily at a world full of crazies. (Slate)
'Away We Go' a sleeper movie this wkd? Jun 5, 2009
Husband-and-wife writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida were inspired by becoming parents themselves they now have two kids but didn't draw from their own experiences in writing the script. Nevertheless, the characters' adventures feel real and relatable. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The Further The Better Jun 5, 2009
Their story unfolds, or rather puts its feet up and pops a PBR, in a script by Dave Eggers and his novelist wife, Vendela Vida. Eggers, author of the memoir "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" (or, "How I Nearly Converted Immense Personal Tragedy Into a Starring Gig on 'The Real World' "), was orphaned as a young adult. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
"Away We Go" Jun 5, 2009
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play parents-to-be in this movie by real-life couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida ... "Away We Go" -- which was directed by Sam Mendes and written by the husband-and-wife team Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida -- is, at worst, an exploration of self-absorption that is itself too self-absorbed to be either entertaining or enlightening ... Dave Eggers talks, with some reluctance, about the staggering work of being a genius parent. (Salon)
Krasinski slept here Jun 1, 2009
He was joined at last night's screening by author Dave Eggers, who co-wrote the film with his wife, Vendela Vida. (The event was a fund-raiser for 826 Boston, a writing space Eggers runs for local children. (Boston Globe)
What I Do: Dan Weiss, Dog Eared Books May 26, 2009
Japanese author Haruki Murakami and Dave Eggers are probably the two biggest-selling authors. There are waves that happen, too. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
'Looch' behaves himself in class May 20, 2009
Meanwhile, Dave Eggers, author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," was among several writers at a benefit last night for 826 Boston, the writing center in Egleston Square. Also making the scene at 60 State St. were (below, from left) National Book Award winner Julia Glass, Eggers, Steve Almond, Christopher Castellani, and Heidi Pitlor. (Boston Globe)
'Oscar Wao's' stage name: 'Fuk Americanus' May 13, 2009
His company, Campo Santo, along with Intersection, has worked with the likes of Dave Eggers, Vendela Vida and Denis Johnson, turning prose into plays. Campo Santo turned a Diaz short story, "The Sun, the Moon, the Stars," into a theater piece as part of an evening called "Haze" in 2006. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Summer film guide May 8, 2009
Co-written by Dave Eggers and directed by Sam Mendes, so expectations are high. "Dead Snow" (not yet rated): Norwegian film which med students on a ski trip encounter Nazi zombies. (AZCentral -- News)
Teens reading classics May 5, 2009
Teen readers are just as likely to read J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories as a Dave Eggers novel, and find entertainment or artistic statement in both classics and contemporary books. Desiree says classics have stood the test of time, so people already have an idea that these are good books. (The Augusta Chronicle)
'WILD THINGS' TAMED Mar 27, 2009
IT'S the perfect storm of hipness: a movie written by Dave Eggers, directed by Spike Jonze, starring a child actor wearing Chuck Taylors, scored by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, featuring Jim Henson creations, and based on one of the most wonderfully freaky children's books ever. And yet the part-CGI, part live-action "Where the Wild Things Are" has been plagued by problems -- starting with the fact that it's almost three years old now. (New York Post -- Entertainment)
More on the 'Wild Things' Mar 26, 2009
is putting the trailer for Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers' adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic in front of Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend ... There's no way the that has been going around the internet purporting to be from Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers' Where the Wild Things Are is from the actual movie. (Variety)
Bullock, McConaughey ready to create sparks Mar 25, 2009
It's definitely a strange combo of director, Mendes (Revolutionary Road), cast and writer; novelist Dave Eggers (What is the What. co-wrote the screenplay. (MSNBC -- Movies)
MORE: A 'Wild' vision drives director's creation Mar 23, 2009
Jonze and his co-screenwriter, novelist Dave Eggers, regularly turned to Sendak for advice as they expanded upon his Wild Things universe. "He was adamant that I make my own thing," Jonze says. (USA Today -- Life)
New voices: Elizabeth Kelly Mar 12, 2009
Why it's notable: Reviews have compared it to works of John Irving, Jonathan Franzen and Dave Eggers. The author. (USA Today -- Life)
The wrestler Mar 8, 2009
Bailey thinks Cheever is due for a revival, and cites enthusiastic testimony on his behalf by younger writers like Dave Eggers and Rick Moody. To accompany the biography, he has edited "Cheever: Collected Stories and Other Writings" and "Cheever: Complete Novels" for the Library of America, thus handily enabling readers to judge how much the writer still weighs. (Boston Globe)
Letters to the Editor Mar 7, 2009
Where else could you, on your lunch hour, go to get a blessing from B.K.S. Iyengar, nutrition advice from Deepak Chopra, hear David Brancaccio talk business and politics or listen to a reading by Dave Eggers. I've worked downtown for years and Stacey's has long been a literary oasis and a calming place to go during a hectic business day. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Progressive Book Club Chooses Angels and Ages by Adam Gopnik as March PBC Pick Mar 5, 2009
The PBC Pick is chosen monthly by Progressive Book Club's Editorial Board, whose distinguished members include Michael Chabon, Dave Eggers, Barbara Kingsolver, Hendrik Hertzberg, Gail Sheehy, Katrina vanden Heuvel, John Podesta and Andy Stern, among more than two dozen prominent authors, journalists, academics and politicos. About Progressive Book Club finds - and promotes - the books that can change our nation by harnessing the power of the Internet to create an important new platform for... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Premiere Screening of Brave New Voices, a New HBO Series About Youth Speaks Poets, Draws Stars Robert Redford, Stan Lathan, Benjamin Bratt, Peter Bratt and Dave Eggers Mar 5, 2009
Celebrity stars Robert Redford, Stan Lathan, Benjamin Bratt, Peter Bratt and Dave Eggers are among the few hundred guests who will come out to support Youth Speaks and this groundbreaking new Home Box Office series, Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices Narrated by Queen Latifah, which chronicles the lives of teen poets from seven cities around the nation as they prepare to compete in Youth Speaks' annual Brave New Voices Festival. "Youth Speaks is thrilled to be working with HBO on this... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
