Back Stage
Friday, March 19, 2010
It is the latest from Tim Burton's stable, a place populated by his favourites including his wife Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp who stars in most of his films. "Alice" combines acting with graphics and CG characters such as Absolem and Cheshire Cat, but they are given voices too. Some of the creatures, like the Jabberwocky-well ... do go and see and hear for yourself.
This new film is not your normal "Alice" as found in the many previous movies about her going back over 100 years. Those events in this film transpired about a dozen years ago. Alice Kingsleigh (acted by Mia Wasikowska) is now 18 going on 19 and ready to be married off. Her suitor she finds boring, but a white rabbit in a waistcoat is entrancing (voice of Michael Sheen). At any moment she will prefer it over the man her mother wants her to marry, an upper-class twit (Leo Bill). Our mature Alice seems to have forgotten her previous adventures in Wonderland - it was only a dream - or was it? She keeps asking herself and others. "How can I be the wrong Alice when this is my dream?"
When claims of such gravity are made, especially by a sitting Assistant Minister they cannot be brushed aside, delayed, or treated as routine political noise. Even the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of a report from a political party and a review of these complaints is now underway. That is a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning. The seriousness of the allegations demands urgency, transparency and clarity. The public is entitled to...