Wonder Wheel - A Movie Review

Let’s go for a ride on the ferris wheel. All your problems will vanish.

Wonder Wheel is a 2017 film. Taking place in Coney Island in the 1950s, Ginny, an unhappy married woman seeks a relationship with a man much younger than her. But when her husband’s estranged daughter moves back in with them, it becomes a competition of who loves who.

Wonder Wheel has become one of my new favorite films. First thing I have to say about Wonder Wheel is that it is very underrated. Everything from the way this film was presented; the cast’s highly acclaimed performances, and the atmosphere delivered a compelling story that keeps you hooked.

This is Kate Winslet's best performance. Ginny is a very unhappy married woman whose life is at a standstill. Winslet was excellent at manifesting a woman’s hectic mindset. She expressed exasperated meltdowns with sharp emotions. Feeling unappreciated, Ginny longs for more but is refrained due to the time period.

Wonder Wheel is well-cast with noteworthy talents. Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Jim Belushi, and Jack Gore instilled the best dynamics. Each displaying various dilemmas or desires, I liked how the cast worked together. Not only did they explore their characters, but the cast also studied how they felt about one another.

The cast was very expressive. I like the way they dictated their voices. For some, like Belushi, Wonder Wheel was a step out from their usual genre of film. They challenged themselves to disappear into these characters. When you think about it, these characters share several unlikeable traits. And yet you can relate.

Woody Allen is an astounding director, paying attention to every detail. For example, the colors. This is a vibrant film. All the colors distinguish essential character details and emotions. If you study Ginny and Caroline’s wardrobe, they explore past and present. Allen got a bit carried away with the brightness of some scenes, but it is still a beautiful film to look at.

Taking place in the 50s, filmmakers crafted sets, wardrobes, and found the right nostalgic music selections. My grandmother adored the music selections, taken back to memories of her past. Her reactions were my favorite part of this film experience.

Did you know that most of the costumes were from the era? Costume designer Suzy Benzinger found most of the designs to use for the film.

Shot entirely on location at Coney Island, I would love to visit this place. To get an idea for the cinematography, inspiration was taken from famous paintings by Reginald Marsh. Filmmakers had to alter some of the shops to make them look like a store from the 50s.

Based on the title, Wonder Wheel has several hidden meanings. It’s an exploratory of life in the 50s. Life has changed. Make your life what you want, specifically for women. Due to social standards in the 50s, women didn’t have the freedom to do this.

Based on decisions made by characters in this film, Wonder Wheel challenges us to think about how decisions impact us. Allen distinguishes crafty methods of assembling viewers to think about life.

Wonder Wheel is a potent film that harbors depth. To me, the gangster angle was farfetched and could have been scrapped. Did this film get any recognition during awards season when it was out? It dictated strong performances, a bold story, and rich cinematic details.

Put Wonder Wheel on your list if you’re looking for something new to watch. This film deserves to be talked about more. I would watch it again. It is very enjoyable.