| Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brad Silberling |
| Screenplay by | Robert Gordon |
| Based on | Book the First: The Bad Beginning,Book the Second: The Reptile Room andBook the Third: The Wide Window byLemony Snicket[a] |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki |
| Edited by | Michael Kahn |
| Music by | Thomas Newman |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $140–142 million[1][2] |
| Box office | $211.5 million[1] |
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (also simply known asA Series of Unfortunate Events) is a 2004 Americanadventure film directed byBrad Silberling from a screenplay byRobert Gordon, based on the first three novels of the book seriesA Series of Unfortunate Events:The Bad Beginning (1999),The Reptile Room (1999), andThe Wide Window (2000), byLemony Snicket (the pen name of American authorDaniel Handler). It starsJim Carrey,Liam Aiken,Emily Browning,Timothy Spall,Catherine O'Hara,Billy Connolly,Cedric the Entertainer,Luis Guzmán,Jennifer Coolidge, andMeryl Streep, withJude Law as the voice of Lemony Snicket.
Nickelodeon Movies purchased thefilm rights to Handler's book series in 2000 and soon began development of a film withBarry Sonnenfeld attached to direct. Handler adapted the screenplay and courted Carrey for Count Olaf. Sonnenfeld left over budget concerns in January 2003 and Brad Silberling took over.Robert Gordon rewrote Handler's script, andprincipal photography started in November 2003. The film was entirely shot usingsound stages andbacklots atParamount Pictures andDowney Studios.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was released theatrically in the United States on December 17, 2004, byParamount Pictures withDreamWorks Pictures distributing the movie internationally. It received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its production values, Newman's score, and the performances (particularly Carrey's), while some criticized its comical tone and short length. The film grossed $211 million worldwide. At the77th Academy Awards, it won theAcademy Award for Best Makeup (the second to involve Carrey, afterHow the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2000) and received nominations forBest Art Direction,Best Costume Design, andBest Original Score.
Investigator Lemony Snicket documents the whereabouts of the Baudelaire children: 14-year-oldinventor Violet, her 12-year-oldbibliophile brother Klaus, and theirmordacious infant sister Sunny, after they are orphaned when their parents die in a mysterious fire that has destroyed their entire home. Mr. Poe, the family banker, manages their affairs and leaves them in the care of Count Olaf, a nefarious stage actor intent upon obtaining their family fortune, which will remain in the custody of the bank until Violet turns eighteen.
The Baudelaires are treated cruelly by Olaf, who belittles them and forces them to do all his housework. After Olaf legally obtains custody of the children, he attempts to kill them by locking them in his car, which he parks on railway tracks. The Baudelaires divert an oncomingtrain by building a device to remotely activate the railroad switch, after which Mr. Poe sees the children alone in the car and removes them from Olaf's custody, thinking Olaf was allowing them to drive while underage.
The orphans are taken to live with eccentric and kindherpetologist Dr. Montgomery "Uncle Monty" Montgomery, who plans on bringing the children with him on an expedition toPeru. When Uncle Monty's new assistant "Stephano" arrives, the Baudelaires immediately see that he is Count Olaf in disguise and attempt to warn Uncle Monty, but he instead suspects Stephano is after his latest discovery, The Incredibly Deadly Viper. The morning they are set to leave for Peru, Uncle Monty is found dead, seemingly from being attacked by the viper, though the children are certain that Olaf murdered him. They are almost placed in Stephano's care by Mr. Poe, but Sunny proves his guilt by showing that the snake is harmless, and Stephano escapes.
Mr. Poe takes the children to Lake Lachrymose to live with their Aunt Josephine, a grammar-obsessed widow withpanphobia. Shortly after arriving, they encounter Count Olaf again, this time disguised as a sailor called "Captain Sham", with whom Aunt Josephine becomes immediately besotted. The Baudelaires later find Aunt Josephine missing from her house and an apparent suicide note entrusting them to Captain Sham. Seeing grammatical errors in the note, Klaus deduces that Olaf forced Aunt Josephine to write it and the mistakes are clues to her real location. The children sail to the cave where Aunt Josephine has hidden herself and convince her to leave with them, but they are attacked by deadlyleeches; Olaf sails out to rescue the children, but leaves Aunt Josephine to be eaten.
When Mr. Poe witnesses Count Olaf seemingly rescue the Baudelaires, they are placed back in his care, despite the children's protests. Learning that, as their guardian, Olaf would not be entitled to any of their money, he stages a play titled "The Marvelous Marriage," in which he will have Violet play the bride and sign a real marriage certificate in front of a bona fide justice of the peace, which would give Olaf access to the fortune as a legally wedded spouse. Violet refuses to comply, but agrees when Olaf reveals that he has captured Sunny and threatens to kill her if the play is interrupted.
As the play is performed, Klaus goes to rescue Sunny from the hidden tower in Olaf's house, where he discovers a large window with a set of lenses that, positioned correctly, can focus the rays of the sun. Klaus realizes that Olaf used it to set fire to the Baudelaire mansion, then uses the window to burn the marriage certificate after Olaf tauntingly reveals his true intentions to everyone. Olaf is subsequently arrested and made to suffer every hardship that he forced upon the Baudelaires before serving a life sentence; however, Olaf's sentence is overturned by a jury of his peers and Olaf subsequently disappears.
Before leaving for their next home, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny visit the charred remains of their old family home one final time. A lost letter from their parents is finally delivered; inside is aspyglass announcing their family's secret society, V.F.D., of which Uncle Monty and Aunt Josephine were both members. Snicket concludes his documentation and leaves it in a clock tower for his publisher to find.
Daniel Handler, the writer of theLemony Snicket stories, appears as a photographer.
Handler initially viewed Count Olaf as aJames Mason type.[3] Carrey was not familiar with the book series when he was cast, but he became a fan of the series. "Handler's books are just a bold and original way to tell a children's story," he said. Carrey was also attracted to the role despiteself-parody concerns.[4] Silberling was open to Carrey's idea ofimprovisation for various scenes, especially the Stephano and Captain Shamalter egos.[5] To make hisprosthetic makeup more comfortable and easier to apply, Carrey shaved his head bald for the part.[4] His inspiration for Olaf's voice was combining the voices ofOrson Welles andBela Lugosi.[6]
Emily Browning was cast as Violet Baudelaire when she auditioned at a casting call in Australia. She was sent Handler's original script whenBarry Sonnenfeld was planning to direct, and screen tested for the part using an English accent. Browning became a fan of the books after reading Handler's original script.[7] The actress was not cast until Silberling took over, then her character's accent was changed to American.
Nickelodeon Movies purchased thefilm rights to theA Series of Unfortunate Events novel series in May 2000.[8]Paramount Pictures, owner of Nickelodeon Movies, agreed to co-finance, along withScott Rudin.[9] Various directors, includingTerry Gilliam andRoman Polanski, were interested in making the film. One of Daniel Handler's favorite candidates wasGuy Maddin.[3] In June 2002, it was announced thatBarry Sonnenfeld was hired to direct. He was chosen because he previously collaborated with Rudin and because of his directing style fromThe Addams Family,Addams Family Values andGet Shorty.[10] Sonnenfeld referred to theLemony Snicket novels as his favorite children's stories.[11] Sonnenfeld hired Handler to write the script[12] with the intention of makingLemony Snicket a musical,[7] and cast Jim Carrey as Count Olaf in September 2002.[12]
The film suffered setbacks in development in December 2002. Rudin leftUnfortunate Events over budget concerns. While Sonnenfeld and Carrey remained, Sonnenfeld admitted he was skeptical of Paramount's $100 million budget. Paramount decided that changing the shoot from Hollywood toWilmington, North Carolina, would be less expensive.[11] The April 2003 start date was also pushed back.[13] Paramount eventually settled the situation in January 2003 by enlisting help fromDreamWorks Pictures to co-finance the film, but Sonnenfeld vacated the director's position. Rudin and Sonnenfeld had no involvement with the film afterward, but were credited asexecutive producers. Carrey remained with approval over the hiring of the next director.[14]
Very little of what I wrote is in the film, which I actually think is appropriate being as that I was writing it for Barry Sonnenfeld. It's a director's medium and Brad Silberling makes entirely different films from Barry Sonnenfeld. I wasn't filled with resentment because they didn't use it [my script], I was just disappointed because I'd worked a long time [on it] and Scott Rudin, Barry Sonnenfeld and I were all sort of ready to go, along with Jim Carrey, with the film that we had. So it was sort of a long, rocky, journey. But that's all [in the past].
Brad Silberling signed on to direct in February 2003.[15] He was not familiar with the series when he was first approached. He quickly read the first three novels and was excited that "Hollywood was taking a chance to put over $100 million to adapt these inventive children's books onto screen".[16] Handler, who wrote eight drafts of the script for Sonnenfeld,[3] was replaced byRobert Gordon in May 2003.[17] Handler approved of the changes that were made to his screenplay.[18] "I was offered credit on the film for screenwriting by theWriters Guild of America", Handler continued, "but I didn't take it because I didn't write it. I felt like it would be an insult to the guy who did."[3]
Filming was set to begin in October 2003, but was pushed back.[15]Principal photography commenced on November 10, 2003,[19] using thesound stages andbacklot at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Silberling avoided using too many digital orchroma key effects because he wanted the younger actors to feel as if they were working in a realistic environment. Olaf's mansion occupied two sound stages, while the graveyard and the ruins of the Baudelaire mansion were constructed on the Paramount back lot. After 21 weeks of shooting at Paramount,[20] production then moved toDowney Studios, a formerNASA facility inDowney, California,[21] for eight more weeks. Downey housed the circular railroad crossing set complete withforced perspective scenery, as well as a newly constructed water tank complete with over one million gallons of water. The water tank was instrumental in filming scenes set at Briny Beach, Lake Lachrymose, Damocles Dock and Curdled Cave.[20] Filming forA Series of Unfortunate Events wrapped on May 29, 2004.[22]
Silberling, production designerRick Heinrichs and costume designerColleen Atwood all aimed for the film's setting to be ambiguous, giving it a "timeless" feel. Heinrichs also addedsteampunk designs to the period.[20] To contribute to the setting, Silberling hiredEmmanuel Lubezki as the cinematographer because he was impressed with the trio's work onSleepy Hollow.[23]
Lubezki compared the cinematic similarities toSleepy Hollow, notably themonochromatic look of both films. He also chose a specific color palette backdrop forA Series of Unfortunate Events. "The story is very episodic, so we picked a different color scheme for each section. For example, Count Olaf's house has a lot of greens, blacks and grays; the house of Uncle Monty has a lot of greens and browns and a bit of yellow; and the house of Aunt Josephine has blues and blacks."[23] The railroad crossing set was constructed on acyclorama, which was the most ambitious set piece for the art department on using elements of "in house" special effects and matte paintings.[20]
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), supervised byStefen Fangmeier,[23] created the film's 505 visual effects shots.[24] The filmmakers used as few digital effects as possible,[23] though the train and smoke for the railroad crossing scene were created entirely by computer animation. ILM also usedcolor grading techniques for the Lake Lachrymose scene, which required complete animation for the leeches. The digital animators studied footage of the2003 Atlantic hurricane season to accurately depict Hurricane Herman, which was ILM's most ambitious use ofcomputer-generated imagery (CGI) for the film.[24]Nexus Productions designed the opening "Littlest Elf" animated sequence by modeling it afterstop-motion animation and completing it with computer animation.[19] The snakes at Monty's house were a combination of real snakes andanimatronics. The animatronics, primarily the Incredibly Deadly Viper, were used as reference models that ILM later enhanced using CGI.[20] Because working with infants was sometimes risky in producing a film, four scenes involving Sunny Baudelaire required CGI withmotion capture technology.[25] Among these are the shot of Sunny hanging on to a table by her teeth, catching a spindle with her mouth and the scene where she is entangled with the Incredibly Deadly Viper. Animation supervisor Colin Brady used his baby daughter formotion capture recording.[25]Kevin Yagher designed a remote-controlled animatronic of Sunny.[26]
In October 2002,Nickelodeon Movies hiredActivision (which actually had a partnership with DreamWorks) to create the film'stie-in video game. The agreement also included options for sequels.[27] Silberling delivered his first cut of the film to the studio in August 2004. Fearing his original version was "too dark", Paramount and DreamWorks conductedtest screenings. The film was then reedited overfamily-friendliness concerns. Given its December release, the film's marketing campaign was criticized as a deliberately anti-holiday comedy withtaglines like "Taking the cheer out of Christmas" and "Mishaps. Misadventures. Mayhem. Oh Joy."[28] The premiere of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was held at theCinerama Dome on December 13, 2004. A 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) tent display onVine Street was decorated with pieces from the film's sets.[18]
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was released on DVD and VHS on April 26, 2005.[29][30] A Portuguese-labeled All-Region Blu-ray was released in 2012 and then an American Region A Blu-ray was released on September 9, 2014.[31] The film was re-released on DVD on January 24, 2017.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events grossed $118.6 million in the United States and Canada and $92.8 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $211.5 million, against a budget of $140 million.[1]
The film was released in the United States and Canada on December 17, 2004, on 4,400 screens at 3,620 theaters, earning $30.1 million in its opening weekend and finishing first at the box office.[1] In its second weekend the film fell to second behindMeet the Fockers, grossing $12.6 million.[32] It was the highest-grossing film under theNickelodeon Movies banner untilThe Last Airbender surpassed it.[33]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 72% based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Although it softens the nasty edges of its source material,Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a gothic visual treat, and it features a hilariously manic turn from Jim Carrey as the evil Count Olaf."[34] OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 62 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[35] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[36]
Robert K. Elder of theChicago Tribune praisedRick Heinrichs's production design and Carrey's balanced performance as ascene stealer, calling the film "exceptionally clever, hilariously gloomy and bitingly subversive."[37]Desson Thomson ofThe Washington Post reasoned over a fellow film-goer's characterization of Count Olaf, "Olaf is a humorless villain in the book. He's not amusing like Carrey at all. To which I would counter: If you can't let Carrey be Carrey, put someone boring and less expensive in the role. In his various disguises he's rubbery, inventive and improvisationally inspired. I particularly liked his passing imitation of a dinosaur."[38]Ty Burr, inThe Boston Globe, observed, "Director Brad Silberling has essentially made aTim Burton movie without the weird shafts of adolescent pain. At the same time, Silberling's not a hack likeChris Columbus, andSnicket has more zip and inspired filmcraft than the first twoHarry Potter films. The film's no masterpiece, but at least you're in the hands of people who know what they're doing. The movie, like the books, flatters children's innate sense that the world isnot a perfect place and that anyone who insists otherwise is trying to sell you something. How you deal with thecognitive dissonance of a $125 million Hollywood picture telling you this is up to you. At least there are no Lemony SnicketHappy Meals. Yet."[39]
Internet reviewerJames Berardinelli felt that "the film is first and foremost a fantasy, but there are dark currents running just beneath the surface. I give Silberling credit for not allowing them to swallow the film.Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events manages to remain witty throughout."[40]Roger Ebert gave a mixed review: "Jim Carrey is over the top as Count Olaf, but I suppose a character named Count Olaf is over the top by definition. I liked the film, but I'll tell you what. I think this one is a tune-up for the series, a trial run in which they figure out what works and what needs to be tweaked. The originalSpider-Man was a disappointment, but the same team came back and madeSpider-Man 2, the best superhero movie ever made."[41] Scott Foundas ofVariety gave a negative review, criticizing the filmmakers for sacrificing the story line in favor of visual elements such as set design and cinematography. He wrote, "A Series of Unfortunate Events suggests whatMary Poppins might have looked like had Tim Burton directed it. Not surprisingly, Burton's longtime production designer Rick Heinrichs was responsible for the sets, while aceEmmanuel Lubezki (Burton'sSleepy Hollow) contributed the expressionistic lighting schemes."[42]
| Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Art Direction | Rick Heinrichs andCheryl Carasik | Nominated | [43] |
| Best Costume Design | Colleen Atwood | Nominated | ||
| Best Makeup | Valli O'Reilly andBill Corso | Won | ||
| Best Original Score | Thomas Newman | Nominated | ||
| Visual Effects Society | Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture | Rick O'Connor, Martin Murphy, Indira Guettieri, Sam Breach | Nominated | [44] |
| Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Film | Nominated | [45] | |
| Best Make-Up | Valli O'Reilly and Bill Corso | Nominated | ||
| Best DVD Special Edition Release | Nominated |
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies hoped that the film would become a series like theHarry Potter film series.[10] Carrey thought his character would be good as the basis for a film franchise since each installment would feature new disguises for Count Olaf allowing him to dive into a new role each time,[16] though he said he didn't "have a deal" for a sequel.[6] In May 2005, producer Laurie MacDonald said "Lemony Snicket is still something Paramount is interested in pursuing and we're going to be talking with them more."[46]
In October 2008, Handler said that "a sequel does seem to be in the works. Paramount has had quite a few corporate shakeups, which has led to many a delay. Of course, many, many plans in Hollywood come to naught, but I'm assured that another film will be made. Someday. Perhaps."[47] In June 2009, Silberling confirmed he still talked about the project with Handler, and suggested the sequel be astop motion film, with each film in a new medium, due to the young lead actors having grown too old to continue their roles, saying, "In an odd way, the best thing you could do is actually have Lemony Snicket say to the audience, 'Okay, we pawned the first film off as a mere dramatization with actors. Now, I'm afraid I'm going to have to show you the real thing.'"[48]
In November 2014,Netflix announced its plans for a television adaptation of the entire novel series.[49] The series starsNeil Patrick Harris,Malina Weissman,Louis Hynes and Presley Smith, withPatrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket.[50][51] The series, also titledA Series of Unfortunate Events, premiered on January 13, 2017.[52] The first season consisted of eight episodes, and adapts the first four books of the series. ActressCatherine O'Hara was the only actor from the film to appear in both the film and the series; albeit as different characters.A Series of Unfortunate Events season two was released on March 30, 2018, and contains 10 episodes, adapting books five through nine of the novel series. The third and final season was released on January 1, 2019, and adapts the four remaining books in seven episodes.[53][54]
Avideo game based on the film was released in 2004 byActivision for thePlayStation 2,GameCube,Xbox,Game Boy Advance, andMicrosoft Windows. The player plays as all three orphans at points in the game.[55]
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