Wonder (film)

Wonder (also known as Wonder: Auggie) is a 2017 American comedy drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Jack Thorne, Steven Conrad, and Chbosky. It is based on the 2012 eponymous novel by R. J. Palacio and stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Noah Jupe, Izabela Vidovic, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs.

Wonder
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephen Chbosky
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based onWonder
by R. J. Palacio
Starring
Music by
CinematographyDon Burgess
Edited byMark Livolsi
Production
company
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
Running time
113 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million[3]
Box office$305.9 million[4]

The film, which follows a boy with Treacher Collins syndrome trying to fit in, was released in the United States on November 17, 2017, by Lionsgate. It received positive reviews from critics and audiences, with many praising Tremblay and Roberts' performances, direction, writing and musical score and grossed $305 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. At the 90th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Plot

August "Auggie" Pullman is a 10-year-old boy living in a brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, with his mother Isabel, father Nate, older sister Olivia ("Via"), and dog Daisy. He was born with a rare medical facial deformity, which he refers to as "mandibulofacial dysostosis", and has undergone 27 different surgeries in order to see, smell, speak and hear without a hearing aid. Auggie has been home-schooled, but as he approaches fifth grade, his parents decide to enroll him in Beecher Prep, a private middle school. Before the school year begins, Auggie meets with Mr. Tushman, the principal, who arranges a tour for him with three other students: Jack Will, Julian Albans, and Charlotte Cody. When school starts, Auggie is initially ostracized by nearly the entire student body, but soon forms a close friendship with Jack.

For Halloween, Auggie dresses in a Ghostface mask and cloak from last year when Daisy ruins the Boba Fett costume he was planning to wear. He walks through school upbeat and confident due to the anonymity his costume affords him. However, as he enters his homeroom, he overhears Jack, who does not recognize him, joining in with Julian and his friends in making fun of him behind his back by saying that "he would kill himself if he looked like Auggie". He becomes sick, forcing his mother to abandon her mother-daughter day with Via to bring him home. Though she is hurt, Via convinces Auggie to go trick-or-treating with her, as she has been rejected by her own former best friend Miranda.

Eventually, Auggie forms a new friendship with a girl named Summer and confides in her about his split with Jack. When Jack asks Summer why Auggie is avoiding him, she only gives him the clue "Ghostface". In science class, realization dawns on him, and he resolves to partner with Auggie instead of Julian for the school science fair. When Julian confronts Jack in the hallway and calls Auggie a "freak", the two begin fighting, which is broken up by Mr. Browne and another teacher. After suspending Jack for two days, Mr. Tushman later reads Jack's letter knowing he was defending Auggie. Jack later apologizes to Auggie via Minecraft and they reconcile.

Meanwhile, Via signs up for Drama Club at her high school after meeting a theatre student named Justin, with whom she soon begins a romantic relationship. Via is selected as Miranda's understudy for the lead role in the school's production of Our Town, but on opening night, Miranda sees that Via's parents are in attendance while her own are not, so she feigns illness in order to let Via take her place. Via gives a moving performance that earns her a standing ovation, and she and Miranda then reconcile.

Auggie continues to be harassed by Julian and his friends until Mr. Browne gets wind of the situation. Mr. Tushman confronts Julian and his parents with the evidence, including numerous hate notes and a class picture with Auggie photoshopped out. Julian's mother, admitting that she edited Auggie out of the picture, defends Julian's actions and asserts that the students should not be exposed to Auggie. Despite her threats to pull their funding from the school, Mr. Tushman suspends Julian for two days – causing him to miss an upcoming nature retreat. As they leave, Julian becomes distraught when his parents pull him out of the school, declaring he will not be back in the fall, he apologizes to Mr. Tushman.

At the nature retreat, Auggie and Jack are threatened by a trio of seventh graders from another school, but Julian's former friends come to their rescue. Auggie then becomes more accepted by his classmates.

At the year-end graduation ceremony, Auggie is given the Henry Ward Beecher Medal for his strength and courage and receives a standing ovation. The movie ends with everyone applauding Auggie, and Isabel telling him "you really are a wonder, Auggie".

Cast
  • Julia Roberts as Isabel Pullman, mother of Via and Auggie
  • Owen Wilson as Nate Pullman, father of Via and Auggie
  • Jacob Tremblay as August "Auggie" Matthew Pullman, a young boy with a facial deformity
  • Izabela Vidovic as Olivia "Via" Pullman, Auggie's older sister
  • Maccie Margaret Chbosky as young Via
  • Mandy Patinkin as Mr. Tushman, the principal of Beecher Prep
  • Daveed Diggs as Mr. Browne, Auggie's English teacher and homeroom teacher
  • Sonia Braga as Lisa "Grans", Isabel's mother, grandmother to Via and Auggie
  • Danielle Rose Russell as Miranda, Via's best friend
  • Nadji Jeter as Justin, Via's boyfriend
  • Noah Jupe as Jack Will, Auggie's best friend
  • Bryce Gheisar as Julian Albans, a student who bullies Auggie and afterwards becomes his friend
  • Millie Davis as Summer, one of Auggie's friends
  • Elle McKinnon as Charlotte Cody, one of Auggie's friends

Production

Development

On November 27, 2012, it was announced that Lionsgate was developing a feature film adaptation of R. J. Palacio's debut novel Wonder, and were in talks with John August to write the screenplay.[5] Mandeville Films' David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman produced the film.[5]

On May 8, 2013, Jack Thorne was hired to adapt the novel after August had departed from the project.[6] In October 2014, John Krokidas was reported to be directing the film,[7] though in April 2015, Paul King was hired to direct instead. Steven Conrad was writing the script at that time.[8]

Casting

On April 14, 2016, Jacob Tremblay was cast to play the lead role, Auggie Pullman, while Julia Roberts was in talks to play Auggie's mother.[9] On May 5, 2016, Roberts' casting was confirmed, and Stephen Chbosky was set as the film's director.[10]

On June 27, 2016, Owen Wilson joined to play Auggie's father.[11] On July 11, 2016, newcomer Noah Jupe joined the cast as Auggie's best friend at school,[12] and on July 15, 2016, Daveed Diggs was cast as Mr. Browne, an English teacher at the school.[13]

On August 19, 2016, Sônia Braga joined the cast, portraying the role of Roberts's character's mother.[14]

Visual effects

Tremblay's prosthetic makeup, designed and created by Arjen Tuiten, took an hour and a half to apply. It consisted of a skull cap with prosthetic ears attached, a facial prosthetic that covered Tremblay's face, and a wig to tie it all together.

Filming

Filming took place in several locations in British Columbia, Canada, and Coney Island, New York, from July 18 to September 13, 2016.

Music

Marcelo Zarvos composed the film's score.[15] Bea Miller composed a song for the film, "Brand New Eyes." It was released on August 3, 2017. Wonder author R. J. Palacio has often credited Natalie Merchant's song "Wonder", from her 1995 album Tigerlily, as the inspiration for her best-selling book and at Merchant's invitation, the song was featured on the soundtrack. The song is played during the film's end credits.[16]

Release

Lionsgate had initially scheduled Wonder to be released in the United States on April 7, 2017.[17][18] On February 13, 2017, it was announced that the release date had been pushed back to November 17, 2017.[19] Wonder had its world premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles on November 14, 2017.[20]

Reception

Box office

Wonder grossed $132.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $173.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $305.6 million, against a production budget of $20 million.[4] Deadline Hollywood calculated the film made a net profit of $55.3 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.[21]

In the United States and Canada, Wonder opened alongside Justice League and The Star, and was initially projected to gross around $9 million from 3,096 theaters in its first weekend.[22] However, after grossing $740,000 from Thursday night previews and receiving a large number of group ticket sales, weekend projections were upped to $15 million.[23] Weekend projections were again increased, this time to $28 million, after the film made $9.4 million on its first day. The film went on to debut to $27.1 million, finishing second at the box office, behind Justice League.[24] In its second weekend, the film dropped just 17.7%, grossing $22.7 million and finishing third at the box office.[25]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 85% based on 185 reviews, and an average rating of 7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Wonder doesn't shy away from its bestselling source material's sentiment, but this well-acted and overall winsome drama earns its tugs at the heartstrings."[26] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, one of fewer than 90 films in the history of the service to receive the grade.[24]

Some reviewers criticized the decision to cast an actor without the condition as Auggie as undermining the film's message.[28][29]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards February 5, 2018 Best Intergenerational Film Wonder Nominated [30]
Readers' Choice Poll Wonder Nominated
Academy Awards March 4, 2018 Best Makeup and Hairstyling Arjen Tuiten Nominated [31]
British Academy Film Awards February 18, 2018 Best Makeup and Hair Naomi Bakstad, Robert Pandini and Arjen Tuiten Nominated [32]
Casting Society of America January 18, 2018 Big Budget – Comedy Deborah Aquila, Kara Eide, Tricia Wood and Kris Woz Nominated [33]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 11, 2018 Best Young Actor/Actress Jacob Tremblay Nominated [34]
Best Adapted Screenplay Jack Thorne, Steve Conrad and Stephen Chbosky Nominated
Best Hair & Makeup Wonder Nominated
Heartland Film Festival December 31, 2017 Truly Moving Picture Award Stephen Chbosky Won [35]
Hochi Film Award December 18, 2018 Best International Picture Stephen Chbosky Won [36]
London Film Critics Circle January 28, 2018 Young British/Irish Performer of the Year Noah Jupe Nominated [37]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild February 24, 2018 Feature Motion Picture: Best Contemporary Makeup Naomi Bakstad, Jean Black and Megan Harkness Nominated [38]
Feature Motion Picture: Best Contemporary Hair Styling Robert Pandini and Alisa Macmillan Nominated
Feature Motion Picture: Best Special Makeup Effects Michael Nickiforek and Arjen Tuiten Nominated
Feature Motion Picture: Best Contemporary Hair Styling Robert Pandini and Alisa Macmillan Nominated
Feature Motion Picture: Best Special Makeup Effects Michael Nickiforek and Arjen Tuiten Nominated
Saturn Awards June 27, 2018 Best Performance by a Younger Actor Jacob Tremblay Nominated [39]
Best Make-up Arjen Tuiten Nominated
Best Independent Film Wonder Won
Seattle Film Critics Society December 18, 2017 Best Youth Performance Jacob Tremblay Nominated [40]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 8, 2017 Best Youth Performance Jacob Tremblay Nominated [41]
Women Film Critics Circle December 17, 2017 Best Family Film Wonder Nominated [42]
[43]
Teen Choice Awards August 12, 2018 Choice Drama Wonder Nominated [44]
Choice Drama Actor Jacob Tremblay Nominated
Choice Drama Actress Julia Roberts Nominated

Musical adaptation

It was announced on April 9, 2019 that a musical adaptation of the film is in the works for Broadway. Jill Furman (Hamilton) will produce, R. J. Palacio will write the book for the stage production.

References
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  6. Fleming, Mike, Jr. (May 8, 2013). "Lionsgate Taps Jack Thorne To Adapt R.J. Palacio Novel 'Wonder'". Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  7. Ford, Rebecca; Kit, Borys (October 7, 2014). "'Kill Your Darlings' Director to Helm YA Adaptation 'Wonder' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
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