Synopsis

With only ten teats and eleven piglets, one will have to go. Fern's father spots the runt of the litter, removes him from the pen and is about to despatch him to piggy heaven when Fern steps in. She won't have it. Why should he die because he's little. Finally her father gives in. Fern will hand raise the runt. Fern names him Wilbur and soon the pair are inseparable. Worried Fern is placing too much importance on her piglet, Wilbur is sent across the road to Uncle Homer Zuckerman's farm. Soon Wilbur's homesick. He's not used to being in a big barn filled with strangers. Then he meets Charlotte A Cavatica, a spider who has made her home in the rafters of the barn. Instantly they form a lasting friendship, which brings new life to the animals on Zuckerman's farm. Until it is revealed to Wilbur that he's destined for the smokehouse, a place pigs go to but never return from. It seems that only a miracle will save Wilbur. A determined Charlotte sets out to save Wilbur’s life. She spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is 'some pig' and worth saving. Everyone is impressed. It's a miracle. A sign. But is it enough to save Wilbur?

What The Critics Say

"Winick's film doesn't just tell the story of "Charlotte's Web"; it captures the spirit, the essence, and the significance of E.B. White's classic. It gets the big picture, the broader strokes of what White's book does so well. It's more than a movie about Some Pig, it's a story about exalting in life, celebrating change, and finding hope in death. Charlotte's Web isn't just a good adaptation, it's a great film. A piece of moving poetry, the kind of movie that just might broaden young minds in the same way the book has for so many years. Visually, the film is beautiful. It's a beautiful piece of work, a fantastic film with great performances from actors like Dakota Fanning and brilliant voice work from the likes of Steve Buscemi (brilliantly cast as Templeton the rat) and Julia Roberts. Charlotte's Web is lyrical, and soulful, and more meaningful than most of the made for mom and dad only movies you're likely to see this year. If you love the book; if you love life, then you'll love Charlotte's Web." Josh Tyler CIMEMABLEND "It's a top voice cast - Julia Roberts' distinctive voice as the compassionate spider, Steve Buscemi as the anti social horder rat, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford , John Cleese - and nine year old Dominic Scott Kay as the voice of Wilbur. The film is witty and warm and genuinely good hearted with its messages about the circle of life and the value of friendship. It looks great too, especially the golden autumnal colours as the seasons change. Needless to say, the animals are the stars, and one can only marvel at all their performances. It is hard to conceive that there were 40 pigs who shared the role of Wilbur. Youngsters will undoubtedly squeal with laughter as the animals chat and jive." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "..the film's technical achievements are many and splendid, a seamless magic trick that makes us believe animals can talk, think, and feel. ..the film has merit and many will enjoy its gentle, positive mood and its beautiful bucolic locations (all Australian)." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

"CGI and live action combine seamlessly to give the animals life, and some of the biggest names in entertainment give them voice. The structure and tone is perfect for the moppet target audience, but at the younger end of the scale." Drew Turney FILMINK "Charlotte A Cavatica (Julia Roberts) is one helluva spin artist. The photo-realistic character created for Gary Winick's live-action adaptation captures her spidery alien-ness beautifully. And the web upon which she weaves Terrific, Some Pig and Humble is nothing short of exquisite. Roberts' vocal performance lends the character the sort of warmth and depth that transcends her computer-generated origins (in much the same way as the even-tempered Charlotte wears down the barnyard animals' mistrust). The filmmakers use a combination of real animals and state-of-the-art visual effects to create a convincing world of talking critters. A corker little film about the world's cutest porker. 4 STARS." Vicky Roach DAILY TELEGRAPH "The special effects work on the talking animals is very convincing, while the Australian scenery is suitably picturesque, capturing the look of the original book illustrations by Garth Williams. The voice cast includes a number of recognisable celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Haden Church and Robert Redford. But the real standout is Roberts, whose refined tones are perfectly suited to the eight-legged title character. Plus, Wilbur is strong competition for Babe when it comes to the cutest pig on the big screen. E.B. White's classic tale "Charlotte's Web", the best selling children's paperback of all time, comes to life in this magical screen adaptation that's perfect holiday fare for the whole family." Mark Beirne OUR BRISBANE

Meet The Author - E.B. White E.B. White was born Elwyn Brooks White on July 11th 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921. He picked up the nickname "Andy" at Cornell, where tradition confers that monicker on any student named White, after Cornell co-founder Andrew Dickson White. While at Cornell, he worked as editor of The Daily Sun with classmate Allison Danzig who later became a sportswriter for The New York Times. E.B. wrote for The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer and worked as an ad man before returning to New York City in 1924. He published his first article in The New Yorker magazine in 1925, then joined the staff in 1927 and continued to contribute for six decades. Best recognized for his essays and unsigned Notes and Comment pieces, he gradually became the most important contributor to The New Yorker at a time when it was arguably the most important American literary magazine. He also served as a columnist for Harper's Magazine from 1938 to 1943. In 1929 he married Katharine Sergeant Angell (also an editor at The New Yorker). Katherines son from her first marriage, Roger Angell, went on to spend decades as a fiction editor for The New Yorker and is well-known as the magazine's baseball writer. As Katharine White she authored "Onward and Upward in the Garden". They had a son, Joel White, a naval architect and boatbuilder, who owned Brooklin Boatyard in Brooklin, Maine. In the late 1930s White turned his hand to children's fiction on behalf of a niece, Janice Hart White. His first children's book, "Stuart Little", was published in 1945, and "Charlotte's Web" appeared in 1952. Both were highly acclaimed, and in 1970 jointly won the 'Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal', a major prize in the field of children's literature. In the same year, he published his third children's novel, "The Trumpet of the Swan". In 1973, that book received the 'Seqouyah Award' from Oklahoma and the 'William Allen White Award' from Kansas, both of which were awarded by students voting for their favorite book of the year. In 1959, White edited and updated 'The Elements of Style'. This handbook of grammatical and stylistic do's and don't's for writers of American English had been written and published in 1918 by William Strunk Jr, one of White's professors at Cornell. White's rework of the book was extremely well received, and further editions of the work followed in 1972, 1979, and 1999; an illustrated edition followed in 2005. That same year, a New York composer named Nico Muhly premiered a short opera based on the book. The volume is a standard tool for students and writers, and remains required reading in many composition classes. In 1978, White won a special Pulitzer Prize for his work as a whole. Other awards he received included a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, and memberships in a variety of literary societies throughout the United States. White was also a world federalist. E.B. died on October 1, 1985 at his farm home in North Brooklin, Maine, after a long fight with Alzheimer's disease. He was cremated, and his ashes were buried beside his wife at the Brooklin Cemetery. The Inside Story "Charlotte’s Web" began its journey to the screen when producer Jordan Kerner ("The Mighty Ducks", "George of the Jungle", "Inspector Gadget", "Snowdogs" and many others) read E.B. White's book to his daughters. "One of my daughters asked me, 'Why did Fern leave Wilbur at the barn before she knew he was going to be safe?' I was thunderstruck," Kerner recollects. "That's when I knew, it must be honestly and faithfully adapted from the book. This was a movie that had to be made. All of the questions that fill us when we’re three or four years old: questions of life and death, how long we’re going to live, and what’s going to happen to those we love, stay with us and become even more relevant as we age and have children of our own." Gary Winick was given the job of directing the production. "When I went back and re-read the book, the first time I’d read it since I was a child, I knew it was a story I had to tell. This is a big, event movie, but it’s really a small, intimate story," he says, "a friendship between a pig and a spider." Winick also revealed that most of the animals in the film are not computer generated, but live action. In fact, fourty pigs were used to portray Wilbur in his journey from runt of the litter to prize winning porker. After photography, a team of very talented computer animators used movie magic to enhance the movie. "Certainly, there’s a visual effects element, animals talk. But the emotional heart of the book is also the heart of our film," Winick says. "That’s what drew all of us to this project." Julia Roberts gives an outstanding performance voicing Charlotte A Cavatica, the nurturing spider whose friendship with Wilbur is the central focus of the book. "The book is about the most timeless concepts of our lives: fairness, compassion, understanding, and a willingness to stand up for what you believe in," says Roberts. "Even Templeton, the most rotten of the bunch, can’t help but participate in what’s right. That’s what sustains a story like this; those themes resonate forever." Young Dakota Fanning plays Fern, the young girl who initially raises Wilbur the Runt. "When kids read the book, it becomes their introduction to the cycle of life," says Fanning. "There are so many messages to the book and the movie. I’m honored that I got to bring Fern to life." So how does this talented twelve year old actress who stunned the world with her performance in "I Am Sam" and became the youngest actor ever nominated for a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, see her character? "Fern’s strong-willed; she’s at the age where she’s just starting to grow up," says Fanning. "She begins as a tomboy, and when she finds Wilbur, she becomes mothering and nurturing. Then, when the time is right, she brings him to the barn and lets go a bit, letting him grow up and spread his wings, just as Fern’s own parents let go a bit and let her spread her own wings." Producer Jordan Ferner revealled, "Fanning was the first and only choice for the role. Dakota combines great wisdom with youthful glee. She has the wisdom, compassion, and keen insight, but somehow she’s also able to run around and laugh and play and be a regular old ten or 11 year old. It turns out that she had read the book and, thank goodness, felt that it was important that she play the part, and obviously we felt the same way. There are so many worthy contributions from the voice cast members including Steve Buscemi as Templeton 'The Rat'; John Cleese (his father's name was Reg Cleese but his grandfather was named John Edwin Cheese. He changed his name when he joined the British army in 1915) as Samuel the sheep; Oprah Winfrey as Gussy the Goose; Cedric the Entertainer as Golly the Gander; Robert Redford as Ike, a horse with a distinct adversion to spiders, and nine year old Dominic Scott Kay who voices Wilbur. "Charlottes Web" was produced by Jordan Kerner whose film work includes: "Snow Dogs", "Fried Green Tomatoes", 'The Three Musketeers" and for TV, the acclaimed US made for television TNT movie "Heatwave", which received four Cable ACE Awards, including Best Picture, an Emmy Award, the WGA Award and the NEA award. The musical score was composed by Danny Elfman whose music scores have featured in many well known films, including: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Big Fish", "Chicago", "Good Will Hunting", "Flubber", "Edward Scissorhands", "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Red Dragon". The film is narrated by Sam Shepard who has appeared in three films involving combat aircraft: "The Right Stuff", "Black Hawk Down" and "Stealth". The Verdict "Gary Winick, the cast and all those associated with this production have taken "Charlotte's Web" to new heights breathing life into this timeless classic. There are plenty of hearty laughs to be had thanks to the voiced animals in the Zuckerman's barn as well as two of the most whacky and deliriously funny crows you have ever met. Dakota Fanning once again gives a star performance ( a gem at that) as Fern while nine year old Dominic Scott Kay lends superb voicing to Wilbur. But, and yes there is often a but, much kudos must go to Julia Roberts who gives a showcase voice performance as Charlotte A Cavatica. Those who haven't read the book would do well to place this one by E.B. White on their christmas shopping list. Not to be missed, Winick's "Charlotte's Web" will delight, amaze and provide an uplifting experience for both adults and children. Bloody marvellous! Highly recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "CHARLOTTE'S WEB" stars .......
BAFTA Award winner Dakota Fanning ["I Am Sam", "Sweet Home Alabama", "The Cat in the Hat" and "Hide and Seek"]; Steve Buscemi ["Ghost World", "Monsters, Inc", "Big Fish", "The Island" and "Monster House 3-D"]; Dominic Scott Kay ["Minority Report", "Loverboy" and "The Wild"]; John Cleese ["A Fish Called Wanda", "Rat Race", "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", "Die Another Day" and "Man About Town"], Cedric the Entertainer ["Intolerable Cruelty", "Barbershop 1 & 2" and "Be Cool"]; Thomas Haden Church ["Goosed", "3000 Miles to Graceland", "Sideways" and Over the Hedge"]; Robert Redford ["The Electric Horseman", "The Horse Whisperer", "Spy Game" and "The Clearing"]; Beau Bridges ["The Fifth Musketeer", "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" and "The Good German"] and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts ["Sleeping with the Enemy", "My Best Friend's Wedding", "Erin Brockovich" and "Closer"] as Charlotte A Cavatica.
"CHARLOTTE'S WEB" was .......
directed by 2002 Sundance Film Festival Best Director Award winner Gary Winick ["Curfew", "Sweet Nothing", "The Tic Code" and "Suddenly 30"]; screenplay by Susannah Grant ["Pocahontas", "28 Days", "Erin Brockovich" and "In Her Shoes"] and Karey Kirkpatrick ["James and the Giant Peach", "Chicken Run", "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Over the Hedge"]; original story by E.B. White ["Stuart Little" and "Charlotte's Web"]; cinematography by Seamus McGarvey ["Look Me in the Eye", "Along Came Polly", "Sahara" and "World Trade Centre"]; original music by Danny Elfman ["Men in Black II", "Big Fish", "Spider-man 1 & 2" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"]; production design by Stuart Wurtzel ["The Mambo KIngs", "Used People", "Stepmom" and "Little Manhattan"]; costume design by Rita Ryack ["How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "Rush Hour 2", "A Beautiful Mind" and "The Cat in the Hat"] and produced by Jordan Kerner ["The Three Musketeers", "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Less than Zero"]. Run Time 97 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - Paramount Pictures - All Rights Reserved ENDURING© - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved