'Wonderstruck' lives up to its title, despite pacing

“Wonderstruck,” like all of Todd Haynes's movies, feels like a meticulously constructed treasure. The parallel stories follow two deaf runaways 50 years apart who sneak off to New York City. One story, in black and white, is a silent film, while the other channels the bright colors and funky music of its 1970s setting. At one point, both children end up at the Natural History Museum, where they each place a tiny hopeful hand on the same ancient meteorite.

This is more than mere coincidence; it feels like magic. And yet, the movie - in all its painstaking fabrication - doesn't entirely cast a spell.

The film dives into big themes. Ben (Oakes Fegley), in 1977, and Rose (Millicent Simmonds), in 1927, feel lonely and misunderstood, and both are mourning recent personal losses. But they're sure salvation is in Manhattan, where someone is waiting who might finally appreciate them.

Ben, who just lost his mother in a car wreck, is searching for the father he never knew. After finding a bookmark with a personal message among his mom's belongings, he's convinced the piece of paper is a treasure map that will lead to his dad. Rose, whose strict father makes her life a nightmare, sets out in search of her favorite silent movie star, Lillian Mayhew (Julianne Moore).

We even see Rose watching Lillian's latest movie - a flawless silent movie replica, featuring the actress battling a storm while trying to protect her newborn baby. Rose, like the rest of the audience, becomes overcome with emotion. It's unclear, though, how long she'll be able to appreciate her favorite pastime: Signs outside the theater promise that talkies are imminent, and Rose can't read lips.

Simmonds, who's deaf in real life, hasn't acted in a feature before, though she emotes like a pro, evoking deep feeling without a word of dialogue. She embodies the title of the film, as she looks wide-eyed at the urban spectacles around her, letting us see the world through a child's eyes.

Haynes clearly cares about details, especially when it comes to conjuring up different eras.We get to soak up the atmosphere, although this languorous approach can sometimes give the movie a plodding feel. Other times, the pace gets too speedy, particularly when the film jumps between Ben and Rose so frequently, it's hard to become emotionally invested in either one.

Still, the approach is inventive. There aren't many greater risks than making a silent film in 2017, much less half of one. Though the story lacks some momentum, the mystery of Ben's parentage propels the drama toward a gorgeous finale that includes a sense of balance as the two narratives finally meet. It takes some patience, but eventually “Wonderstruck” delivers real awe.