Asteroid City: A Wes Anderson Film Review
“Players of the stage, a tribe of troubadours and nonconformists. They lead unconventional, sometimes dangerous lives which nourish and elevate their artistic aspirations and illuminate the human condition.”
-Wes Anderson, Asteroid City
Asteroid City Review: 4/5 ☄️🌃
Wes Anderson, in his latest film entitled Asteroid City, weaves together a brilliantly sculpted world laced with perplexing color combinations, dry humor, and a stacked cast. Although there is more than what initially meets the eye hidden within this film, it inadvertently alters the idea of “simple filmmaking” to a more abstract, relinquished concept, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in a cinematic world unlike any other.
The film pays homage to Anderson’s unique style, capturing the essence of the extremely self-aware nature of the script. His works are characterized by a combination of visual, narrative, and thematically relevant elements that compliment an easily recognizable aesthetic of bright colors and on-the-nose, yet jarring comedy. Asteroid City showcases this especially well through its meticulously composed shots and symmetrical framing, often arranging scenes in a way that creates a sense of order and balance that thereby add to the surreal and otherworldly atmosphere Wes’ extensive filmography has to offer.
Moreover, the performances in this movie further exemplify the quirky, eccentric nature of the story. Scarlett Johansson proves once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with as the troubled Midge Cambell. Maya Hawke, despite being pigeonholed to her role on the Netflix series Stranger Things and her reputation as a product of nepotism, carries her weight fantastically as a lead and embodies the essence of Anderson’s distinct style. Tom Hanks, although lackluster with this particular performance, reminds audiences of his undoubtable raw talent and versatility as an Academy Award winning actor.
Asteroid City is a fun time for those who choose to make it that. There are so many layers to the onion that is this film, I almost found it more enjoyable to simply feel, watch, and laugh throughout it. Wes Anderson has a very niche audience in that his style isn’t necessarily something that grows on someone; it either works or it doesn’t. In this case, Asteroid City perfectly synthesizes the extremities of his techniques in a way that appeals to a wider range of people, essentially broadening the scope of minimalistic film, a highly underappreciated genre, for all. ☄️