This is Wes Anderson's Mars Attacks!
That's the short review, now here's the long one. Asteroid City feels like Wes Anderson's loving tribute to filmmaker Ed Wood. Or am I reading too much into this? After all, we never truly know what's going on in his head, even when we think we do. Asteroid City is ever the obscure, deadpan, verbose, too-intellectual-for-its-own-good, and perfectly symmetrical outing we've come to expect and love from Wes Anderson. No matter how many times he makes this movie, I'll still go to the theater and see it. Why? Because there is a subtle beauty to it all. There's a liberating feeling in seeing a filmmaker doing whatever the hell he wants, to the very best of his ability. That of course comes with risks. This, unfortunately makes Asteroid City completely uneven. Sometimes you'll be laughing out loud and other times you'll want to tear your hair out. It's been a while since Wes Anderson found that proper balance and he certainly doesn't find it here.
Thats not to say that you shouldn't see Asteroid City. You absolutely should. Anderson, among all else, is a man of unparalleled talent. At times, his films venture into the realm of the spectacle. Asteroid City is no exception, in fact, it's an all-out spectacle. The ensemble cast includes true stand-out performances from Edward Norton, Steve Carell, Maya Hawke, Margot Robbie, Jeffery Wright and Bryan Cranston that will fill you with wonder and joy. The production design is breathtaking and complete with a scene that blends stop-motion and live-action so fantastically, it gives you a wonderful sense of what Mars Attacks! Really could have been if the studio didn't get in the way of Burton's original vision.
There's a lot to love here, regardless of what doesn't work. You still have a hold on me, Wes. I'll be there next time, guaranteed!
That's the short review, now here's the long one. Asteroid City feels like Wes Anderson's loving tribute to filmmaker Ed Wood. Or am I reading too much into this? After all, we never truly know what's going on in his head, even when we think we do. Asteroid City is ever the obscure, deadpan, verbose, too-intellectual-for-its-own-good, and perfectly symmetrical outing we've come to expect and love from Wes Anderson. No matter how many times he makes this movie, I'll still go to the theater and see it. Why? Because there is a subtle beauty to it all. There's a liberating feeling in seeing a filmmaker doing whatever the hell he wants, to the very best of his ability. That of course comes with risks. This, unfortunately makes Asteroid City completely uneven. Sometimes you'll be laughing out loud and other times you'll want to tear your hair out. It's been a while since Wes Anderson found that proper balance and he certainly doesn't find it here.
Thats not to say that you shouldn't see Asteroid City. You absolutely should. Anderson, among all else, is a man of unparalleled talent. At times, his films venture into the realm of the spectacle. Asteroid City is no exception, in fact, it's an all-out spectacle. The ensemble cast includes true stand-out performances from Edward Norton, Steve Carell, Maya Hawke, Margot Robbie, Jeffery Wright and Bryan Cranston that will fill you with wonder and joy. The production design is breathtaking and complete with a scene that blends stop-motion and live-action so fantastically, it gives you a wonderful sense of what Mars Attacks! Really could have been if the studio didn't get in the way of Burton's original vision.
There's a lot to love here, regardless of what doesn't work. You still have a hold on me, Wes. I'll be there next time, guaranteed!