Asteroid City – Review
104 Minutes, Rated PG-13
Written and Directed by Wes Anderson
**NOTE: You can read Mark’s review below, read Ryan’s review HERE, then listen as they discuss the film in more depth. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST.**
Synopsis:
The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
It’s no secret that we here at VSMP weren’t the biggest fans of Wes Anderson’s last effort, The French Dispatch, but as overall fans of his films, we were optimistic for Asteroid City.
This time, Anderson’s ever-growing cast of characters (which would make Cecile B. DeMille proud) finds themselves trapped in the titular desert outpost, trapped by circumstance and governmental over-reaction to a simple alien appearance.
What’s the problem?
As always, the fun of Wes Anderson’s movies isn’t the setup, it’s the characters. I assume he will, at some point, make a movie about people grocery shopping, but we’ll all watch it to see the characters.
Plot, as it is, exists to whatever degree only to provide someplace for his characters to BE.
As it turns out, Asteroid City is a pretty fun setting.
To try to explain the plot would be too much, so let’s just talk about the performances first.
Everyone has brought their A-game to this one, from regulars Jason Schwartzman and Tilda Swinton to newcomers Maya Hawke and Tom Hanks (After a couple lack-luster efforts recently).
As always, the trademark deadpan delivery of Anderson’s absurdities couples beautifully with the starkly colored world he has created for them to exist in. The wide variety of characters ranges from a widowed father (and his children), over-zealous military officers, actresses, a bluegrass/C&W band, and students, and they embody those spaces beautifully.
The setting is incredible, and I felt that the motor lodge/motel was every single one of those I’ve ever passed on various cross-country road-trip, and I can imagine such an eclectic collection of personalities being there at any given time.
But in the end, it does boil down to the performances, and if you’re a fan of Anderson’s work, you should be happy with this one.
An enjoyable and entertaining romp on par with his best, Asteroid City is must-see.
Asteroid City drops into theaters on June 23 and stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, and Jeff Goldblum.
And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.
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