This is how I know that you both are proper film critics because Christy will casually mention her dislike of Grand Budapest with no care of any possible pushback from online film bros. Appreciate the bluntness and willingness to always have a dissenting opinion ALWAYS!! 💗💖💗
He’s become more and more of a big concept director since Isle of Dogs, so it could very well be a covid metaphor. The fact that Christy loves it bodes very well for me, because I usually end up agreeing with her 😆. Except for Grand Budapest Hotel, that movie rules 😝. Can’t wait to see this one
I have seen like four of Anderson's films Rushmore, James Moonrise Kingdom, Grand Budapest and French Dispatch and the most I can say is I liked them. They quirky and enjoyable and that was about it for me. I don't think I ever bothered to watch any of them more than once nor have had a strong desire to return to them. They were just a nice change of pace from all the other movies and that's fine by me.
How do ppl watch THE FRENCH DISPATCH and not feel the palpable melancholy about a loss of a certain type of journalism, cultural curiosity, and comradery. I get a lot of ppl disliked it, but I just found that movie so joyful, mournful, and enthusiastic about the potential of a type of in-depth journalism that no longer exists. And it’s a movie about the power of writers to contexualixe cultural movements and give voice to the humanity that contrasts a moments bigness. How important culture writing is. From the profiles on a young revolutionary to a brief history of biking trails in your small town. There’s power in that. But to each their own I guess. Great review. Really looking forward to this!
I also love The French Dispatch and I pick up something new every time I watch it. But I also love literary magazines and feel like the movie was made for someone like me.
@@BreakfastAllDay We went to see Asteroid City last weekend, and were immensely disappointed -- not by the film, but by the theater we were in. The speakers were so loud and filled with static that both of us were unable to make out almost all of the dialog. We knew there were probably funny things being said, but we couidn't hear them. The movie was still a feast for the eyes, so we just watched it. We'll catch it with with sound when it hits the streaming services. I can't tell you which theater it was without doxxing myself, but it was an AMC multiplex theater. And it sucked. We're never going back.
I'm also of the camp that rates Life Aquatic and Darjeeling in my lowest-tier Wes Anderson movies but I'm very much looking forward to this. Always love what Christy and Alonso have to say.
I saw an advanced screening and loved it! My favorite Wes Anderson since The Grand Budapest hotel! This is essentially Wes Anderson’s hangout movie. But I agree this felt very much like Moonrise Kingdom and that’s one of my favorites from Wes.
Saw it for the 2nd time tonight. Theater was filled with a very diverse crowd, so that was nice. Old ladies to teenagers. Guy next to me fell asleep & snored for half of it. It was nice seeing everyone react to the green scene. I liked it better the 2nd watch. It did not get any deeper for me. The story was easier to follow, simpler, and less complex than I initially thought. Still some of my favorite visuals. The green scene. Maya Hawke against the sky. Tilda. Freight Train gives me goosebumps. I really like it now, initially slightly disappointed. But now that I knew what to expect, i enjoyed it more.
Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel are top Wes Anderson for me. So many great lines and actual emotions expressed. For instance, I love it when Royal only realizes after saying it, that his line about the previous six days probably being the best six days of his whole life, was actually true.
Thank you for mentioning how crazy the cast is. The whole meme of "every actor is in Barbie/Oppenheimer" was a thing, and yet nobody (until recently) had mentioned how deep this cast is. Wes Anderson is hit or miss with me, but mostly hit. His roster of actors will always be reliable. His style can certbe divisive, but for the most part I appreciate his films,and the talent he brings with him.
Just saw it. I enjoyed it! I’m into this phase of recent Wes where he’s exploring and expanding the world in which the story is being told. It’s been an element of his movies since Moonrise but it seems like something he’s prioritized in French Dispatch and now in this. Some of my favorite moments in Asteroid City come from sequences that are in the meta production of the Asteroid City play. As with anything trying to be funny, it doesn’t hit 100% of the time but I laughed a good amount and generally had an enjoyable viewing experience. Wes Anderson is very good at getting a comedic moment out of child actors.
I was a little wary, but now Christy has made me more interested! I was going to see it anyway, but now I'm looking forward to it it a little more! I love the look of it as shown in the trailers. The design, cinemetography and pastel color palette remind of one of those old post cards from the fifties from some tourist destination spot in America. Very cool.
Great review as always, and one that mirrors my dueling opinions of Wes Anderson's movies - unmoved by the blunt disaffected tone some of his movies have, but awed at both the craft and the sneaky emotional heart. I've found his last three movies to be middling but I'm still always gonna be there for a new Anderson.
At the beginning of almost every Wes Anderson movie I find myself yelling at the screen “stop with the framing device and just get on with the story already!”
Ok. I just saw it. My most anticipated of the year. Didnt watch the trailer at all, wanted to go in fresh. Thankfully that worked for the incredible Green scene. Wow that scene. Goosebumps. Overall initial reaction: I didnt love it. I love The French Dispatch. I think it’s his most underrated. I think it gets better with every rewatch. Now back to Asteroid. Visually 10/10. I mean some absolutely incredible scenes. Maybe his best yet. But the main issue is I also did not connect. At all. We’ve been getting a lot of Meta Modern movies lately, so that angle of layers fell flat for me. Because the actual play wasn’t very good. I wish it went full on comedy. There were some really funny parts. The casting was great. I want more. I want more in that world. Its disappointing to have that masterful cinematography, photography, color, styling, and directing and just have a lackluster script. Also the score did not hit. It felt like some b sides from French Dispatch. Which is fine (same guy, Alexandre Desplat) , but it needed its own distinct sound to separate it. Shazammed 2 final songs but nothing else stood out. Freight Train is great. Whole French Dispatch score is incredible. I will go see Asteroid again though,although I don’t think theres much more there like there is with French Dispatch on multiple views, the initial viewing is such a feast for the eyes that the quick dialogue gets lost easy. And I just want to visually see it again on a big screen. I mean i still cant believe how he & his team create these worlds. It seems so impossible. Hopefully maybe Ill connect a bit next time and get more out of it. Saw the trailer for Jorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things tonight for the first time. New most anticipated. Looks incredible. The Lobster is a masterpiece. Oh and Jason Schwartzmans facial hair was just bad & distracting imo.
I agree with Christy on this one. It's how people of a certain "intelligence " process Greif, and I could see the covid Metaphor. Also...why "twice " the visits?? It's nice and mysterious
I agree with Christy with her love of this film but I love The grand budapest hotel which happens to be my favourite and the french dispatch ranks 2nd (it doesn't get much love)
Deep cut! Bryan Cranston was doing Trumbo! I was so taken out of this movie multiple times by how it was a movie about a play on a tv show... it was about the the pandemic. Lock down, and how the government would try to cover up aliens (until recently that is).
Miraculously, Asteroid City's arrived in our humble burgh; keen to see it; wasn't cranked by French Despatch--seemed antic for antic's sake with little point or resonance, so.....here's hoping!
Yeah this is what I was worried about. It's exactly how I felt about the French dispatch and I'm in no hurry to see this movie although I'm certain I'll end up succumbing
Have you ever seen the recent trend online of people creating an A.I trailer of movies using Wes Anderson style? I think this is his direct response to that, by going as meta as possible but showing that his style, as replicable as it is, there's a depth that even A.I can't reach
Just caught up with this and agree with Christy this his best since Moonrise. The set design along is worth the price of admission. I do agree with Alonso on not connecting emotionally to his characters but his movies seem deliberate in that sense in that they aren't remotely like anyone in real life. It's 100% quirkiness or "arch" as Alonso says. That was the case with French Dispatch for me that I didn't connect with but I giggled all the way through this movie so it really connected.
I have 2 Wes Anderson films in my Top 5 and wasn't planning on seeing this prior to the review. For me Grand Budapest Hotel crossed the Rubicon of style and artifice over everything else and I just couldn't enjoy it all that much. I skipped French Dispatch for that reason. Hearing Christy say this is the best film since Moonrise Kingdom (in my T5) or at least cutting back towards that balance is great news! Oh and Royale Tenenbaums will always be my favorite Wes Anderson film. It's T5 for me and above Moonrise Kingdom.
@@aikighost no Brooklyn was not a Wes Anderson movie he was not involved with that film. Ronan only did two films with Anderson and she'll probably do another one in the future.
My favorite Anderson films are Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox & Grand Budapest, do you think I’ll like this one? I was disappointed in Isle of Dogs and the French Dispatch.
Lets be honest, no matter what anyone says you will watch it anyway :) As regards seeking the opinions of others about movies, In the end talking about movies is kind of like smelling music.
Good point about writing with Owen Wilson. Has either one been asked why they don't write together any more? I think he talked about doing a space movie before Covid, but I don't know how 'spacey' (not Kevin) this is since I haven't seen it.
@@BreakfastAllDayhe two leads are both in the movie Paterson right. I still laugh at the Noahs ark moment when the flood happens outside the church full of the towns populace.
Once again I go in wondering if this will finally be the Wes Anderson movie that I fully love but nope. Maybe someday. There's always bits and pieces I love but never yet the whole package. Maybe I need to go back to Rushmore to remind if I felt that way back then too.
Seems to be a bit of a divide between RT's 'Top Critics' (83%, 8.1/10) vs 'All Critics' (72%, 6.9/10) with a 74/100 on MetaCritic placing it joint 7th of 11 (with The French Dispatch) of Wes Anderson's movies ahead of Bottle Rocket (67), The Darjeeling Limited (67) & The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (62).
Thinking again.. you guys framed on youtube, kinda feels like scenes of a Wes Anderson film... I love The Grand Budapest Hotel. Probably my all time favourite, #1 top ten. This one is weird. HOWEVER I kinda like it too, in a weird way. And I was surprised to see Jeff Goldbloom in the credits, but then, he is the...(spoiler). This might be an 8 to me.
I didn't like Moonrise Kingdom so I haven't seen anything he's done since. I really like Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Tenenbaums and Mr. Fox. Darjeeling and Life Aquatic were just OK to me. I will probably see this one though.
I saw it last night and loved it. Anyone saying something to the effect of "style over substance" will never get it. It's melancholic, whimsical, and thought provoking.
I love Rushmore and Royals. I hated French Dispatch. The trailer for this one reminded me too much of Dispatch so I have to pass and maybe watch at home one day. Nice to hear that it's a return to form in some ways though but I can't take the risk lol.
I am a HUGE fan of Wes Anderson, but clearly the style in his recent films is still very much too self aware for its own good, theres no wooziness or a a"lived in" feel to it anymore....I agree with the maestro: Alonso. It left me a bit cold and stiff tbh. I hope Wes can go back to capture the magic of Rushmore a bit more, even Grand Budapest had the balance of style and character just perfect - His latest films have too many characters all over the place I mean its attention span spread thin!! But anyhow, love you guys, been watching since WTF days. Thnx
I really liked The Grand Budapest Hotel, actually, but really didn't like The French Dispatch. I'm going to go see this in any case. I liked your differing takes on this. Hmmmmm.
I remember renting Rushmore with my sister when I was a kid. We sat there in silence for the whole film. As I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to appreciate his films more. Well 2 of em. I’m curious about this one. I will still argue that Rushmore does NOT work.
I’ve tried and tried but Wes is still only my 2nd favorite filmmaking Anderson from the trio of unrelated GenX Anderson directors. Paul Thomas being first and Paul W.S. the last.
Interesting, different genre entirely of course but contrast this with the critique of a film like The Blackening, how cinematically you were not "served" by their "too dark" cinematography where clearly this film as are majority of Wes Andersons prone to almost blindingly so oversaturation and white washed visually (on multiple levels). Also, I do appreciate Andersons more recent attempt to bring the eventual person of color celestial body/hanger on actor to orbit his cinematic universe
Am. Living. For. This. One. Fabulous review, love the civil dichotomy of opinion, which says to me it's going to be if nothing else an interesting ride. Thanks as always, Christy and Alonso.
@@BreakfastAllDay I just revisited your review and you 2 (as usual ) summed the film up perfectly. I sat there watching all the components that I know make an excellent movie, admiring its craft and humor, but somehow never feeling truly engaged. I'm a big fan of the director and so wanted to love the latest from team Wes. I will definitely have another run at it in a few months, but sit with Alonso on this one. Thanks as always, I love the work you do.
I also was not a big fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Christy, and I didn’t even see The French Dispatch, but The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom are BY FAR my favorite films of his. And since the trailer for Asteroid City first dropped, I’ve thought this one seems much more of a piece with the latter. Can’t wait to see it.
Well who isn't an asteroid City any notable black leads that's what but anyway I really enjoyed this movie just as much as I did the French dispatch I'm liking this new older with Anderson 8.5
@@BreakfastAllDay No worries, my heart’s just bruised, not broken. I have to tell you how much I enjoy listening to the Fiilmweek podcast. It’s my Saturday morning, lazing around favorite listen. Larry Mantle seems really nice.
Honestly Bryan Cranston should of played Jason Swartzmans character and the movie would of been 99% better. Jason just didn’t do it for me. I love Wes Anderson movies but this was one of his worst in terms of interesting characters. The set designs were the most interesting character.
A lockdown metaphor? Say it ain't so. That is the last thing I want. I would honestly much rather have some good ol' fashioned abstract ubiquitous soul crushing nihilism. 😂😂😂 The cinematography and set design are so cartoonish that the thumbnail looks like a real set photo. How was it working with Scar Jo?
I used to like Wes Anderson, but he feels like a one trick pony now. He would be better off writing children's books because his movies are generally unengaging and static. The last movie of his I unreservedly enjoyed was Moonrise Kingdom because it featured a relationship you could root for.
I'd really like to see his take on a movie with main characters that are non binary people and people of color. With 2023ish modern music. Would it still be a "Wes Anderson movie"?
@@BreakfastAllDay I really disliked this movie and I wanted, really wanted to like it. It's a copy cat version of Stranger Things with brainy kids dealing with alien contact...it even has M. Hawke from Stranger Things in a major role. I especially didn't like the plot jumping between script and a writer explaining his difficulties ad nauseam, much like a torturous Woody Allen film.
Wes Anderson now makes the least-interesting parodies of Wes Anderson films. I'll be Flashing this weekend unless Past Lives starts showing somewhere near where I live (not holding my breath).
"...the kids are all weirdo brilliant outsiders..." When are kids in film or tv ever NOT weirdo brilliant little smart-alecs...lol. I feel like every form of media displays kids as walking forms of social commentary from the screenwriter; I've hardly ever seen a kid just be a kid in a film.
How can you not want to see a Wes Anderson movie in the biggest screen possible. And then a repeat viewing at that. Alonso will like it more the 2nd time around
I'll admit I just don't relate to Wes Anderson's aesthetic unless it's animated, so Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs. I'll be skipping this one and rewatching those. I do think this will be going head-to-head with Barbie for production design at the awards next year. Pink everything for the win!
I consider myself a respecter of Mr. Anderson's oeuvre (he's just so stylish on and off the screen) but honestly he must be like the Jeffrey Epstein of the film industry to continually persuade a massive stable of A listers to take part in his films over and over again. I just couldn't comprehend what it was I was watching, literally left before it adjured, and I wasn't the only one to do so.
@@BreakfastAllDay When the epiphany hit that the role of the father was cast to Hanks, in stead of Bill Murray? Murray is the life blood and soul of a Wes Anderson film imho. W/o the soul it was dead on arrival to me. Murray presence keeps us grounded and engaged and willing to suffer through lol. Why? Because we No but right around the time the Jeffery Wright declared the alien returned the asteroid 'cataloged' and that they'd all be sequestered again. I had had enough! I saw opportunity to escape and never looked back haha The whole thing was performative. A visually stunning - Overly complex, yet one-dimensional piece of sensory overload (structure and dialogue-wise) It left me doubting my overall film IQ - which has never been high to begin with. He is obviously brilliant, and I appreciate his vision, just not his execution.
Speaking of the speed and density of the typical Wes Anderson movie: I wonder what a Wes Anderson film co-written by Aaron Sorkin would look like? (Hopefully awesome.)
I cant express how much I hated this movie. Either this is the worst Wes Anderson film or I'm just over the schtick. I am a fan of Wes. I liked it when he made movies with real humans in them.
@BreakfastAllDay Peak Wes for me is Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums. AC felt like one of those movies if they replaced every interesting character in those films with an AI generated Wes character. There's no emotion. There's no comedy. There's no connection to any real world we might identify with. It's all feels so artificial now. The play within a play doesn't do it any favors. Ultimately, I felt no connection to any character in this film. It felt like a bunch of actors going through their deadpan motions and Wes was too busy, admiring his set design, to notice
Wes Anderson is perfectly aligned within the onslaught of the 'Marvel universe' film adaptations and super hero films in general. Both Mr.Anderson and Walt Disney/Marvel offer cinematic 'comic book' conversions. One part of this genre is superhero's endlessly 'duking it out' ...the other is esoteric 'dour introspection' comics. From graphic novelists like Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, etc. Each frame isn't a painting, or a photograph... it's a comic book panel, or children's book page. That's why there's such a huge disconnect between witnessing the spectacle of the visual imagery, and the nonsense that is the narrative. It's viscerally stimulating... but take away the relentless homage to comic books, and there's nothing left. You can enjoy it for a while... but it quickly become overly repetitive. For a film director, it's not a great place artistically, to become so derivative of yourself. Wes Anderson is a comic book creator masquerading as a film director. In trying to bring such limited expression to a medium that is the greatest tool for human emotional experience... Could be interesting as a single 'one-off' piece... but Wes Anderson's entire oeuvre is mind-numbingly monotonous. Like comic books... his films are for the innocent, or those easily caught up in the spell of novelty for novelties sake. Another commercial product to consume and instantly forget... for the surface dwellers.
Not a fan of Wes Anderson’s style of storytelling. If I can’t get into seeing Across the Spider-verse again, I might go see this. I don’t hate his films, but his movies just do not delight me the ways others enjoy his movies.
This is a terrible, structure-less mess. Ever since the overrated Grand Budapest Hotel, another messy movie, Wes has stopped being interested in storytelling. I was never the biggest fan, but at least before Budapest his movies had coherent storylines. After the success and accolades of Budapest, Wes has been trying to replicate that with the same type of filmmaking, which adds up to a lot of random vignettes and quirky, pseudo-intellectual speeches with no dramatic tension. That's why it's important for critics and awards not to encourage incompetence. When they do we get more incompetence. I'm not that impressed with the Wes Anderson style, either. It's derivative anyway, with much of it lifted from 80s TV commercials, particularly the work of director Joe Sedelmaier (FedEx fast-talking commercials and Where's the Beef ads).
@@BreakfastAllDay The Scarlett/Jason S. subplot had the closest semblance of a story, but even that felt incomplete. It's all vignettes that didn't coalesce.
This is how I know that you both are proper film critics because Christy will casually mention her dislike of Grand Budapest with no care of any possible pushback from online film bros. Appreciate the bluntness and willingness to always have a dissenting opinion ALWAYS!! 💗💖💗
Ha, thanks! And it's not so much a dislike of Grand Budapest, it's just not one of my favorites from him 😊
Online film bros don’t care about Wes Anderson films hey… 😂
@@SydneyTravellersGuide Ha, ours do! 😆
@@SydneyTravellersGuide that's Bieng a little snobby, I think Hackman,who called him a cunt,was the heart of Royal
Yeah...i can't think of a less "film bro" movie than Grand Budapest.
😮 The Grand Budapest Hotel is his masterpiece, IMO. I always cry out of joy from watching it.
Everyone loves it!
One of the best movies out of one of the best years for movies.
He’s become more and more of a big concept director since Isle of Dogs, so it could very well be a covid metaphor. The fact that Christy loves it bodes very well for me, because I usually end up agreeing with her 😆. Except for Grand Budapest Hotel, that movie rules 😝. Can’t wait to see this one
Let us know!
I have seen like four of Anderson's films Rushmore, James Moonrise Kingdom, Grand Budapest and French Dispatch and the most I can say is I liked them. They quirky and enjoyable and that was about it for me. I don't think I ever bothered to watch any of them more than once nor have had a strong desire to return to them. They were just a nice change of pace from all the other movies and that's fine by me.
I'm heavy on movies being REWATCH-ABLE.
If a movie doesn't have any replay value I'm most likely not going to watch it the first time.
How do ppl watch THE FRENCH DISPATCH and not feel the palpable melancholy about a loss of a certain type of journalism, cultural curiosity, and comradery.
I get a lot of ppl disliked it, but I just found that movie so joyful, mournful, and enthusiastic about the potential of a type of in-depth journalism that no longer exists.
And it’s a movie about the power of writers to contexualixe cultural movements and give voice to the humanity that contrasts a moments bigness. How important culture writing is.
From the profiles on a young revolutionary to a brief history of biking trails in your small town. There’s power in that.
But to each their own I guess. Great review. Really looking forward to this!
I also love The French Dispatch and I pick up something new every time I watch it. But I also love literary magazines and feel like the movie was made for someone like me.
@@inbtwndays people complain that some of the big name actors don't play any main character and i'm like "yeah that was kinda the point"
I gotta say, I don't consider myself a Wes Anderson fan, but I found myself really enjoying Asteroid City.
Glad to hear it!
The visuals alone have my wife and I hooked. It's the only film we'll probably see in a theater this summer.
Great! Come back and let us know how you liked it.
It's like a postcard playing out in a dream, put on film.
A nice cleanse for the digital nightmare that cinema has become.
@@BreakfastAllDay We went to see Asteroid City last weekend, and were immensely disappointed -- not by the film, but by the theater we were in. The speakers were so loud and filled with static that both of us were unable to make out almost all of the dialog. We knew there were probably funny things being said, but we couidn't hear them. The movie was still a feast for the eyes, so we just watched it. We'll catch it with with sound when it hits the streaming services. I can't tell you which theater it was without doxxing myself, but it was an AMC multiplex theater. And it sucked. We're never going back.
I agree, I wish Wes was writing with Owen. Those were the days!
What's your favorite Wes Anderson movie?
I'm also of the camp that rates Life Aquatic and Darjeeling in my lowest-tier Wes Anderson movies but I'm very much looking forward to this. Always love what Christy and Alonso have to say.
Thanks for your thoughts! Hope you enjoy.
I'm very excited about this movie. Wes Anderson is one of my favorite film makers.
Come back with a full report!
I saw an advanced screening and loved it! My favorite Wes Anderson since The Grand Budapest hotel! This is essentially Wes Anderson’s hangout movie. But I agree this felt very much like Moonrise Kingdom and that’s one of my favorites from Wes.
Saw it for the 2nd time tonight. Theater was filled with a very diverse crowd, so that was nice. Old ladies to teenagers. Guy next to me fell asleep & snored for half of it.
It was nice seeing everyone react to the green scene.
I liked it better the 2nd watch. It did not get any deeper for me. The story was easier to follow, simpler, and less complex than I initially thought.
Still some of my favorite visuals. The green scene. Maya Hawke against the sky. Tilda.
Freight Train gives me goosebumps.
I really like it now, initially slightly disappointed.
But now that I knew what to expect, i enjoyed it more.
Thanks for your insights!
Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel are top Wes Anderson for me. So many great lines and actual emotions expressed. For instance, I love it when Royal only realizes after saying it, that his line about the previous six days probably being the best six days of his whole life, was actually true.
Not life aquatic with steve zissou? I think that film might have the most quotable lines in my everyday life 😂
Thank you for mentioning how crazy the cast is.
The whole meme of "every actor is in Barbie/Oppenheimer" was a thing, and yet nobody (until recently) had mentioned how deep this cast is.
Wes Anderson is hit or miss with me, but mostly hit. His roster of actors will always be reliable. His style can certbe divisive, but for the most part I appreciate his films,and the talent he brings with him.
And we forgot to mention Hope Davis! And Anderson regular Edward Norton!
Just saw it. I enjoyed it! I’m into this phase of recent Wes where he’s exploring and expanding the world in which the story is being told. It’s been an element of his movies since Moonrise but it seems like something he’s prioritized in French Dispatch and now in this. Some of my favorite moments in Asteroid City come from sequences that are in the meta production of the Asteroid City play. As with anything trying to be funny, it doesn’t hit 100% of the time but I laughed a good amount and generally had an enjoyable viewing experience. Wes Anderson is very good at getting a comedic moment out of child actors.
Very true! Thanks for your thoughts.
I was a little wary, but now Christy has made me more interested! I was going to see it anyway, but now I'm looking forward to it it a little more! I love the look of it as shown in the trailers. The design, cinemetography and pastel color palette remind of one of those old post cards from the fifties from some tourist destination spot in America. Very cool.
Yes, that is exactly the vibe!
Great review as always, and one that mirrors my dueling opinions of Wes Anderson's movies - unmoved by the blunt disaffected tone some of his movies have, but awed at both the craft and the sneaky emotional heart. I've found his last three movies to be middling but I'm still always gonna be there for a new Anderson.
Thanks for that! Let us know what you think when you see it.
“Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Owen Wilson, Owen Wilson” what a reference
I think the real MVP of this one is Alexandre Desplat. His score (especially during that ONE scene) is absolutely nuts.
Good point!
Life Aquatic is still my favorite movie of his. The ending always chokes me up
Definitely a tear jerker. He Lost his best friend and son at that point. But still appreciated how beautiful the jaguar shark was.
At the beginning of almost every Wes Anderson movie I find myself yelling at the screen “stop with the framing device and just get on with the story already!”
It's a feature, not a bug 😄
Ok. I just saw it. My most anticipated of the year. Didnt watch the trailer at all, wanted to go in fresh. Thankfully that worked for the incredible Green scene. Wow that scene. Goosebumps. Overall initial reaction: I didnt love it. I love The French Dispatch. I think it’s his most underrated. I think it gets better with every rewatch. Now back to Asteroid. Visually 10/10. I mean some absolutely incredible scenes. Maybe his best yet. But the main issue is I also did not connect. At all. We’ve been getting a lot of Meta Modern movies lately, so that angle of layers fell flat for me. Because the actual play wasn’t very good. I wish it went full on comedy. There were some really funny parts. The casting was great. I want more. I want more in that world. Its disappointing to have that masterful cinematography, photography, color, styling, and directing and just have a lackluster script. Also the score did not hit. It felt like some b sides from French Dispatch. Which is fine (same guy, Alexandre Desplat) , but it needed its own distinct sound to separate it. Shazammed 2 final songs but nothing else stood out. Freight Train is great.
Whole French Dispatch score is incredible.
I will go see Asteroid again though,although I don’t think theres much more there like there is with French Dispatch on multiple views, the initial viewing is such a feast for the eyes that the quick dialogue gets lost easy. And I just want to visually see it again on a big screen.
I mean i still cant believe how he & his team create these worlds. It seems so impossible. Hopefully maybe Ill connect a bit next time and get more out of it.
Saw the trailer for Jorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things tonight for the first time. New most anticipated. Looks incredible. The Lobster is a masterpiece.
Oh and Jason Schwartzmans facial hair was just bad & distracting imo.
Thanks for your feedback! We're looking forward to Poor Things, too.
Thank you for this review. I've subscribed to your channel. Asteroid City is one of my favorite Wes Anderson films since Bottle Rocket.
Wonderful, thanks, we're happy to have you!
really interesting to hear the opposing opinions!
Like all Wes Anderson classics. 😅
Thanks for watching!
I agree with Christy on this one. It's how people of a certain "intelligence " process Greif, and I could see the covid Metaphor. Also...why "twice " the visits?? It's nice and mysterious
Thanks Trevor!
Saw it earlier today. Still thinking about it. More than i could say for most movies. Always enjoy Anderson's movies.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I agree with Christy with her love of this film but I love The grand budapest hotel which happens to be my favourite and the french dispatch ranks 2nd (it doesn't get much love)
I haven't seen Rushmore. But Moonrise Kingdom. Royal Tenenbaums, and Fantastic Mr. fox are top tier for me.
All great! Rushmore is a must.
Christy bummer you didn't enjoy the grand Budapest hotel.
Just not a favorite from among his many films.
Deep cut! Bryan Cranston was doing Trumbo! I was so taken out of this movie multiple times by how it was a movie about a play on a tv show... it was about the the pandemic. Lock down, and how the government would try to cover up aliens (until recently that is).
Seems like it!
Miraculously, Asteroid City's arrived in our humble burgh; keen to see it; wasn't cranked by French Despatch--seemed antic for antic's sake with little point or resonance, so.....here's hoping!
Great, enjoy!
Rushmore and Life Aquatic for me.
I saw it yesterday. Very stylish, very nice to look at, but emotionally a lot of nothing.
Glad you saw it!
Yeah this is what I was worried about. It's exactly how I felt about the French dispatch and I'm in no hurry to see this movie although I'm certain I'll end up succumbing
Have you ever seen the recent trend online of people creating an A.I trailer of movies using Wes Anderson style? I think this is his direct response to that, by going as meta as possible but showing that his style, as replicable as it is, there's a depth that even A.I can't reach
Just caught up with this and agree with Christy this his best since Moonrise. The set design along is worth the price of admission. I do agree with Alonso on not connecting emotionally to his characters but his movies seem deliberate in that sense in that they aren't remotely like anyone in real life. It's 100% quirkiness or "arch" as Alonso says. That was the case with French Dispatch for me that I didn't connect with but I giggled all the way through this movie so it really connected.
Thanks for your insights!
I have 2 Wes Anderson films in my Top 5 and wasn't planning on seeing this prior to the review. For me Grand Budapest Hotel crossed the Rubicon of style and artifice over everything else and I just couldn't enjoy it all that much. I skipped French Dispatch for that reason. Hearing Christy say this is the best film since Moonrise Kingdom (in my T5) or at least cutting back towards that balance is great news! Oh and Royale Tenenbaums will always be my favorite Wes Anderson film. It's T5 for me and above Moonrise Kingdom.
Great, let us know how it goes!
If Saoirse Ronan is not in a Wes Anderson movie, is it a Wes Anderson movie???
Ha, good question.
Was Brooklyn really a Wes Anderson movie? :P
@@aikighost no Brooklyn was not a Wes Anderson movie he was not involved with that film. Ronan only did two films with Anderson and she'll probably do another one in the future.
@@josefengelhardt2767 note the " :P "
She's a beautiful lady and a great actor but no. It's not a wes Anderson movie if Jason Schwartzmen isn't in it.
Wes Anderson has this second nature to make memorable dreamscapes of the mundane.
My favorite Anderson films are Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox & Grand Budapest, do you think I’ll like this one? I was disappointed in Isle of Dogs and the French Dispatch.
Yes! We love those too.
Lets be honest, no matter what anyone says you will watch it anyway :)
As regards seeking the opinions of others about movies, In the end talking about movies is kind of like smelling music.
@@aikighost what a bizarre and pointless comment lol
@@uhuhuh1966 and yet you responded, and I am still correct. 🤣
@@aikighost it’s *my* comment I can respond however I want and that doesn’t make you correct, just a douchenozel 😂
Good point about writing with Owen Wilson. Has either one been asked why they don't write together any more? I think he talked about doing a space movie before Covid, but I don't know how 'spacey' (not Kevin) this is since I haven't seen it.
My favourite Anderson film is Moonrise Kingdom. That film charms the hell out of me.
It’s so lovely. Those kids are great.
@@BreakfastAllDayhe two leads are both in the movie Paterson right.
I still laugh at the Noahs ark moment when the flood happens outside the church full of the towns populace.
Christy, meteors don't touch down. They burn up. Meteorites land.
Sorry, we are not a science channel.
🤭
Moonrise Kingdom FOR THE WIN!
It's so lovely.
Once again I go in wondering if this will finally be the Wes Anderson movie that I fully love but nope. Maybe someday. There's always bits and pieces I love but never yet the whole package. Maybe I need to go back to Rushmore to remind if I felt that way back then too.
Rushmore remains his best. Sorry it didn’t work for you, Bob!
I just love how meta this movie is.
Seems to be a bit of a divide between RT's 'Top Critics' (83%, 8.1/10) vs 'All Critics' (72%, 6.9/10) with a 74/100 on MetaCritic placing it joint 7th of 11 (with The French Dispatch) of Wes Anderson's movies ahead of Bottle Rocket (67), The Darjeeling Limited (67) & The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (62).
Ahhh!! Covid as inspiration for this is a great point! That I grasp. But as a Wes Van, it doesnt come close to my Budapest Hotel
Thanks for your thoughts!
Life Aquatic is my favorite Wes A.
Thinking again.. you guys framed on youtube, kinda feels like scenes of a Wes Anderson film...
I love The Grand Budapest Hotel. Probably my all time favourite, #1 top ten.
This one is weird. HOWEVER I kinda like it too, in a weird way. And I was surprised to see Jeff Goldbloom in the credits, but then, he is the...(spoiler).
This might be an 8 to me.
I didn't like Moonrise Kingdom so I haven't seen anything he's done since. I really like Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Tenenbaums and Mr. Fox. Darjeeling and Life Aquatic were just OK to me. I will probably see this one though.
Huzaah!!!! Like Don Quixote of old, the knight errant has returned to vanquish the barons of conveyor belt microwavable cinema. Rejoice!
I saw it last night and loved it. Anyone saying something to the effect of "style over substance" will never get it. It's melancholic, whimsical, and thought provoking.
I love Rushmore and Royals. I hated French Dispatch. The trailer for this one reminded me too much of Dispatch so I have to pass and maybe watch at home one day. Nice to hear that it's a return to form in some ways though but I can't take the risk lol.
Let us know if you do!
Great review bro.
Thanks bro.
I am a HUGE fan of Wes Anderson, but clearly the style in his recent films is still very much too self aware for its own good, theres no wooziness or a a"lived in" feel to it anymore....I agree with the maestro: Alonso. It left me a bit cold and stiff tbh.
I hope Wes can go back to capture the magic of Rushmore a bit more, even Grand Budapest had the balance of style and character just perfect - His latest films have too many characters all over the place I mean its attention span spread thin!!
But anyhow, love you guys, been watching since WTF days. Thnx
Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Junior Stargazers coulda been one of Max’s clubs but I see it more as one of the clubs the scouts from Moonrise Kingdom would organize.
Yes, that too!
I hope I’m more on Christy’s side with this one !
Let us know!
I'm looking forward to this film trepidatiously because, from the trailer alone I get an Alonso reaction vibe, but not a Christy enthusiasm.
Let us know what you think!
I really liked The Grand Budapest Hotel, actually, but really didn't like The French Dispatch. I'm going to go see this in any case. I liked your differing takes on this. Hmmmmm.
Let us know what you think!
I remember renting Rushmore with my sister when I was a kid. We sat there in silence for the whole film. As I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to appreciate his films more. Well 2 of em. I’m curious about this one. I will still argue that Rushmore does NOT work.
Oh no, why does Rushmore not work?
Okay. I’m in!
Enjoy!
I’ve tried and tried but Wes is still only my 2nd favorite filmmaking Anderson from the trio of unrelated GenX Anderson directors. Paul Thomas being first and Paul W.S. the last.
Thanks for trying and trying!
Is this a good entry point for someone new to Wes Anderson, or would you recommend watching some of his other work beforehand?
Sure! But start with Rushmore if you can.
Terrible entry point
Good movie though
Interesting, different genre entirely of course but contrast this with the critique of a film like The Blackening, how cinematically you were not "served" by their "too dark" cinematography where clearly this film as are majority of Wes Andersons prone to almost blindingly so oversaturation and white washed visually (on multiple levels). Also, I do appreciate Andersons more recent attempt to bring the eventual person of color celestial body/hanger on actor to orbit his cinematic universe
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. In some scenes in The Blackening, it was hard to see what was going on.
It's a Turducken of a film.
I actually own a Wed Anderson coffee table book.
If Bill Murray is not in it, it’s not a Wes Anderson movie.
Bill Murray isn’t in this movie.
He isn't, but Tom Hanks functions in what is essentially the Bill Murray role in these movies.
Asteroid literally means "star like" and there is a notion in the story that a person becomes a star when they die.
Am. Living. For. This. One. Fabulous review, love the civil dichotomy of opinion, which says to me it's going to be if nothing else an interesting ride. Thanks as always, Christy and Alonso.
Thank you! Let us know if you see it.
I so wanted to love this - ended up mildly liking - 6/10😥
Too bad, what didn’t you like about it?
@@BreakfastAllDay I just revisited your review and you 2 (as usual ) summed the film up perfectly. I sat there watching all the components that I know make an excellent movie, admiring its craft and humor, but somehow never feeling truly engaged. I'm a big fan of the director and so wanted to love the latest from team Wes. I will definitely have another run at it in a few months, but sit with Alonso on this one. Thanks as always, I love the work you do.
I love you guys,but Siskle and Ebert this would have been a real fight.
Well, nobody can be Siskel and Ebert, and that’s not what we’re trying to do here. But we appreciate you watching.
I also was not a big fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Christy, and I didn’t even see The French Dispatch, but The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom are BY FAR my favorite films of his. And since the trailer for Asteroid City first dropped, I’ve thought this one seems much more of a piece with the latter. Can’t wait to see it.
I enjoyed some of his older movies, actually mostly just The Royal Tenenbaums, well enough but i found The French Dispatch excruciating so idk
This feels like a bounce back from that.
Tom Hanks character should have been Bill Murry. But we understand why Bill couldn’t make it this time.
It's very much a Bill Murray role, it's true. Thanks for watching.
Well who isn't an asteroid City any notable black leads that's what but anyway I really enjoyed this movie just as much as I did the French dispatch I'm liking this new older with Anderson 8.5
Thanks for your thoughts. What did you think of Jeffrey Wright's performance?
you didnt even watch it since Jeffrey Wright is in it!
This movie looks weird but great cinematography.
Yes and yes!
I love Wes but stylistically he's really painted himself into a corner. I wish he would try something different. 🤷♂️
Christy, I can’t believe you like this movie, I hated it, we’re breaking up.
Sorry to hear that.
@@BreakfastAllDay No worries, my heart’s just bruised, not broken. I have to tell you how much I enjoy listening to the Fiilmweek podcast. It’s my Saturday morning, lazing around favorite listen. Larry Mantle seems really nice.
@@reggieg2303 Thank you! He really is.
Honestly Bryan Cranston should of played Jason Swartzmans character and the movie would of been 99% better. Jason just didn’t do it for me. I love Wes Anderson movies but this was one of his worst in terms of interesting characters. The set designs were the most interesting character.
A lockdown metaphor? Say it ain't so. That is the last thing I want. I would honestly much rather have some good ol' fashioned abstract ubiquitous soul crushing nihilism. 😂😂😂
The cinematography and set design are so cartoonish that the thumbnail looks like a real set photo. How was it working with Scar Jo?
She was a delight. A total pro.
Visually stunning but a story that’s impossible to enjoy 😮💨
Sorry you didn't like it!
Style over substance is his M.O.
Yep. Rushmore was a wonderful exception, however.
This
I used to like Wes Anderson, but he feels like a one trick pony now. He would be better off writing children's books because his movies are generally unengaging and static. The last movie of his I unreservedly enjoyed was Moonrise Kingdom because it featured a relationship you could root for.
I'd really like to see his take on a movie with main characters that are non binary people and people of color. With 2023ish modern music. Would it still be a "Wes Anderson movie"?
Tilda Swinton is close to being nonbinery, HELLOO!
What if Anderson said....I'm going to make the worst movie and laugh when the critics swoon over this POS.
Did you think this was the worst movie?
@@BreakfastAllDay I really disliked this movie and I wanted, really wanted to like it. It's a copy cat version of Stranger Things with brainy kids dealing with alien contact...it even has M. Hawke from Stranger Things in a major role. I especially didn't like the plot jumping between script and a writer explaining his difficulties ad nauseam, much like a torturous Woody Allen film.
Wes Anderson now makes the least-interesting parodies of Wes Anderson films. I'll be Flashing this weekend unless Past Lives starts showing somewhere near where I live (not holding my breath).
"...the kids are all weirdo brilliant outsiders..." When are kids in film or tv ever NOT weirdo brilliant little smart-alecs...lol. I feel like every form of media displays kids as walking forms of social commentary from the screenwriter; I've hardly ever seen a kid just be a kid in a film.
YOU DIDNT LIKE GRAND BUDAPEST???
It's just not one of my favorites.
movie was trash in my opinion
Trash seems extreme! What didn't you like about it?
How can you not want to see a Wes Anderson movie in the biggest screen possible. And then a repeat viewing at that. Alonso will like it more the 2nd time around
I'll admit I just don't relate to Wes Anderson's aesthetic unless it's animated, so Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs. I'll be skipping this one and rewatching those. I do think this will be going head-to-head with Barbie for production design at the awards next year. Pink everything for the win!
He is not everyone's cup of tea and that's OK!
I consider myself a respecter of Mr. Anderson's oeuvre (he's just so stylish on and off the screen) but honestly he must be like the Jeffrey Epstein of the film industry to continually persuade a massive stable of A listers to take part in his films over and over again. I just couldn't comprehend what it was I was watching, literally left before it adjured, and I wasn't the only one to do so.
Oh wow, at what point did you walk out?
@@BreakfastAllDay When the epiphany hit that the role of the father was cast to Hanks, in stead of Bill Murray? Murray is the life blood and soul of a Wes Anderson film imho. W/o the soul it was dead on arrival to me. Murray presence keeps us grounded and engaged and willing to suffer through lol. Why? Because we No but right around the time the Jeffery Wright declared the alien returned the asteroid 'cataloged' and that they'd all be sequestered again. I had had enough! I saw opportunity to escape and never looked back haha
The whole thing was performative. A visually stunning - Overly complex, yet one-dimensional piece of sensory overload (structure and dialogue-wise) It left me doubting my overall film IQ - which has never been high to begin with. He is obviously brilliant, and I appreciate his vision, just not his execution.
Speaking of the speed and density of the typical Wes Anderson movie: I wonder what a Wes Anderson film co-written by Aaron Sorkin would look like? (Hopefully awesome.)
I cant express how much I hated this movie. Either this is the worst Wes Anderson film or I'm just over the schtick. I am a fan of Wes. I liked it when he made movies with real humans in them.
Oh wow! What did you hate about it?
@BreakfastAllDay Peak Wes for me is Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums. AC felt like one of those movies if they replaced every interesting character in those films with an AI generated Wes character. There's no emotion. There's no comedy. There's no connection to any real world we might identify with. It's all feels so artificial now. The play within a play doesn't do it any favors. Ultimately, I felt no connection to any character in this film. It felt like a bunch of actors going through their deadpan motions and Wes was too busy, admiring his set design, to notice
I used to like him, but it's like Tim Burton I get tired of their style
I honestly thought it was his weakest film
Deadpan shot
Over emphasizing quirk
And a boat load of cameos that add nothing to the movie
I hated it
Your objections apply to all of his movies.
Wes Anderson is perfectly aligned within the onslaught of the 'Marvel universe' film adaptations and super hero films in general.
Both Mr.Anderson and Walt Disney/Marvel offer cinematic 'comic book' conversions.
One part of this genre is superhero's endlessly 'duking it out' ...the other is esoteric 'dour introspection' comics.
From graphic novelists like Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, etc.
Each frame isn't a painting, or a photograph... it's a comic book panel, or children's book page.
That's why there's such a huge disconnect between witnessing the spectacle of the visual imagery,
and the nonsense that is the narrative. It's viscerally stimulating... but take away the relentless homage to comic books,
and there's nothing left. You can enjoy it for a while... but it quickly become overly repetitive.
For a film director, it's not a great place artistically, to become so derivative of yourself.
Wes Anderson is a comic book creator masquerading as a film director.
In trying to bring such limited expression to a medium that is the greatest tool for human emotional experience...
Could be interesting as a single 'one-off' piece... but Wes Anderson's entire oeuvre is mind-numbingly monotonous.
Like comic books... his films are for the innocent, or those easily caught up in the spell of novelty for novelties sake.
Another commercial product to consume and instantly forget... for the surface dwellers.
Interesting points. You didn't enjoy this movie?
Not a fan of Wes Anderson’s style of storytelling. If I can’t get into seeing Across the Spider-verse again, I might go see this. I don’t hate his films, but his movies just do not delight me the ways others enjoy his movies.
Let us know!
This is a terrible, structure-less mess. Ever since the overrated Grand Budapest Hotel, another messy movie, Wes has stopped being interested in storytelling. I was never the biggest fan, but at least before Budapest his movies had coherent storylines. After the success and accolades of Budapest, Wes has been trying to replicate that with the same type of filmmaking, which adds up to a lot of random vignettes and quirky, pseudo-intellectual speeches with no dramatic tension. That's why it's important for critics and awards not to encourage incompetence. When they do we get more incompetence. I'm not that impressed with the Wes Anderson style, either. It's derivative anyway, with much of it lifted from 80s TV commercials, particularly the work of director Joe Sedelmaier (FedEx fast-talking commercials and Where's the Beef ads).
This actually has a lot of structure, no?
@@BreakfastAllDay The Scarlett/Jason S. subplot had the closest semblance of a story, but even that felt incomplete. It's all vignettes that didn't coalesce.
Its so bad