With a quirky story and stunning set work, Asteroid City hits theaters this week nationwide. Over the years, Wes Anderson has become known for not only his quirky storytelling ability but the visuals presented on screen. Asteroid City seems to be the culmination of all of these things and results in a movie that may just be the most Wes Anderson thing we’ve seen so far. That, however, doesn’t mean that the movie will be an instant success with audiences, except for super fans of Anderson’s works.
Asteroid City takes viewers back to the 1950s an era that offers beautiful design elements and less complication when it comes to technological interference. The movie is the visualization of a play of the same name as well as the production of the play taking place a the same time. When a group of young inventors makes it to the small town of Asteroid City for a camp and award ceremony, an odd collection of people is tossed together for a long weekend. But after an alien encounter, everything changes and everyone is now trapped in quarantine in this small desert town, with little escape.
The movie offers a who’s who of cast members, and often in roles you wouldn’t associate them with. The wall between the stage and the production side of the story is broken a couple of times and the movie brings in small bits just for flushing the story out and bits of comedy. And while the movie often borders on the absurd there seems to be a bit of reality rooted deep into the story as well.
There’s no doubt that fans of Wes Anderson’s other films will like Asteroid City. Cinematically it is beautifully styled and it has touches of his work throughout the whole thing. There are quirky moments and non sequitur plot points that are part of his other movies and storytelling styles. But there just seems to be something missing in this movie. The flat delivery of lines and the jump between the stage to the movie-like aspect of the storytelling seem harsh and disjointed. The stunning visuals may not be enough to keep audiences entertained and the casual watcher won’t feel engaged with the story at all.
Asteroid City has a limited release on June 16th but will be released nationwide on June 23rd.
Overall Rating:
About Asteroid City
World-changing events spectacularly disrupt the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention in an American desert town circa 1955.
Directed by Wes Anderson
Starring Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Hope Davis, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carrell, Matt Dillon, Margot Robbie, Willem Dafoe, and Scarlett Johansson
(Focus Features)
Rated R
