Wes Anderson’s latest film, Asteroid City, skillfully embraces his signature style of intricately crafted house dramas and satirical conundrums. Set in the American southwest of the mid-1950s, the film follows the lives in the tiny town of Asteroid City. The star-studded cast, includes Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and more, who deliver solid performances in Anderson’s colour-coordinated pastel feature.
The story revolves around Woodrow (Jake Ryan), whose father Augie (Jason Schwartzman) is a widowed war photographer. Augie’s eye is caught by Midge (Scarlett Johansson), a glamorous presence with a stargazer daughter, Dinah (Grace Edwards), who sparks a connection with Woodrow. Meanwhile, Augie’s father-in-law, Stanley Zak (Tom Hanks), and a spindly alien also converge on Asteroid City, leading to a military lockdown.
When you have a gifted cast, such as this one, it’s almost impossible to pick out the sole stellar performances because they all do what they do best, and that’s act. It was interesting to see stars like Jeffrey Wright and Ed Norton excel in a comedy when it’s not naturally there forte. Johansson though was quite enchanting in a mysterious way, and Schwartzman’s performance was quite revelatory, as we get to see just how much he’s grown as an actor. Honorable mention has to go to the alien, he was whacky, zany and complete hilarity in my opinion.
The film’s visual aesthetic mimics life-in-miniature, and cinematographer Robert Yeoman employs creative camera work that pans from side to side. The dialogue is sprinkled with deadpan cutesy exclamations and nerdy awkwardness, enhancing the characters’ quirkiness. While fans of Anderson’s work will undoubtedly be captivated by the meticulous visual style, like myself viewers will find themselves torn between whimsical amusement and mild curiosity. As big-name cameos pop in and out, ‘Asteroid City’ maintains its distinct Andersonian charm throughout, it’s another testament to Wes Anderson’s creative genius.
‘Asteroid City’ hits theatres August 10.
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