Asteroid City

Wes Anderson has once again gone full Wes Anderson, and to magnificent results. Asteroid City puts to shame the endless onslaught of tiktoks trying to imitate his signature style, as what is often lacking in those videos, heart, is here in abundance. This film combines two of my favourite ways Wes tells a story, by tying emotional connections to a huge ensemble of characters, a la The Royal Tenenbaums, and having the story centre around a theme, building the story from this starting point, much like The French Dispatch.

I found this film to really leave a profound impact on my that I'm not sure I always leave an Anderson film with. He is a master at disguising emotion within comedy and I think this film strikes the balance the best between the two since The Royal Tenenbaums. How profound it is to have scenes which are lamentations on grief that leave you in tears of laughter?

I was sceptical at the start of the film when we are once again greeted to another Wes staple of telling a story which is a Russian doll of sorts, yet by the end this really worked for me. The ways in which the themes of the film were mirrored both in the play and by the actors outside of the play was prophetic. This culminating in a spectacular single scene from Margot Robbie was beautiful. It also allowed for perhaps one of the funniest moments in an Anderson film with Brian Cranston.

Having this universal theme of a lack of control be the centre of this film and how this applies to the vast cast of characters was just absurdly impressive. Many will site his insane production design, colourful palettes, and quirky characters as his hallmarks of what makes his films special, but I think in this film I realised for me it is his writing. The way he is able to operate as a Trojan horse, by crafting a fascinating world full of lovable characters who all speak in that Wes Anderson style that is quippy and funny, yet also say deeply raw things that are sure to resonant with anyone. It's just such brilliant writing.

Such a beautiful film on love and loss and finding your place in the world. What a brilliant use of children as well being full of innocence and wonder for life that seems to be lost in the adult cast. It goes without saying but this might also be his most beautiful film, every frame was stunning and the colouring WOW. Might also be his best use of an ensemble cast, Jason Schwartzmann and Scarlett Johannson were incredible but also some standouts were Steve Carell and Maya Hawke