Daily Movie Rec 2/12/24
Asteroid City (2023)
"They're strange, aren't they? Your children, compared to normal people."
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Cinematography by: Robert D. Yeoman
Country: United States/Germany
Plot:
A television documentary looks at the cast and crew of a retro-futuristic play about an odd assembly of characters visiting a small, secluded desert town for a youth science convention where things go haywire after an alien steals the meteorite that the site was named after (it was originally thought to be an asteroid).
Reasons to watch:
More than his symmetrical framing, more than his pastel-filled color palettes, more than his twee characters, ensemble casts, or unrestrained whimsy, I think Wes Anderson's defining characteristic is how formally playful he is. The three-time Palme d'Or nominee (most recently for Asteroid City) never stops treating film like the world's most abundant playground - his own childlike wonder and excitement at its possibilities bubbling from every scene. It's in his light meta-narratives, form breaks, change-ups in aspect ratio and color, long takes, masterful compositions, and crafty editing. It's all an absolute blast in what's another brilliant outing from the veteran auteur. If you need point A to point B plots, this probably won't be the movie for you - as Anderon's recent films are more open-world explorations than linear progressions - but the performances are terrific as always, and Anderson delivers another charming mix of witty, fast-paced comedy and heartfelt drama in this movie that's ultimately about the art of performance and artists awakening themselves to some greater meaning in life through their work.
Where to watch:
Prime Video
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