Asteroid City – Movie Review

Asteroid City is the latest film by Wes Anderson.

Wes Anderson’s latest film Asteroid City is set to hit theaters this week on June 16th. This time he is leaning into the sci-fi genre to deliver a tale in the 50s during the Space Age. The cast is must larger this time around and features prominent names. Starring are Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Steve Carrell, and Adrien Brody

Synopsis

The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

I have mixed feelings about Wes Anderson’s films, as some of them resonate more with me than others. Personally, I found The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom to be particularly enjoyable. However, I had a similar experience with Asteroid City as I did with The French Dispatch from last year – while both were impressively clever and distinct, I found myself losing interest midway through. With a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes, it felt like a longer movie than it actually was.

The movie boasts many bright performances. Jason Schwartzman, a longtime collaborator of Anderson, delivers a fantastic portrayal in the movie, which is truly underrated. He recently voiced the villain The Spot in Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. In this movie, Schwartzman plays the role of Augie, a war photographer who brings his son Woodrow (played by Jake Ryan) to Asteroid City to receive an award as a Junior Stargazer. Ryan’s resemblance to Schwartzman is striking, and it would be great to see them work together again on another project.

The storytelling in the film is intricate and showcases Anderson’s distinctive style. You feel as though you are witnessing a live theater performance and get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes production. While the concept is smart, the frequent switching of perspectives can become tedious and detract from the more lively segments of the movie. If you happen to be a dedicated fan of Wes Anderson and appreciate his style of witty and imaginative humor, then this movie is definitely worth watching as it will not let you down.

Verdict

I give Asteroid City 3 out of 5 stars. Even though the movies did not capture my interest, I must acknowledge Wes Anderson’s remarkable achievement through his distinct aesthetics and creative storytelling. He truly makes his hometown of Houston proud.

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