By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
From the very opening of the film, it’s made crystal clear to the audience that they are watching a Wes Anderson movie. “Asteroid City” features Anderson’s trademark quirkiness in a distinctly unique format that is both funny and thought provoking. The sci-fi, comedic romance is certainly unlike any other film currently in theaters.
The story starts from the viewpoint of writer Conrad Earp (Edward Norton), who crafts a world-famous fictional play set in the 1950s about Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman), a professional photographer grieving from the recent loss of his wife and mother to their four children. Augie takes his son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three rambunctious daughters to Asteroid City so Woodrow can compete in a junior stargazing event. Prompted by the children’s grandfather Stanley Zak (Tom Hanks), Augie finally reveals the sad news of their mother’s passing to the children.
As the tiny town is filled with an assortment of eccentric characters, everyone is surprised by the sudden appearance of an extraterrestrial. This triggers General Gibson (Jeffrey Wright) to quarantine the town until the intentions of the alien become known. Romance blossoms as Augie crosses paths with celebrity Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johannson). One thing is certain, none of the characters will be the same after their stay in this otherwise quiet, unremarkable desert town.
Wes Anderson, who wrote and directed “Asteroid City,” designs an artistically creative story that will befuddle viewers who approach the film with a more casual attention span. In fact, audiences’ initial reaction may be to wonder what it was they just watched. To break it down without giving too much away, Anderson breaks the story into two parts. One is a black and white documentary style depiction of the play’s behind-the-scenes production with Bryan Cranston acting as the host. The other is the stage production itself, broken up into three acts, much like he’s used chapters in past films like “The Royal Tenenbaums” or “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” He also incorporates an ending that is more philosophical in nature, leaving it to the audience to decide what future is in store for the characters, which may be vexing to those who wish for a more defined closure.
“Asteroid City” centers around family, love, and death, which is typical of a Wes Anderson film. He incorporates some other important concepts too, like being understood and fitting in without losing individuality, or the fear of the unknown and the wide range of human responsiveness to that. For example, when the alien appears without signaling any intention, fear propels the government to quarantine the town. This is symbolic and reflective of the COVID-19 pandemic that put everyone’s lives in a sort of suspended animation.
Anderson’s trademark cinematography is on full display with a focus on perfect symmetry in scenes or the purposeful lack of symmetry. The set design gives the feel of an elaborate stage production, and the vibrant color palette he uses is straight out of his stylistic playbook. Despite the heady topics Anderson explores, he infuses that wry deadpan humor throughout the film he’s so well known for using to keep the mood light. He’s also a master of imparting random comedy, especially in the background of scenes. Keep this in mind as you watch the movie, because if you’re too focused on the foreground, you’ll miss the highly amusing quirkiness that occurs in the background, like the random character occasionally seen spying on the main characters who are the primary focus of the scenes.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Wes Anderson movie without a massive cast of stars, most of which he’s utilized in his previous films. Jason Schwartzman headlines the star-studded cast and is at his very best in the role of the troubled father crossing paths with another troubled soul, finding love in their common ground. His deadpan line delivery is perfectly suited to Anderson’s style and is on great display with this film. “Asteroid City” marks the 8th film collaboration between Jason and Wes Anderson.
Scarlett Johansson is wonderful, gradually revealing the depth of her character in interactions with Jason Schwartzman. Jake Ryan is also a standout, beautifully exhibiting the tribulations of social anxiety in a brilliantly intelligent teenage boy. With a cast of 4 Oscar winners and 10 Oscar nominees, one would think it impossible to achieve cohesion with all those egos. However, cohesion is exactly what was achieved with the entire cast contributing in a collaborative manner that furthered the themes of the story.
At times “Asteroid City” can be frustrating through its complex and philosophical approach to understanding its messages, but the humorously witty dialogue creates a uniquely entertaining filmgoing experience that is quite different from the typical summer blockbuster that tends to disappoint more often than not. Quite simply, if you enjoy Wes Anderson movies, you will certainly have a good time with this one, but if you’re not really a fan of his style, then it’s best to skip.
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