In the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel the rocker from Spinal Tap. Referring to the volume knob on his guitar amp “These go to Eleven”
Which is what Wes Anderson has dialed up on the weirdness scale in his new film Asteroid City. Anderson perhaps the newest addition to the list of modern American director’s who’s cinematic work can be readily identified with them. He has not so much carved out his own niche as created his own particular visual world. Asteroid city adds to and continues his explorations into his peculiar universe. Working with what has become in. Certain cases his repertory group of actors in including ,Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie.
In this multi layered fantasy set in the 1950’s Anderson has constructed a play, shot in black and white set on a stage is purposely one dimensional, hosted by a serious commentator. This then morphs into a film set in desert town of 87 complete with crater left behind by an asteroid. A gifted stylist Anderson has managed to make the movie part of the film mesmerizingly strange with its bleached pastel colors, (apart from Scarlett Johanssons lips) startling dolly shots and meticulous production design.
The child actors cast are all perfect and brilliant.
The star studded cast are….star studded, in their goofy magnetic Anderson way. It seems that the director is increasingly comfortable with the unusual worlds he creates. We are all in some way the beneficiaries.
