Wes Anderson is at it again, this time bringing audiences to a 50’s style city that is obsessed with space. The film follows a grieving family on their next great adventure through a junior stargazing event. However everything goes array when an alien appears during one of their sights and takes their asteroid. Now the whole town is talking about what just happened as the government seeks to take over and protect the small town from what’s to come.
Ultimately the film stars a long list of name actors, including Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman Bryan Cranston, Adrian Brody and Edward Norton to name a few. The large cast, many who have been in nearly every other Wes Anderson film, did a great job overall of portraying what Anderson sought to showcase.
Additionally, in true Anderson format, Asteroid City is displayed in that of a staged play format. Like his other films including Isle of Dogs and French Dispatch, Anderson likes to use Acts as well as camera angles and the switching to black and white and color in order to differentiate between on camera scenes and when the film needs to show off stage conversations. Additionally Cranston, as the host, did an exceptional job of providing the third person point of view to move the audience through each scene. He does provide enough commentary, while keeping a straight face to a somewhat of a comedy play.
That being said, view discretion is advised. Though this film does have a lot of depth, it may not be for everyone. Those who are true fans of Wes Anderson as well as the full on theater scene, will be intrigued in the storyline. Anderson definitely keeps you wondering what is about to happen, all the way through as the crisp dialogue uses a lot of expository to paint a deeper picture.
Asteroid City came out everywhere in theaters June 23 and is currently playing in one near you.