Sophie Johnson

Wes Anderson’s newest release, Asteroid City, blends science fiction with comedy, set in a retro-futuristic mid-1950s town. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast, this film has satisfied most die-hard Anderson fans.

“Whilst the hype has left some fans eager for his next project, others felt underwhelmed and disappointed.”

Asteroid City has been dubbed Anderson’s best project since his 2014 release, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Some fans even commented that this film has made him a director of the same calibre as Scorsese and Spielberg, whom he credited at the end of the film. With huge names like Willem Dafoe, Bryan Cranston, Steve Carrell and Jeff Goldblum, this film was set to be one of 2023’s most anticipated releases. Whilst the hype has left some fans eager for his next project, others felt underwhelmed and disappointed.

The film follows a TV documentary about a writer and his creation of a now world-famous stage play. Set in the fictional desert town of Asteroid City, most of the film follows the plot of the play itself. A group of junior stargazers and their families receive awards for their work in astronomy. However, chaos leads to the authorities placing the entire town under strict quarantine.

PRODUCTION AND RELEASE

In February 2021, Anderson announced that he was working on a project about brainy teenagers, and Tilda Swinton was the first to officially join the cast. Sets were built in Chinchón, Spain, and Bill Murray revealed the title, Asteroid City, at the London Film Festival back in October.

“I don’t think there would be a quarantine in the story if we weren’t experiencing it.”

However, production did not go without its challenges. Filming on location was limited due to Coronavirus protocols, and Murray, unable to shoot his scenes due to being unwell, was eventually replaced by Steve Carrell.

The pandemic inspired Anderson to include a quarantine in his film. In an interview with Deadline, he said, “I don’t think there would be a quarantine in the story if we weren’t experiencing it.”

Asteroid City premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 23rd May 2023, with a limited release date set for 16th June followed by full release on 23rd June.

SOUNDTRACK

Asteroid City boasts a score by Academy Award-winning composer, and long-time friend of Anderson, Alexandre Desplat. The fitting soundtrack of country and western songs includes two new singles written by Jarvis Cocker and produced by his ex-bandmate Richard Hawley. ABKCO Records released Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven) in its entirety on 23rd June.

CRITICS AND AUDIENCE RECEPTION

The film has received mixed reviews from critics and filmgoers alike. Indiewire calls Asteroid City “Anderson’s dreamiest film,” “one of a kind” and “the most poignant thing he’s ever made”. 

“The steady camera angles felt reminiscent of the films that inspired it.”

But, according to a review in The Guardian, it was “detachedly Andersonian as ever”, featuring a “faux-nostalgic, sub-Spielbergian edge”. If you read The Spectator, it would suggest that Anderson’s films are beginning to feel repetitive. So, it seems that for some people, the appeal of deadpan dialogue and excessive symmetry is starting to wear off.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed this film – but I may be biased as a Wes Anderson fanatic. It might not be one of my favourites of his, but it was still amazing. I particularly enjoyed the colour grading and the cinematography. The steady camera angles felt reminiscent of the films that inspired it, including a subtle nod to Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!

WHAT’S NEXT FROM WES ANDERSON?

Anderson recently announced that his next project would start filming with only two leading characters this autumn. Now that he has a family of his own, Anderson plans to make a father-daughter movie. According to World of Reel, he has “long delayed this project for years”, with “minimal casting” rumoured to include Michael Cera and Jeff Goldblum.

Luckily, this project was underway before the ongoing writer’s strike, so we can expect to see great things in the works soon.

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Featured image courtesy of Jon Tyson on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Soph is a self-proclaimed musicophile, hot chocolate connoisseur, and a sort-of polyglot. She is also an avid lover of film photography, movies, and books.

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