Asteroid City - [Film Review]
ASTEROID CITY
Released: August 10, 2023
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Jason Schwartman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Jeff Goldblum
The films of Wes Anderson have never really been the most straightforward of affairs but Asteroid City is the first of his where the credits rolled and I found myself asking ‘What the fuck did I just watch?’ It also may be his best work yet.
It's actually kind of weird that a film with a cast of massive stars and character actors set against the backdrop of nuclear weapons testing and utilising both colour and black and white scenes and a non-sequential timeline could describe two completely different films, but here we are. It's also not the only Margot Robbie film in cinemas right now. Weird! But I digress...
Asteroid City tells the story of Augie Steenback, a recently widowed father taking his son, Woodrow, to a junior stargazing convention in the titular Asteroid City, a fictional small town somewhere in the desert of Arizona. Along with them are his three daughters and their grandfather, Stanley, played by Tom Hanks.
Also in town for the convention are Midge Campbell (Johansson), an archetypal Hollywood actress, and her daughter, Dinah. While Midge and Augie bond over their shared apathy and sadness, Woodrow and Dinah bond over their sense of wonder and a shared love of science. On paper, it sounds simple enough but between the weirdness of the film's events and the cacophony of weird and wonderful characters around town, it’s a whole lot more complicated.
[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AC_FP_00003.jpg|(L to R) Fisher Stevens, Jeffrey Wright, Tony Revolori, and Bob Balaban in director Wes Anderson's ASTEROID CITY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AC_FP_00004.jpg|Steve Carell in director Wes Anderson's ASTEROID CITY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features"]
Asteroid City, being a Wes Anderson film, is all told through the narrative device of the story itself being a stage play - the story of which is narrated as a televised event by Bryan Cranston. It’s as confusing as it sounds - forcing the audience to ask which is the real world of the film. Is it the colourful story in which most of our action takes place? The colder world of actors and directors which we frequently cut to? Or is it just the story that Cranston narrates to us? All of these worlds overlap and intertwine and each layer outwards is seemingly more sterile and lifeless as we get closer to what should be considered real. Perhaps it's a reference to the shared illusion that's created when we, the audience, fully embrace the world a film creates. Perhaps it's just a fun way to make a film. That's not a question I have an answer to.
This is a quirky story that focuses on grief, guilt, wonder, regret, and the shared search for meaning set against both a stylised ‘50s sci-fi aesthetic and a rather (subtly) sinister backdrop of American exceptionalism. It’s also a technical marvel - every shot is a singular work of art framed with absolute purpose and intent but in the uniquely distinct style that Wes is known for.
In a film with a cast, this stacked it’s hard for any one actor to shine but Schwartzman pulls it off. His performance requires a lot from him as the story within a story means that what he is selling isn’t always the words coming out of his mouth. It’s complex and Schwartzman absolutely nails it. There’s no shortage of great performances mind you, in particular, Jeffrey Wright is a stand-out offering a bewildering but entertaining turn as General Gibson, who is hosting the stargazing convention and takes charge once things get weird.
[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AC_FP_00014_R.jpg|(L to R) Liev Schreiber, Steve Carell, Steve Park, and Hope Davis in writer/director Wes Anderson's ASTEROID CITY, released by Focus Features. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AC_FP_00031_R.jpg|(L to R) Tom Hanks as Stanley Zak, Hope Davis as Sandy Borden, Tony Revolori as Aide-de-Camp, and Liev Schreiber as J.J. Kellogg in writer/director Wes Anderson's ASTEROID CITY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features"]
There’s a lot to unpack about this film and if you’re looking for a film that wraps everything up in a neat little bow (to paraphrase another filmgoer) then this is not the film for you. Fans of Wes Anderson are going to love it, and fans of film are likely to enjoy it but I’m sure there’s a solid section of people it won’t connect with. And that’s fine. Great art is still art at the end of the day and our personal experiences will always play a part in how we consume it. But make no mistake, this is great art, and sure to be something that will leave you with a lot to think about.
Rating – 4/5
Film review by Dave Mullins
Asteroid City will be in cinemas from August 10th.
Grab your tickets online today via Universal Pictures.
