This is how I know that you both are proper film critics because Christy will casually mention her dislike of Grand Budapest with no care of any possible pushback from online film bros. Appreciate the bluntness and willingness to always have a dissenting opinion ALWAYS!! 💗💖💗
How do ppl watch THE FRENCH DISPATCH and not feel the palpable melancholy about a loss of a certain type of journalism, cultural curiosity, and comradery. I get a lot of ppl disliked it, but I just found that movie so joyful, mournful, and enthusiastic about the potential of a type of in-depth journalism that no longer exists. And it’s a movie about the power of writers to contexualixe cultural movements and give voice to the humanity that contrasts a moments bigness. How important culture writing is. From the profiles on a young revolutionary to a brief history of biking trails in your small town. There’s power in that. But to each their own I guess. Great review. Really looking forward to this!
I also love The French Dispatch and I pick up something new every time I watch it. But I also love literary magazines and feel like the movie was made for someone like me.
He’s become more and more of a big concept director since Isle of Dogs, so it could very well be a covid metaphor. The fact that Christy loves it bodes very well for me, because I usually end up agreeing with her 😆. Except for Grand Budapest Hotel, that movie rules 😝. Can’t wait to see this one
@@BreakfastAllDay We went to see Asteroid City last weekend, and were immensely disappointed -- not by the film, but by the theater we were in. The speakers were so loud and filled with static that both of us were unable to make out almost all of the dialog. We knew there were probably funny things being said, but we couidn't hear them. The movie was still a feast for the eyes, so we just watched it. We'll catch it with with sound when it hits the streaming services. I can't tell you which theater it was without doxxing myself, but it was an AMC multiplex theater. And it sucked. We're never going back.
Saw it for the 2nd time tonight. Theater was filled with a very diverse crowd, so that was nice. Old ladies to teenagers. Guy next to me fell asleep & snored for half of it. It was nice seeing everyone react to the green scene. I liked it better the 2nd watch. It did not get any deeper for me. The story was easier to follow, simpler, and less complex than I initially thought. Still some of my favorite visuals. The green scene. Maya Hawke against the sky. Tilda. Freight Train gives me goosebumps. I really like it now, initially slightly disappointed. But now that I knew what to expect, i enjoyed it more.
I'm also of the camp that rates Life Aquatic and Darjeeling in my lowest-tier Wes Anderson movies but I'm very much looking forward to this. Always love what Christy and Alonso have to say.
I saw an advanced screening and loved it! My favorite Wes Anderson since The Grand Budapest hotel! This is essentially Wes Anderson’s hangout movie. But I agree this felt very much like Moonrise Kingdom and that’s one of my favorites from Wes.
At the beginning of almost every Wes Anderson movie I find myself yelling at the screen “stop with the framing device and just get on with the story already!”
Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel are top Wes Anderson for me. So many great lines and actual emotions expressed. For instance, I love it when Royal only realizes after saying it, that his line about the previous six days probably being the best six days of his whole life, was actually true.
I was a little wary, but now Christy has made me more interested! I was going to see it anyway, but now I'm looking forward to it it a little more! I love the look of it as shown in the trailers. The design, cinemetography and pastel color palette remind of one of those old post cards from the fifties from some tourist destination spot in America. Very cool.
Great review as always, and one that mirrors my dueling opinions of Wes Anderson's movies - unmoved by the blunt disaffected tone some of his movies have, but awed at both the craft and the sneaky emotional heart. I've found his last three movies to be middling but I'm still always gonna be there for a new Anderson.
@@aikighost no Brooklyn was not a Wes Anderson movie he was not involved with that film. Ronan only did two films with Anderson and she'll probably do another one in the future.
Miraculously, Asteroid City's arrived in our humble burgh; keen to see it; wasn't cranked by French Despatch--seemed antic for antic's sake with little point or resonance, so.....here's hoping!
I agree with Christy on this one. It's how people of a certain "intelligence " process Greif, and I could see the covid Metaphor. Also...why "twice " the visits?? It's nice and mysterious
Deep cut! Bryan Cranston was doing Trumbo! I was so taken out of this movie multiple times by how it was a movie about a play on a tv show... it was about the the pandemic. Lock down, and how the government would try to cover up aliens (until recently that is).
I agree with Christy with her love of this film but I love The grand budapest hotel which happens to be my favourite and the french dispatch ranks 2nd (it doesn't get much love)
Just caught up with this and agree with Christy this his best since Moonrise. The set design along is worth the price of admission. I do agree with Alonso on not connecting emotionally to his characters but his movies seem deliberate in that sense in that they aren't remotely like anyone in real life. It's 100% quirkiness or "arch" as Alonso says. That was the case with French Dispatch for me that I didn't connect with but I giggled all the way through this movie so it really connected.
Ok. I just saw it. My most anticipated of the year. Didnt watch the trailer at all, wanted to go in fresh. Thankfully that worked for the incredible Green scene. Wow that scene. Goosebumps. Overall initial reaction: I didnt love it. I love The French Dispatch. I think it’s his most underrated. I think it gets better with every rewatch. Now back to Asteroid. Visually 10/10. I mean some absolutely incredible scenes. Maybe his best yet. But the main issue is I also did not connect. At all. We’ve been getting a lot of Meta Modern movies lately, so that angle of layers fell flat for me. Because the actual play wasn’t very good. I wish it went full on comedy. There were some really funny parts. The casting was great. I want more. I want more in that world. Its disappointing to have that masterful cinematography, photography, color, styling, and directing and just have a lackluster script. Also the score did not hit. It felt like some b sides from French Dispatch. Which is fine (same guy, Alexandre Desplat) , but it needed its own distinct sound to separate it. Shazammed 2 final songs but nothing else stood out. Freight Train is great. Whole French Dispatch score is incredible. I will go see Asteroid again though,although I don’t think theres much more there like there is with French Dispatch on multiple views, the initial viewing is such a feast for the eyes that the quick dialogue gets lost easy. And I just want to visually see it again on a big screen. I mean i still cant believe how he & his team create these worlds. It seems so impossible. Hopefully maybe Ill connect a bit next time and get more out of it. Saw the trailer for Jorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things tonight for the first time. New most anticipated. Looks incredible. The Lobster is a masterpiece. Oh and Jason Schwartzmans facial hair was just bad & distracting imo.
I have 2 Wes Anderson films in my Top 5 and wasn't planning on seeing this prior to the review. For me Grand Budapest Hotel crossed the Rubicon of style and artifice over everything else and I just couldn't enjoy it all that much. I skipped French Dispatch for that reason. Hearing Christy say this is the best film since Moonrise Kingdom (in my T5) or at least cutting back towards that balance is great news! Oh and Royale Tenenbaums will always be my favorite Wes Anderson film. It's T5 for me and above Moonrise Kingdom.
Once again I go in wondering if this will finally be the Wes Anderson movie that I fully love but nope. Maybe someday. There's always bits and pieces I love but never yet the whole package. Maybe I need to go back to Rushmore to remind if I felt that way back then too.
Yeah this is what I was worried about. It's exactly how I felt about the French dispatch and I'm in no hurry to see this movie although I'm certain I'll end up succumbing
My favorite Anderson films are Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox & Grand Budapest, do you think I’ll like this one? I was disappointed in Isle of Dogs and the French Dispatch.
Lets be honest, no matter what anyone says you will watch it anyway :) As regards seeking the opinions of others about movies, In the end talking about movies is kind of like smelling music.
Seems to be a bit of a divide between RT's 'Top Critics' (83%, 8.1/10) vs 'All Critics' (72%, 6.9/10) with a 74/100 on MetaCritic placing it joint 7th of 11 (with The French Dispatch) of Wes Anderson's movies ahead of Bottle Rocket (67), The Darjeeling Limited (67) & The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (62).
Good point about writing with Owen Wilson. Has either one been asked why they don't write together any more? I think he talked about doing a space movie before Covid, but I don't know how 'spacey' (not Kevin) this is since I haven't seen it.
@@BreakfastAllDayhe two leads are both in the movie Paterson right. I still laugh at the Noahs ark moment when the flood happens outside the church full of the towns populace.
I love Rushmore and Royals. I hated French Dispatch. The trailer for this one reminded me too much of Dispatch so I have to pass and maybe watch at home one day. Nice to hear that it's a return to form in some ways though but I can't take the risk lol.
Thinking again.. you guys framed on youtube, kinda feels like scenes of a Wes Anderson film... I love The Grand Budapest Hotel. Probably my all time favourite, #1 top ten. This one is weird. HOWEVER I kinda like it too, in a weird way. And I was surprised to see Jeff Goldbloom in the credits, but then, he is the...(spoiler). This might be an 8 to me.
I saw it last night and loved it. Anyone saying something to the effect of "style over substance" will never get it. It's melancholic, whimsical, and thought provoking.
I am a HUGE fan of Wes Anderson, but clearly the style in his recent films is still very much too self aware for its own good, theres no wooziness or a a"lived in" feel to it anymore....I agree with the maestro: Alonso. It left me a bit cold and stiff tbh. I hope Wes can go back to capture the magic of Rushmore a bit more, even Grand Budapest had the balance of style and character just perfect - His latest films have too many characters all over the place I mean its attention span spread thin!! But anyhow, love you guys, been watching since WTF days. Thnx
I didn't like Moonrise Kingdom so I haven't seen anything he's done since. I really like Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Tenenbaums and Mr. Fox. Darjeeling and Life Aquatic were just OK to me. I will probably see this one though.
Interesting, different genre entirely of course but contrast this with the critique of a film like The Blackening, how cinematically you were not "served" by their "too dark" cinematography where clearly this film as are majority of Wes Andersons prone to almost blindingly so oversaturation and white washed visually (on multiple levels). Also, I do appreciate Andersons more recent attempt to bring the eventual person of color celestial body/hanger on actor to orbit his cinematic universe
I remember renting Rushmore with my sister when I was a kid. We sat there in silence for the whole film. As I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to appreciate his films more. Well 2 of em. I’m curious about this one. I will still argue that Rushmore does NOT work.
@@BreakfastAllDay I just revisited your review and you 2 (as usual ) summed the film up perfectly. I sat there watching all the components that I know make an excellent movie, admiring its craft and humor, but somehow never feeling truly engaged. I'm a big fan of the director and so wanted to love the latest from team Wes. I will definitely have another run at it in a few months, but sit with Alonso on this one. Thanks as always, I love the work you do.
I’ve tried and tried but Wes is still only my 2nd favorite filmmaking Anderson from the trio of unrelated GenX Anderson directors. Paul Thomas being first and Paul W.S. the last.
I also was not a big fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Christy, and I didn’t even see The French Dispatch, but The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom are BY FAR my favorite films of his. And since the trailer for Asteroid City first dropped, I’ve thought this one seems much more of a piece with the latter. Can’t wait to see it.
Well who isn't an asteroid City any notable black leads that's what but anyway I really enjoyed this movie just as much as I did the French dispatch I'm liking this new older with Anderson 8.5
Honestly Bryan Cranston should of played Jason Swartzmans character and the movie would of been 99% better. Jason just didn’t do it for me. I love Wes Anderson movies but this was one of his worst in terms of interesting characters. The set designs were the most interesting character.
I used to like Wes Anderson, but he feels like a one trick pony now. He would be better off writing children's books because his movies are generally unengaging and static. The last movie of his I unreservedly enjoyed was Moonrise Kingdom because it featured a relationship you could root for.
Speaking of the speed and density of the typical Wes Anderson movie: I wonder what a Wes Anderson film co-written by Aaron Sorkin would look like? (Hopefully awesome.)
I'd really like to see his take on a movie with main characters that are non binary people and people of color. With 2023ish modern music. Would it still be a "Wes Anderson movie"?
"...the kids are all weirdo brilliant outsiders..." When are kids in film or tv ever NOT weirdo brilliant little smart-alecs...lol. I feel like every form of media displays kids as walking forms of social commentary from the screenwriter; I've hardly ever seen a kid just be a kid in a film.
A lockdown metaphor? Say it ain't so. That is the last thing I want. I would honestly much rather have some good ol' fashioned abstract ubiquitous soul crushing nihilism. 😂😂😂 The cinematography and set design are so cartoonish that the thumbnail looks like a real set photo. How was it working with Scar Jo?
I consider myself a respecter of Mr. Anderson's oeuvre (he's just so stylish on and off the screen) but honestly he must be like the Jeffrey Epstein of the film industry to continually persuade a massive stable of A listers to take part in his films over and over again. I just couldn't comprehend what it was I was watching, literally left before it adjured, and I wasn't the only one to do so.
@@BreakfastAllDay When the epiphany hit that the role of the father was cast to Hanks, in stead of Bill Murray? Murray is the life blood and soul of a Wes Anderson film imho. W/o the soul it was dead on arrival to me. Murray presence keeps us grounded and engaged and willing to suffer through lol. Why? Because we No but right around the time the Jeffery Wright declared the alien returned the asteroid 'cataloged' and that they'd all be sequestered again. I had had enough! I saw opportunity to escape and never looked back haha The whole thing was performative. A visually stunning - Overly complex, yet one-dimensional piece of sensory overload (structure and dialogue-wise) It left me doubting my overall film IQ - which has never been high to begin with. He is obviously brilliant, and I appreciate his vision, just not his execution.
Wes Anderson is perfectly aligned within the onslaught of the 'Marvel universe' film adaptations and super hero films in general. Both Mr.Anderson and Walt Disney/Marvel offer cinematic 'comic book' conversions. One part of this genre is superhero's endlessly 'duking it out' ...the other is esoteric 'dour introspection' comics. From graphic novelists like Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, etc. Each frame isn't a painting, or a photograph... it's a comic book panel, or children's book page. That's why there's such a huge disconnect between witnessing the spectacle of the visual imagery, and the nonsense that is the narrative. It's viscerally stimulating... but take away the relentless homage to comic books, and there's nothing left. You can enjoy it for a while... but it quickly become overly repetitive. For a film director, it's not a great place artistically, to become so derivative of yourself. Wes Anderson is a comic book creator masquerading as a film director. In trying to bring such limited expression to a medium that is the greatest tool for human emotional experience... Could be interesting as a single 'one-off' piece... but Wes Anderson's entire oeuvre is mind-numbingly monotonous. Like comic books... his films are for the innocent, or those easily caught up in the spell of novelty for novelties sake. Another commercial product to consume and instantly forget... for the surface dwellers.
Wes Anderson now makes the least-interesting parodies of Wes Anderson films. I'll be Flashing this weekend unless Past Lives starts showing somewhere near where I live (not holding my breath).
I cant express how much I hated this movie. Either this is the worst Wes Anderson film or I'm just over the schtick. I am a fan of Wes. I liked it when he made movies with real humans in them.
@BreakfastAllDay Peak Wes for me is Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums. AC felt like one of those movies if they replaced every interesting character in those films with an AI generated Wes character. There's no emotion. There's no comedy. There's no connection to any real world we might identify with. It's all feels so artificial now. The play within a play doesn't do it any favors. Ultimately, I felt no connection to any character in this film. It felt like a bunch of actors going through their deadpan motions and Wes was too busy, admiring his set design, to notice
I'll admit I just don't relate to Wes Anderson's aesthetic unless it's animated, so Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs. I'll be skipping this one and rewatching those. I do think this will be going head-to-head with Barbie for production design at the awards next year. Pink everything for the win!
@@BreakfastAllDay I really disliked this movie and I wanted, really wanted to like it. It's a copy cat version of Stranger Things with brainy kids dealing with alien contact...it even has M. Hawke from Stranger Things in a major role. I especially didn't like the plot jumping between script and a writer explaining his difficulties ad nauseam, much like a torturous Woody Allen film.
This is a terrible, structure-less mess. Ever since the overrated Grand Budapest Hotel, another messy movie, Wes has stopped being interested in storytelling. I was never the biggest fan, but at least before Budapest his movies had coherent storylines. After the success and accolades of Budapest, Wes has been trying to replicate that with the same type of filmmaking, which adds up to a lot of random vignettes and quirky, pseudo-intellectual speeches with no dramatic tension. That's why it's important for critics and awards not to encourage incompetence. When they do we get more incompetence. I'm not that impressed with the Wes Anderson style, either. It's derivative anyway, with much of it lifted from 80s TV commercials, particularly the work of director Joe Sedelmaier (FedEx fast-talking commercials and Where's the Beef ads).
@@BreakfastAllDay The Scarlett/Jason S. subplot had the closest semblance of a story, but even that felt incomplete. It's all vignettes that didn't coalesce.
Not a fan of Wes Anderson’s style of storytelling. If I can’t get into seeing Across the Spider-verse again, I might go see this. I don’t hate his films, but his movies just do not delight me the ways others enjoy his movies.
Wes Anderson I feel … stopped being good after grand hotel. I found the movies after being too stylistic over substance. I gotta say. I fell asleep in the cinema during moonrise kingdom…. The colouring on this movie looks like an instagram filter gone wrong too.
I have seen like four of Anderson's films Rushmore, James Moonrise Kingdom, Grand Budapest and French Dispatch and the most I can say is I liked them. They quirky and enjoyable and that was about it for me. I don't think I ever bothered to watch any of them more than once nor have had a strong desire to return to them. They were just a nice change of pace from all the other movies and that's fine by me.
Seems to be a bit of a divide between RT's 'Top Critics' (83%, 8.1/10) vs 'All Critics' (72%, 6.9/10) with a 74/100 on MetaCritic placing it joint 7th of 11 (with The French Dispatch) of Wes Anderson's movies ahead of Bottle Rocket (67), The Darjeeling Limited (67) & The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (62).
Just saw it. I enjoyed it! I’m into this phase of recent Wes where he’s exploring and expanding the world in which the story is being told. It’s been an element of his movies since Moonrise but it seems like something he’s prioritized in French Dispatch and now in this. Some of my favorite moments in Asteroid City come from sequences that are in the meta production of the Asteroid City play. As with anything trying to be funny, it doesn’t hit 100% of the time but I laughed a good amount and generally had an enjoyable viewing experience. Wes Anderson is very good at getting a comedic moment out of child actors.
Thank you for mentioning how crazy the cast is. The whole meme of "every actor is in Barbie/Oppenheimer" was a thing, and yet nobody (until recently) had mentioned how deep this cast is. Wes Anderson is hit or miss with me, but mostly hit. His roster of actors will always be reliable. His style can certbe divisive, but for the most part I appreciate his films,and the talent he brings with him.
Have you ever seen the recent trend online of people creating an A.I trailer of movies using Wes Anderson style? I think this is his direct response to that, by going as meta as possible but showing that his style, as replicable as it is, there's a depth that even A.I can't reach
@@BreakfastAllDay No worries, my heart’s just bruised, not broken. I have to tell you how much I enjoy listening to the Fiilmweek podcast. It’s my Saturday morning, lazing around favorite listen. Larry Mantle seems really nice.
