Whenever an older filmmaker makes the news for commenting on a new movie, it’s usually never positive: Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola don’t consider Marvel true cinema, Oliver Stone thinks John Wick is a disgusting video game and on and on. But every now and then, there’s praise. And that’s just what legendary writer/director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Cat People) is offering Wes Anderson’s new film, Asteroid City.
In a Facebook post (so, yes, Paul Schrader is old), the Oscar nominee said Asteroid City is the quintessential Anderson film. “The most Wes Anderson film Wes Anderson has made. And for that reason the best. He has distilled his design-driven anti-empathy film style to its essense. It’s hard to find a comparable film. The one that comes to mind is “Last Year at Marienbad””, he said, referring to Alain Resnais’ surreal and meticulously photographed film. He concluded, “I’m heartened that it opened so well. though not quite sure why.” Asteroid City cracked the top 10 on its opening weekend.
The Wes Anderson aesthetic that Schrader writes of is filled with undeniable trademarks: symmetrical framing, fast pans, slow motion, precise color palettes, etc. It has become so distinct that it has inspired books (“Accidentally Wes Anderson” finds Anderson-esque locations in the wild) and even a TikTok trend devoted to recreating his style (no, he doesn’t watch them).
Despite Paul Schrader saying Asteroid City is Wes Anderson’s best film, reviews are down the middle. Our own Chris Bumbray gave it a 6/10, saying the director “got too clever for his own good.” You can read his review here.
Asteroid City’s official plot: “The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.” The stacked cast – another Wes Anderson trademark – includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, and so many more.
What are your thoughts on Wes Anderson’s visual style? How does Asteroid City compare to his other films? Let us know below!