Wes Anderson films, what am I missing?
Wes Anderson films, what am I missing?
Author
Discussion

Quattr04.

Original Poster:

630 posts

7 months

Monday 26th May
quotequote all
Just been to see the new Wes Anderson film, this is the 3rd one I’ve seen now and people seem to rave about them

I just don’t get it? What’s so good? Is it the dead pan humour? Is it the colourfulness or just the way they’re filmed?

They always seem to have loads of famous people in, this one was the 2nd with Tom hanks and scarlet Johanson in, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch and Brian Cranston


2 hours in the cinema and I can’t actually described what happened?!

What’s the appeal?

Huzzah

28,102 posts

199 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
Moonrise kingdom was one of my favourites, the best role I've seen Bruce Willis in.

Robmarriott

2,936 posts

174 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
I don’t know, but it’s ok to not like something…

I enjoyed Asteroid City. Maybe not an all time great for plot but I did like the way it looked visually.

Cold

16,102 posts

106 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
Whimsy. You're missing a sense of whimsy. But that's ok, we all like different things.

InitialDave

13,430 posts

135 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
He has his moments, and I like some of what he does, but I do feel there's a certain amount of emperor's new clothes about the reception his stuff gets.

Basically, if his schtick doesn't gel readily with your tastes, you'll probably not enjoy it much.

I do like that there's still room for big films that don't fit with the homogeneous blockbuster template, though.

Scrump

23,485 posts

174 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is one of my favourite films.

Asteroid City did not hold my attention.

highway

2,378 posts

276 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
I liked the Fantastic Mr Fox. I couldn’t get to the end of Asteroid City.

dontlookdown

2,208 posts

109 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
I do like that there's still room for big films that don't fit with the homogeneous blockbuster template, though.
This is pretty much how I feel too. His output is decidedly variable, but in a world of increasing homogeneity his films are reliably different and that is worth quite a lot I reckon.


hengti

142 posts

233 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
Royal Tenenbaums and Grand Budapest Hotel are probably his two best. Fond of Rushmore, Aquatic and Moonrise too. I think he peaked some time ago, find his post GBH releases uninteresting, not in a rush to see latest.

Kamov

623 posts

27 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
It's high Art dressed up as a film. Ascetically stunning and for me as an Artist i can watch say Asteroid City and get a maniacal reaction to the utter visual joys enveloping me.
Watch one of his films with a manic depressive Artist (like my wife has to) and you'll see what the fuss is about, and then make sure you never watch a film again with a manic depressive Artist.....

Robbidoo

258 posts

183 months

Tuesday 27th May
quotequote all
Scrump said:
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is one of my favourite films.
We could be firm friends I'm sure of it.

tangerine_sedge

5,812 posts

234 months

Thursday 29th May
quotequote all
Kamov said:
It's high Art dressed up as a film. Ascetically stunning and for me as an Artist i can watch say Asteroid City and get a maniacal reaction to the utter visual joys enveloping me.
Watch one of his films with a manic depressive Artist (like my wife has to) and you'll see what the fuss is about, and then make sure you never watch a film again with a manic depressive Artist.....
He reminds me very much of Kubrick, in that he frames his scenes like a photographer would. Add in whimsical story lines, interesting use of colour and excellent dialogue and it makes each of his films a must-see on the big-screen.

In a sea of mediocre remakes and sequels, it's great that someone like Anderson can get funding to make these movies.

Weslake-Monza

476 posts

199 months

Friday 6th June
quotequote all
For myself, there is no appeal and the favourites of others are some of my wasted watching regrets.

Hugo Stiglitz

39,559 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th June
quotequote all
His films are absolutely magical.

The nest films are ones that some just don't get. I hate brain out films. I too don't get one with some Directors and I totally get it.

He has the skill of being able to take the most recognisable top stars and making them very base, very vanilla, simple yet likeable. That's a fantastic skill.

Alot of his films, to me dip into Eastern European filmography/mindset too.


It's a yes from me.

I also love it when you watch a film and hate it. Then a few years later it becomes one of your favourites. Inglorious Badterds I thought was crap. Bloody well done.

Same with pulp Sin City - a real nod to film noir.

Stuart70

4,078 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th June
quotequote all
Beauty, humour, style and storytelling. Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore, Asteroid City and now Phonecian Scheme.

Love it - it does not mean anything, for me it is a bit like a film version of Haruki Murakami - style over narrative substance, but what style!

Hugo Stiglitz

39,559 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th June
quotequote all
Visual fine dining tongue out

Stuart70

4,078 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th June
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Visual fine dining tongue out
Beautifully put - you have defined it! smile

Hugo Stiglitz

39,559 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th June
quotequote all
Anyone bought a framed or decent quality print from anywhere?

entropy

6,033 posts

219 months

Sunday 8th June
quotequote all
Indie film maker with a lot of clout, big names queue up to be in his films and a lot of marketing goes into his releases.

There's a certain type of sensibility and humour and it's not for everyone.

Visual style and framing, the use of colours and patterns as well as peculiar humour reminds me of movies by Takeshi Kitano and Park Chan Wook.

shirt

24,451 posts

217 months

Sunday 8th June
quotequote all
Huzzah said:
Moonrise kingdom was one of my favourites, the best role I've seen Bruce Willis in.
i think he peaked around this time but tenenbaums is still my favourite.

that is not to say i don't enjoy his films as i very much do. but taking the dining analogy the early ones had technique and flavour. lately the technique and dining room takes precedence. still a decent event but we're stopping for fries on the way home.