Year: 2023

Runtime: 105 minutes

Director: Wes Anderson

Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Actors: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, Rupert Friend, Liev Schreiber, Sophia Lillis, Steve Carell

By Rosa Parra

“Asteroid City,” is written and directed by Wes Anderson and stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Maya Hawke, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Jake Ryan and Rupert Friend. It follows writer Conrad Earp (Norton) as he shares his play, “Asteroid City,” with the world. Narrated by The Host (Cranston), we navigate the inspiration behind the play, the filming of the play, and the play itself. 

I’ve always been fond of Anderson’s films. His irrefutable talent for visual storytelling is not only his trademark but something I always look forward to in his movies. “Asteroid City” isn’t an exception. There’s symmetrical framing, desaturated pastel colors, balanced framing, and even a scene that splits the frame with two characters talking on the phone. There are the typical close-ups of the characters’ heads and medium shots of characters acting within windows. Then there’s the single one-shot that passes from one group of characters to another and so on. It’s the filming of a theatrical play. The score/soundtrack fits in this world and oddly aids the mood that’s already set up by the production design and the behind-the-scenes conversations and narration of the play itself.

The play is what we see projected in color while the behind-the-scenes scenarios are in black-and-white. A visual decision that could be interpreted as a direct parallel to the way storytellers, filmmakers and any form of artist think and create their art. It’s depicted with beautiful colors in a meticulously detailed set. Meanwhile, the mind who creates this beautiful place isn’t necessarily in the right space mentally, emotionally and socially. 

The stoic and monotonous dialogue delivery is also something I relish. It’s welcoming to sit in a movie theater and watch a film that’s uniquely someone’s vision and skews away from conventional storytelling. Another trademark of Anderson’s movies is the list of recognizable actors. There’s a specific type of actor who perfectly fits his vision and this film doesn’t disappoint.  

The story was compelling overall. My favorite were the scenes between Johnasson and Schwartzman. Their characters are going through their unique problems but manage to lean on one another for support. The messages dealing with grief, meaning, and even the creation and purpose of art, were existentially thought-provoking. Anderson left me contemplating the meaning, purpose, interpretation, and even the intention of films, while reminding me that it’s perfectly fine to not know or understand everything I’m seeing, watching, reading, or listening to and that there are times when overthinking isn’t the solution. In fact, not all problems have solutions. 

Overall, “Asteroid City” is a visually gorgeous story that left me reevaluating how to interpret and discuss art. This is one of my favorite Wes Anderson films that has the rewatchability factor and complex characters that I can’t stop thinking about.