Why Asteroid City is Frustrating | SPOILER Review

There's a lot to like in Asteroid City, but I found Wes Anderson's newest film to be a very frustrating experience. Here's why! #asteroidcity #wesanderson #filmreview #moviereview #theawardscontender

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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY BRIAN ROWE

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The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod

[imagine_name]

Im so happy you explained so well every feeling I've been having about this movie. Frustration is the perfect word for it. I felt like 50% of the scenes were brilliant (mostly the more story-oriented ones) and 50% was making me focus on how uncomfortable the cinema chair was. After finishing it I still have practicaly no clue what I watched. It's a lot of nothing. I admire the aesthetic, Andersons artistic eye is amazing but I think I need a little more structure and storytelling to enjoy a film.

[justinyoon]

I disagree, I think this was one of his best movies so far. The outer story of the play is the real story here, as it struggles with the main theme the actors of the play tries to grasp on- which deals with grief, existentialism, the meaninglessness of being, and the poetic act of creating and telling a story to be the antidote to the meaninglessness of life.

[ExplainAndSummarize]

In this YouTube review, Brian Rowe expresses his frustration with the movie "Asteroid City, " directed by Wes Anderson. While he initially had high hopes for the film, he ultimately found it disappointing, similar to his experience with Anderson's previous works. Rowe highlights issues with the story, narrative, and characterization, expressing that the film had some moments that worked but overall left him frustrated.

[aftarsun]

I get that the format of this one maybe doesn’t connect with everyone. I did like the inner story of Asteroid City and how that related to human connection, quarantine, dealing with trauma, etc. But that was pretty straightforward. I personally liked the B&W scenes and all those characters grappling with putting on the play, because that tackled these ideas of trying to create or, even more broadly, go through life, amidst uncertainty, doubt, etc. I found the B&W scenes added a meaningful layer to the whole thing and some of my fave moments were in those scenes. I thought the two parallel layers worked well together too in terms of examining life and why we all bother at all lol. But I understand if it’s not something everyone enjoys.

[christiansage]

I liked the black and white segments the whole premise of the film is the making of this play. And I think one of the best moments in this film is between Margot Robbie and Jason Schwartz. I think the fundamental problem with the film is there is way too much going on, and Wes Anderson didn't choose what path to rub down rather he decided to include it all. I think it would have been interesting if it was Jason Schwartz's character trying to figure out his character and him struggling with that.

[mckenziewilkes]

Could not disagree more with the idea of Wes Anderson “putting himself into his movies too much.” This film, to me, was absolutely him examining his own art, the way it’s received by others, and how we’re all just stumbling through the play that is this life wondering if we’re doing it right. His feelings inform the way these characters act and the fact that he is so deeply ingrained in his films is always what’s made them good. Without Wes Anderson there isn’t a Wes Anderson film, to remove him from them is to remove the artistry that makes them beautiful.

[doncasto]

I get what you're saying that the color story could have been a stand alone story. Early on it was established that the color scenes were a movie written by the Norton character and while it may have been irritating to continually pulled out of the color story, I feel that was the point. I think there were some messages that I'll have to ponder, like the craziness that was the 50's, the part about "in order to wake up you must be asleep", human existence in the larger world, science, bombs, grief, etc. Overall it worked for me and I would rate it higher. Maybe a 6 to 7 out of 10.

[mtylor]

Imagine having such an incredible cast....and making them all boring. IMAGINE MAKING TOM HANKS BORING.

[Jared_Wignall]

I’ve not seen the film but I’ve heard from those who have seen it, be very mixed. There are those who love it, those who like it and those who don’t like it. It’s interesting to hear what you’ve got to say about the film Brian, I hope you’re doing well. Take care!

[edvaira]

Wes Anderson now gets the casts that Woody Allen used to get….

[isaacmartinez]

I have to agree. I thought this movie was going to be a family being stuck on a deserted town in the middle of America. Alas, all I got was half of what I want. I really didn't like how they use the premise and mixed it with a play. That's why I feel The French Dispatch is more better than Asteroid City.

[jarrodonvinyl]

I think this movie is Wes Anderson's message to his critics that he is not the same film maker he was earlier in his career. He has taken less of a plot-driven approach to his last few films and focuses on visuals and narrative instead, giving us lots to unpack instead of spoon-feeding a story. I understand why many people would be frustrated by that, however I love it

[anarx]

the least favourite Wes anderson movie i watched so far

[MikeMJPMUNCH]

Agreed the film was too Wes Anderson for Wes Anderson. When Wes Anderson works best he has that great aesthetic but the characters have real moments of emotion like in Tenebaums or Budapest I think that's what let down French Dispatch there was no real emotional core to any of it. It feels like he tried with this film to add that with whole family who have lost their mother but all the scenes are played so monotone and the whole the film is actually a play aspect made it hard to connect to the film.

[alpe]

Sometimes it’s better for a film to direct itself so it can tell the story

[cosa_oscura]

I loved the actual time in Asteroid City and I loved Brian Cranston and that was it. Too many framing devices and tongue in cheek things. I still love the movie, and I could handle the first framing device OR the title cards. But not so many framing devices and title cards. I think we’ve just reached a point where he’s showing no restraint and it’s a little too much. I still love his style, but I miss his storytelling.

[thebookwormninja]

i 100% agree with you... but i think a lot of people will argue "but that's the point though!"

[evansimpler]

Thank you so much for this. I was in the theater that first black and white scene SO taken out I got so confused and it took me a minute to get back into the story. Some of the black and white for me was affective but some were unnecessary. I really enjoyed the acting and whimsy of the movie but I left it thinking "why can't Wes just tell the story?" Just like French Dispatch, I felt void of the immense emotion would could get from literal almost all of us his other movies. I did not hate this I really liked it, but I am curious where he well go next.

[homoousias]

I liked it… one theme was people wrestling with the meaning of life. If all the scenes were in the desert, then it would just be an Anderson version of Close Encounters. The characters in BW wrestling with the meaning of the play and their own characters added an interesting layer to the philosophical discussion. But I get it… if I you didn’t connect, it didn’t work🤓

[kellie-ndyp]

I haven't seen it yet but it sounds like it's hard to invest in the characters knowing it's a movie within a movie. I think there is a way that can work but it has to be done just right.

I have the same favorite Wes Anderson films The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom.The stories work and we invest in the characters.I also think the emotional temperature of a Wes Anderson movie works because the stories still feel like the characters believe it all so we do as well.