Asteroid City (2023)

★★★★

Despite attempts to parody his style with generative A.I.*, Wes Anderson films always feel distinctively his. Asteroid City is an ample demonstration that the style itself only works because of the substance he brings with it. It is Wes Anderson at his most meta, with a story that demonstrates the creative process by showing a fictional play and its behind the scenes from writing and the staging to the cutting room floor. There’s every reason to think this approach could either become muddled or lack coherence, yet it holds together well.

The play centres around the fictional town Asteroid City in post-WW2 America – the dawn of the nuclear age and the promise of a better tomorrow thanks to scientific advancement. In the midst of celebrating the young child geniuses being awarded for their inventions, there are quiet personal dramas and zany explorations of 1950s Americana. The most poignant scenes are between newly widowered Augie (Jason Schwartzman) and star Midge (Scarlett Johansson) just talking to each other. Outside of the play, we get a TV presentation of the behind-the-scenes of the creative process. We’re thankfully spared watching a man type at the typewriter, but we see just about everything else that goes into making the story cohere, complete with meta narratives and discussion of key moments that define the characters. It’s a lot to take in and worth watching because of it.

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* My favourite