1018: Whimsical Whirlwind: A Dive into 'Asteroid City' (movie review)

Creative and confounding. I wouldn't have expected anything less from the eclectic mind of master filmmaker Wes Anderson. Five or three two one here music. This is Movies First with Alex First set in nineteen fifty five, a television host introduces an imaginary drama called Asteroid City. At first, the focus is on noted playwright Conrad Earp Edward Norton, but that hardly makes for engaging entertainment. So very soon we're being introduced to the first read through of ERP's latest work. A junior astronomy convention is being held in a fictional desert town. Into that setting comes Orgie Steenbeck Jason Schwartzman with his four children. They include his brainiac's son Woodrow, Jake Ryan, and Woodrow's three strong willed younger sisters. When the family car breaks down, Orgie calls his father in law, Stanley Zach Tom Hanks for help. Stanley doesn't much care for Orgie and can't believe his son in law hasn't told the children that his wife their mother, has passed away. Orgie has with him in a less than appropriate vessel his wife's ashes. As events unfold, Orgie meets and falls for a famous but cynical actress, Midge Campbell Scarlet Johansson. But the real kicker comes when an alien arrives at the convention and departs with a sample, resulting in everyone being quarantined. Asteroid City is heaps of fun. Just sit back and savor Wes Anderson forging his quirky form of magic on screen. It's a film resplendent with actors who are clearly having a ball. Anderson's dry humor, the stories by him and Roman Cupola is all over this production, which at times is difficult to follow. Nevertheless, it remains captivating. You dare not look away for fear you'll miss another Purla. Jason Schwartzman and Scarlet Johansson as standouts. Their scenes together across neighboring window light up the screen. I also kept a lookout for Margot Robbie, and when her turn came as Orgie's deer departed, she didn't disappoint. Brian Cranston does an earnest job as the TV host during Black and White era, so too Edward Norton as the Asteroid City playwright. Interesting to see Tom Hanks in a contry judgmental space as Orgie's disapproving father in law. Notwithstanding all the hijinks, Asteroid City still has some important observations to make about the atom bomb. Not surprisingly, those thoughts had delivered in entirely different style to Oppenheimer. Asteroid City's production design and set decoration are delightful throwbacks to a bygone era. I couldn't get enough of their playful nature. In summary, then I emerged from the film puzzled but pleased. Asteroid City scores a seven and a half out of ten. You've been listening to movies first with Alex first available at Apple podcast Asks, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast player. You can also stream on demand at bites dot com. This has been another quantity podcast production from sites dot com.