Asteroid City

 

      Highly stylized and rather self-indulgent, this new Wes Anderson film is strictly for his fans. The casual film goer may be lured in by the extensive big name cast but will most likely find the film very weird.

     When a film has such an extensive cast, many of whom are Anderson regulars, it will, unfortunately find many of them lacking in character development. This will result in many brief cameos, and such is the case here.

     The lead actors with the most fully realized characters are Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Brayan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, and Edward Norton. There are lest least 14 other recognizable stars in the minor roles.

     An audience may find themselves either put off or very intrigued by the structure of the film. What starts as a TV documentary about a play, then turns into a filmed version of the play but often cuts back and forth between versions. Anderson uses a bright palate of color to represent the film and black and white to represent the play. Actors play characters who play characters.

     The story, on the surface, is about a group of Junior Stargazers who come together at Asteroid City, a very, very small town in the desert to celebrate their scientific achievements, 

     Mr. Anderson, who wrote and directed the film, incorporates humor and drama in equal parts with a fine eye for detail. Nevertheless, there are puzzling elements that seem to have no rhyme or reason. It's a fun, whimsical, yet strange journey.