It was Wes Anderson’s turn on the Cannes red carpet today as “Asteroid City” premiered to a 5-6 minute applause that was either “warm if muted” or “charmed” depending upon the differing perspectives of the trade mags.
Set to premiere in cinemas in a few weeks, the film unfolds in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
Cast members Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jason Schwartzman and more were in attendance at the premiere alongside Anderson. The film also stars Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan and Jeff Goldblum.
Here’s a sampling of review reactions to what is Anderson’s eleventh feature directorial effort:
“There has always been a method to Wes Anderson’s madness, but Asteroid City reminds you that there is also a madness to his method. And that, ultimately, is what makes him a great artist.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“A madly quirky surprise that oozes creativity at every turn. At the same time, however, it sometimes seems to be reaching for serious creative epiphanies that aren’t forthcoming and which foster puzzlement rather than insight.” – Todd McCarthy, Deadline
“At its best, Asteroid City evokes the memory of what it was to first see a Wes Anderson film, surprised and delighted by its singular vision of life on Earth.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair
“Although what Anderson is trying to say can be read across the sky like a beautifully glistening moonbeam; it does often lack the craterous depth of feeling we know he’s capable of when doing his best creative and emotional astrography. Grade: B.” – Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist
“Asteroid City’s eccentricity, its elegance, its gaiety, and its sheer profusion of detail within the tableau frame make it such a pleasure. So, too, does its dapper styling of classic American pop culture.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A film that sneaks up on you — that fools you into thinking it’s just a scattershot collection of discrete little details and gags… But the deeper this movie disappears into itself, the more its play-like rhythms begin to create their own rhymes.” – David Ehrlich, IndieWire
“For a movie so curiously weightless it seems awfully pleased with itself, its moments of magic evaporating almost instantaneously.” – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
“Asteroid City looks smashing, but as a movie it’s for Anderson die-hards only, and maybe not even too many of them.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“It looks amazing, of course, but it might well be the least involving movie he’s ever made, with an amazing cast providing little but momentary distraction.” – Steve Pond, TheWrap
Rated PG-13 for “brief graphic nudity, smoking and some suggestive material,” the film opens in cinemas with a limited release on June 16th followed by a wider one the following week.
