Review of Asteroid City (2023)
Asteroid City (2023) is a classic example of a bait and switch promotional campaign in that all of the trailers that I have seen, including the 30 second boob-tube ads, do not give us a true indication of what this film is about. In brief, Asteroid City is an experimental art film about a play, the making of the play, and the play itself masquerading as a SF-based RomCom movie, which is what the promos made it appear to be. The trailers for this film lead us to believe that it should be a fun, retro-1950s era, science fiction film where a gorulp of people have gathered to await a visitation by Aliens. I was expecting this to be reminiscent to visiting Roswell, New Mexico, for an “The Aliens Are Coming” event meets Sleepless in Seattle. Something fun, something witty, and some fun science fiction themes thrown in. What I got was a narrator, his scenes shot in black and white, explaining the background of the development of a play called “Asteroid City” and the various people who participated in the development and presentation of said play, interspersed with the story we were all lead to expect. Even on IMDB there is no hint from trailers or photos from the film indicating that there is more to this film than being a RomCom set in the 1950s in a Roswell like place and situation. Thus, the bait and switch analogy.
Asteroid City poster - IMDB
Speaking of promo materials, those 30 second blurbs I mentioned, you can catch them on IMDB, proclaim quite loudly that this is Wes Anderson’s best film ever. I felt that this had to be shared, and you can see a screenshot of the blurb from one of those promo clips below. All I can say is – if this is Wes Anderson’s best film ever, I’d hate to see his worst film ever. I even looked this guy up as I had never heard of him before, and, checking his filmography out, never saw any of his films previously.
>screenshot from TV promo - IMDB
There are some high points in this film, and I want to hit on those first:
The concept of the film we were led to expect (I went to see the film with my Bonnie Bride), is good. I liked the idea of being someplace like Roswell (or Area 51 for that matter), waiting for Aliens to show up. I am, after all, a long time science fiction fan. Toss in a romantic comedy to drive the plot, and that would have made for a great film. The art style of where this part of the film takes place is good, even with the occasional atomic bomb being detonated in the background. Also the vending machine that makes cocktailes is a fun concept, something every science fiction convention should have.
Cast – first there is Tom Hanks, who is probably the best actor in the film, and is convincing as playing the grandfather to a group of little girls. Hanks is almost always worth seeing, and he is one of the very few highlights in this film. Next up Scarlett Johansson – I’ve liked her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Black Widow. Here, her portrayal of Midge Campbell, an actress, seems odd as she is a bit monotone in her dialog, but that was intended. Jeff Goldblum as The Alien, in the black and white sequences, and if you blink, you’ll miss him.
There are also some downsides, more than I care to discuss here, and I hate going negative on a film, something I try to avoid doing. Obviously I failed here.
Asteroid City is a very weird movie, more so than any of the weird movies that the movies the Coen brothers have made. At least the Coen brothers movies are enjoyable to watch, even if they are weird. If I hadn’t been blind-sided by what this film really is about, I might have enjoyed it more. At least my expectations for it would have been different and I may have liked it more. NOTE – a movie being “weird” does not mean it’s bad. Just bloody weird. Like some of Kubrick’s films.
In closing, I want to say that if you like really weird, experimental art films, maybe give Asteroid City a try. Otherwise, wait for it to show up on a streaming service, or when it becomes available to check out the DVD from a local library, and save your hard earned money.
Posted using CineTV