WES ANDERSON’S MOONRISE KINGDOM

If you've ever loved a Wes Anderson film, I don't see how you couldn't be supremely jazzed about this.

Darjeeling wasn't amazing but it was a pleasant enough return to watchability coming after that bloated bore The Life Aquatic. I'd be more excited about this new one if he'd team up with, y'know, a proper writer instead of one of his chums, because his screenplays tend to be meandering and not nearly as witty as they'd like to be.

Super psyched for this. I've loved every Anderson film thus far, although I rank Tenenbaums higher than Rushmore, and I think he's one of the greatest living directors. I understand peoples criticisms of The Life Aquatic but I think the main issue with the film is that it doesn't make itself as overtly episodic as his other movies. Rushmore, Tenenbaums and to a lesser extent Darjeeling are all fairly segmented films where individual sections are playing out which all form towards one overarching narrative, Life Aquatic doesn't haven't the segmenting and it feels protracted because of it. 

I think Aquatic is also his most unabashedly weird, which put some people off. Just the world it takes place in confounds a lot of people it seems. I agree with you though in the ranking, I rate Tenenbaums as his highest, and it's tied with some other films for my favorite comedy of all time actually. 

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Originally Posted by joeypants 

I think Aquatic is also his most unabashedly weird, which put some people off. Just the world it takes place in confounds a lot of people it seems.

Yeah, I think that's a good observation Joey. I feel quite opposite to Joshua in that to me it's actually his least twee, perhaps because there's a natural ruggedness that comes with adventures based on and around the ocean, perhaps because I find Zissou his most real character.

I've thought maybe it's just because I've lived my own sorry life on and by the sea and the people who make their living on and by the sea that it's the most relatable of his films to me. I like Rushmore and Tenenbaums, but they take place in an elevated part of society I don't have much feel for, so even though I'm very entertained by Max and Herman and Royal and his kin I don't find a lot of emotional heft to their stories. Chas's "I've had a rough year Dad" line is often brought up as an intensely moving part of Tenenbaums, and yet Chas is such a distant character to me I've never felt that moment myself.

But Bottle Rocket has that brotherhood element at its core that pulls me right in and as an asshole myself I really get Zissou. I find it difficult not to find the heart in any Bill Murray lead performance and with the damage he carries as Zissou it's the one that feels like the most real of any of Wes's characters to me. I don't just feel like I've known the guy I feel like I could end up being that guy if I make a wrong step or two along the way.

As for the new project, I can't help but be excited for any new Wes film, especially after The Fantastic Mr Fox, which only grows in my heart each time I watch it. Joshua's point that he's writing with his Darjeeling offsider Roman isn't lost on me, but I find I can't not be hopeful about the news Wes is springing back into action.

Most anticipated, though I'm concerned about Ed Norton's involvement.  I like the guy, but he doesn't strike me as being understated enough not to stick out.

Also, Zissou is great.

Word coming out of Cannes seems encouragingly positive.

My problem with a lot of the assholes in Anderson's movies is that they're not really assholish in a funny way. They're just hateful. Royal Tennenbaum works because I find that movie to be the least comedic of his films, so I'm not being distracted by attempts at humour that fall flat. Murray manages to make Zissou amusing, but there's still stuff about him that bugs me, like constantly calling Cate Blanchett's character a "bull dyke". That's sort of chuckle-worthy the first time, then it just sticks out as being outrageously dickish.

This seems to be slightly tied up with Anderson's daddy issues, which he seems to have overcome somewhat in Darjeeling (UNLESS HIS MOVIES ARE LYING TO US) which explains why The Fantastic Mr. Fox was his funniest and most likeable version of the "amusing asshole" character to date. Fox is a big reason I'm looking forward to this, before that I thought he was starting to disappear up his own ass.
 

Beaks:

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https://twitter.com/#!/mrbeaks/status/202849431773646849

Moriarty gave it an "A" in his review at HitFlix

Trucking along at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes too. Good times ahead for Wes fans.

It's unbearably sweet and joyful. I smiled the whole way through - wanted to hug this movie. Great cast, but surprise weapon was Bruce. Best he's been in a very very long time.

If you're an Anderson detractor, though, again -- this ain't exactly your gateway drug.

This movie captures childhood the same way that Rushmore captured adolescence, and it's soooooooooooooo great. All the adults are top-notch (especially Willis and, yes, Norton), but this is the kids' show, and the two newcomers they have as the main "couple" are fantastic.