It seems its time for another exquisitely art-directed slice of whimsy and melancholy as living New Yorker think piece Wes Anderson returns to our screens once more. The pastel-painted Asteroid City is now out in the UK, available to rent digitally from Google, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video.
This time Anderson sets his scene in the tiny desert community of the title, named for the meteor that impacted it some 5000 years ago. It’s some time in the 1950s, and alienated war photographer Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) is en route to the town with his three children for a “Junior Stargazer” convention when his car breaks down. This forces him to phone his prickly father-in-law Stanely Zak (Tom Hanks, clearly subbing in for Bill Murray) for help.
Augie is still grieving for his recently deceased wife, but then burned-out actress Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) hoves into view. And then an alien shows up. And the whole thing is actually a play. And a TV production of the play. Clear?
As ever, Anderson has assembled a ridiculously talented ensemble cast, including (deep breath) Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Fisher Stevens, Sophia Lillis, Bob Balaban, and Jeff Goldblum. Goldblum plays the alien, because of course he does.
If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson’s particular brand of cinema, then you’re well catered for here: unusual period setting, meticulous design, stacked cast, arch comedy, wrenching emotions, and that essential element of ennui that underpins all of the director’s work. If you’re not? Well, we can’t see this one changing your mind, to be frank. It’s Wes Anderson all the way down. But for those of us who are plugged into his sensibilities, this may be one of the highlights of the year.
