Wes Anderson

A collection of 21 posts

The Phoenician Scheme

First (and second) impressions of The Phoenician Scheme

After two viewings (and more on the way), here are my notes on Wes Anderson's latest—his first led by Benicio Del Toro , and, more importantly, his first to feature Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton.

Moonrise Kingdom

Discover new ways to love your favorite films

Give Me Some Light

Recovery Report: My first surgery and Asteroid City!

I'm on drugs! Writing about Wes Anderson!

Film Review

The French Dispatch (2021) (Part One)

Wes Anderson's devoting every resource at his disposal to realizing grander visions. The results are more like museums than paintings, more like restaurants than mere meals.

Film Review

Isle of Dogs (2018)

Wes Anderson's latest is the most visually enchanting of his career. For me, it's also the most frustrating.

On Movies & Media

Em-Bark on a new Wes Anderson adventure

Who let the dogs out? Looks like Wes Anderson did.

On Songs & Albums

Looking Elsewhere: Dec. 4, 2014

Here are a few recent distractions and discoveries from elsewhere on the web that gave me fleeting moments of relief from the storms of a Bad News Week.

Film Review

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): Second Impressions

Under the cover of night, Monsieur Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) escapes from prison and finds that "The Divine Zero" (Tony Revolori) has dutifully arrived to rescue him... M. Gustave: How's our darling Agatha? Zero [pauses — then, having learned well from Gustave that important information deserves to be

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Every scene was like a spectacular frosted pastry with a sharp object baked into the middle of it.

On Movies & Media

The Incredibles (and Other 10-Year-Old Films); Jesus Films; Matt Zoller Seitz; Scott Cairns

This week, special thanks go out to Brad Bird, Matt Zoller Seitz, and more. Find out why.

Moonrise Kingdom

Look! An April Shower of Distractions — Six Links

Just in case you missed them, here's a list of six distractions from the past few days. It's a parade of bizarre attractions starring... Quentin Tarantino, Steve Taylor, Donald Miller, Roman Coppola, Wes Anderson, Andrew Sullivan, Steve Martin, Edie Brickell, and a feast served by somebody named Bab

Moonrise Kingdom

The Amazing Adventures of Anderson and Chabon

Michael Chabon is writing about the films of Wes Anderson. So I have postponed my plans for the morning until I've read the whole thing. Here's how it begins... There follows a program of renewed inquiry, often involuntary, into the nature and effects of mortality, entropy,

On Movies & Media

Looking Elsewhere: November 21, 2012

Look! These links caught my attention today, for one reason or another. Check back later. I may add more look-worthy links as the day goes on.

Moonrise Kingdom

Your Favorite Wes Anderson Movie: Which One... and Why?

Which Wes Anderson movie is your favorite? And why? I want to know. And if you're willing to share, I might share your perspective on an upcoming podcast. You might even win a portrait of Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). Here are the details...

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Of Gods and Men made Steven Greydanus say that he felt like he had become a critic in order to be prepared to review that movie. I've only felt that way about a few films. Moonrise Kingdom is one of them. Here is my review.

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Michael

I may have turned in my review of my favorite 2012 release so far — Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom — almost a week ago, but Michael Leary, an excellent film reviewer and a friend of mind for more than a decade now, got his published online first. So row your

Moonrise Kingdom

The Trailer for the First of Two Major 2012 Films by Guys Named Anderson....

Part of me is saying, "Oh, brother. Wes Anderson's style is becoming so familiar that I couldn't tell the difference between a parody and the real thing." Another part of me is saying, "This looks like all kinds of fun." What do

Wes Anderson

Specials: Coppola on Great "Young Directors." Nick Cave Raises Lazarus. Performances We Won't See.

Coppola's Favorite Young Directors Francis Ford Coppola on his favorite "young directors": Q: A: I know this is gonna sound funny, but the one young director I really admire is Woody Allen, because he writes 'em, and he makes 'em, and he goes on

On Movies & Media

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

This review was originally published at Christianity Today in December 2004. * You won't find the word father on the résumé of Steve Zissou. That's because Zissou, an inventive seafaring documentarian, has been too caught up in his own self-perpetuating mythology to settle down and raise a

On Movies & Media

Trailer of the Moment: Wes Anderson's Bill Murray film

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is the strangest title of the year. It also has one of the most promising trailers. How is it that when Wes Anderson leaves his exquisitely decorated sets and starts filming outdoors, the result still looks like his exquisitely decorated sets?

On Movies & Media

Waves of raves for Life Aquatic

Peppered with CAPITALIZED EXPLETIVES (you've been warned), the early screening "reviews" (better: unedited, sloppy, gushing superlatives) are coming in after a screening of Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," the film I'm more anxious to see than anything