I don’t know anything about movies, but the way everyone in his world speaks and delivers their lines is so often mocked, yet there’s something soothing to how the actors have to work with what I think about as the Wes Anderson toolbox of understatement. It makes them all more like figures on a page or in a book, talking very matter of factedly while their worlds erupt around them. In a way, it’s like the thing where the audience who sees a blank face will often impart an emotion to that face anyway. Wes Anderson characters issue the most heightened speech in the mildest tones, and the audience is prompted to fill in the emotional reality. It’s the opposite of melodrama but also somehow the opposite of naturalistic acting - he’s using the characters as their own third person storytellers, almost. I can see why it puts people off or feels twee, but it also feels like it’s capturing people who try to narrate their own lives in their own heads, or even to others after the fact, who process their experiences as somehow already pieces of art or story.
Postscript to a Burst Appendix: I saw Asteroid City! Quick thoughts: I really liked it, but I wasn't sure it had hit. Then later that night I thought about the climax and sobbed. The whole thing finally landed. A little meta experience in and of itself, actually. It felt like the whole thematic overtone of aspiration that I touch on around 9:38 suddenly burst open under the pressure. "I still don't understand the play. Do I still keep doing it?" Why do we do what we do? Why do we follow in on these aspirations? What even is the point? There is no meaning until there is. It's all a struggle that can bear no fruits at all, but also the most beautiful ones. "Just keep telling the story."
I’m so glad to have been introduced to your channel. Ladyknightthebrave posted your video on El Dorado a few days ago, and I’ve enjoyed every video of yours I’ve watched so far.
It made me think about Wes' films as whole in a whole new way. It also made me reflect on the fact that both Ralph Fiennes and Jeffrey Wright performances' in TGBH and TFD respectively being THAT GREAT AND OSCAR WORTHY AND JUST WORTHY IN GENERAL OF BEING APPLAUDED AND TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO BEST ACTING EFFORTS INSIDE WES' OEUVRE, serve a crucial function in the viewers enjoyment and understanding of the films' themes, prose, humor and philosophy. Wes' films are breathing living beings that, in spite of being made and told in dollhouses still manage to deliver an emotional punch in the most unexpected ways. Such characteristics are hard to parody and incorporate in tik tok trend, so I'm glad that video essayists like you can talk about them in these kinds of videos. Keep up the good work!
I don't know how I missed this video, being an avid TH-cam video essay watcher, having seen some of yours before and as a HUGE fan of Wes Anderson's work, but I'm so glad I found it more than a year later. You articulated something here that I've always felt very deeply about his films but that I've had a hard time expressing for some reason. Your essay moved me to tears a few times, and I'll keep thinking about for a long time, I feel. So thank you.
Another brilliant video essay. I loved the sets and costumes, I loved the analysis, and I loved all the references and appropriate outro music. It's a version of "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" correct?
I used to disregard Wes Anderson's films as pretentious, surface level gloss but as I have learned more about Life, Wes Anderson stands high in directors that I love now. His finding solace in art is what I can identify with. Kubrick, Lean, Anderson are all equal in my eyes.
I didn't want to see the tiktok tributes, though they almost seem parody. They kinda made me cringe though. Wes Anderson films were a comfort for a long time. The aesthetic brought my millennial quirky hipster ass in and the stories kept me company. I haven't really been paying much attention to his work for a few years. I just haven't payed any attention to films in general.
It made me think about Wes' films as a whole in a whole new way. It also made me reflect on the fact that both Ralph Fiennes and Jeffrey Wright performances' in TGBH and TFD respectively being THAT GREAT AND OSCAR WORTHY AND JUST WORTHY IN GENERAL OF BEING APPLAUDED AND TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO BEST ACTING EFFORTS INSIDE WES' OEUVRE, serve a crucial function in the viewers enjoyment and understanding of the films' themes, prose, humor and philosophy. Wes' films are breathing living beings that, in spite of being made and told in dollhouses still manage to deliver an emotional punch in the most unexpected ways. Such characteristics are hard to parody and incorporate in tik tok trend, so I'm glad that video essayists like you can talk about them in these kinds of videos. Keep up the good work!
love this take! it really speaks to the feelings i get from anderson movies, the ways the Aesthetic™ reflects (and sometimes clashes with) the stories. i do get frustrated with anderson's art-forward perspective at times, though-"the french dispatch" seemed to be pushing an anti-me-too message in the name of Art™, for instance, and that was a bit much.
I don’t know anything about movies, but the way everyone in his world speaks and delivers their lines is so often mocked, yet there’s something soothing to how the actors have to work with what I think about as the Wes Anderson toolbox of understatement. It makes them all more like figures on a page or in a book, talking very matter of factedly while their worlds erupt around them. In a way, it’s like the thing where the audience who sees a blank face will often impart an emotion to that face anyway. Wes Anderson characters issue the most heightened speech in the mildest tones, and the audience is prompted to fill in the emotional reality. It’s the opposite of melodrama but also somehow the opposite of naturalistic acting - he’s using the characters as their own third person storytellers, almost. I can see why it puts people off or feels twee, but it also feels like it’s capturing people who try to narrate their own lives in their own heads, or even to others after the fact, who process their experiences as somehow already pieces of art or story.
great interpretation, thank you
Postscript to a Burst Appendix: I saw Asteroid City!
Quick thoughts: I really liked it, but I wasn't sure it had hit. Then later that night I thought about the climax and sobbed. The whole thing finally landed. A little meta experience in and of itself, actually.
It felt like the whole thematic overtone of aspiration that I touch on around 9:38 suddenly burst open under the pressure. "I still don't understand the play. Do I still keep doing it?" Why do we do what we do? Why do we follow in on these aspirations? What even is the point?
There is no meaning until there is. It's all a struggle that can bear no fruits at all, but also the most beautiful ones. "Just keep telling the story."
You are one of the best creators on the platform. This is such a beautiful essay. - S.
“But then I realized that.. I’d rather die” got me 😂
I’m so glad to have been introduced to your channel. Ladyknightthebrave posted your video on El Dorado a few days ago, and I’ve enjoyed every video of yours I’ve watched so far.
Great video, glad you got to include mention your love for trains it wouldn't be one of your videos without a public transit mention
It made me think about Wes' films as whole in a whole new way. It also made me reflect on the fact that both Ralph Fiennes and Jeffrey Wright performances' in TGBH and TFD respectively being THAT GREAT AND OSCAR WORTHY AND JUST WORTHY IN GENERAL OF BEING APPLAUDED AND TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO BEST ACTING EFFORTS INSIDE WES' OEUVRE, serve a crucial function in the viewers enjoyment and understanding of the films' themes, prose, humor and philosophy. Wes' films are breathing living beings that, in spite of being made and told in dollhouses still manage to deliver an emotional punch in the most unexpected ways. Such characteristics are hard to parody and incorporate in tik tok trend, so I'm glad that video essayists like you can talk about them in these kinds of videos. Keep up the good work!
I don't know how I missed this video, being an avid TH-cam video essay watcher, having seen some of yours before and as a HUGE fan of Wes Anderson's work, but I'm so glad I found it more than a year later. You articulated something here that I've always felt very deeply about his films but that I've had a hard time expressing for some reason. Your essay moved me to tears a few times, and I'll keep thinking about for a long time, I feel. So thank you.
This is an absolutely beautiful video. Thank you for this thoughtful and very aesthetically pleasing half hour ❤️
this channel is so criminally underated!! definitely one of the best essays i've seen in a long while!
This is my new favorite channel! So much style and heart. I’m also from Los Angeles and I miss it so much and your channel somehow helps that. 🖤
This is so beautiful.
Another brilliant video essay. I loved the sets and costumes, I loved the analysis, and I loved all the references and appropriate outro music. It's a version of "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" correct?
Masterfully done!
Setting, shot, sound , content, and costume, simply superb.
Thank you
Simply
JC
Amazing essay and love el gato at the end 💕
Came to this channel from Bothered Boy, and hot damn what an unexpected delight. You sir, have a new subscriber this morning
i'll be seeing "asteroid city" with my film club in theater this tuesday. This essay was the perfect preperation for that :)
HAHA love your sense of humor and insight
Fan fuckin tastic, best interpretation/interpolation of Andersons work I've ever seen
Wonderful wonderful video essay.
I used to disregard Wes Anderson's films as pretentious, surface level gloss but as I have learned more about Life, Wes Anderson stands high in directors that I love now. His finding solace in art is what I can identify with. Kubrick, Lean, Anderson are all equal in my eyes.
Love your channel
I'm really curious what you'll think about his newest film
What a pleasure to spend 36 minutes in your amusing and intellectually penetrating company.
ai can’t make a josé maría luna video essay!!
thirst traps sent me hereeee
I am interacting with the content
"Ouis, Ouis, Baguette"
I didn't want to see the tiktok tributes, though they almost seem parody. They kinda made me cringe though. Wes Anderson films were a comfort for a long time. The aesthetic brought my millennial quirky hipster ass in and the stories kept me company. I haven't really been paying much attention to his work for a few years. I just haven't payed any attention to films in general.
Style over susbtance and being dead inside...
I really didn't like the French Dispatch.
*Promosm* 😈
I only have two words in response: Leftist, Audio.
🤮🤮🤮
It made me think about Wes' films as a whole in a whole new way. It also made me reflect on the fact that both Ralph Fiennes and Jeffrey Wright performances' in TGBH and TFD respectively being THAT GREAT AND OSCAR WORTHY AND JUST WORTHY IN GENERAL OF BEING APPLAUDED AND TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO BEST ACTING EFFORTS INSIDE WES' OEUVRE, serve a crucial function in the viewers enjoyment and understanding of the films' themes, prose, humor and philosophy. Wes' films are breathing living beings that, in spite of being made and told in dollhouses still manage to deliver an emotional punch in the most unexpected ways. Such characteristics are hard to parody and incorporate in tik tok trend, so I'm glad that video essayists like you can talk about them in these kinds of videos. Keep up the good work!
Holy cow!! I love this so much, it’s just so lovely and stylish (and substantive ofc)
love this take! it really speaks to the feelings i get from anderson movies, the ways the Aesthetic™ reflects (and sometimes clashes with) the stories. i do get frustrated with anderson's art-forward perspective at times, though-"the french dispatch" seemed to be pushing an anti-me-too message in the name of Art™, for instance, and that was a bit much.
The artistic quality that you put into your videos is absolutely wonderful and unique and special.