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“Asteroid City”
Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of director Wes Anderson. He has entertained us all over the years with such brilliant films like “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009), “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012), “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014) and “Isle of Dogs” (2018).
Here, however, he brings us a disjointed film masking as a work of cinematic art. You keep waiting for an intriguing story to emerge, only to be left shaking your head as you watch a film devoid of a meaningful plot.
The movie takes place in the American West during the 1950s. (Forget the fact it was filmed in Spain.) Filled with a list of great actors including Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Willem Dafoe and Tilda Swinton, among others, their collective talent doesn’t save this disaster from imploding.
In summary, Anderson’s film has Bryan Cranston narrate the making of a TV show. We are invited behind the scenes in a desert town, Pop. 87, comprised of a gas station, a motel, a café and a meteor crater. Known as Asteroid City, a group of “Junior Stargazers and Space Cadets” arrive to attend a convention.
Sure, an alien arrives, but it adds little meaning to a film lacking any significance. Let me just say that all the characters have personal issues, none more absurd than the father played by Jason Schwartzman. Having decided to not tell his four children that their mother died, he rewards them by bringing her cremated remains in a plastic bowl so they could dispose of her.
I’ll stop there.
“Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny”
While no one admires Harrison Ford more than me, this film is largely a waste of time.
With Ford digitally altered, the film begins with a fight with Nazis in 1944. It then jumps to 1969, where Ford is languishing away his time in a New York City apartment.
Confronted by Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), his goddaughter, the film tells the story of their attempt to find the Antikythera, a clock-like instrument dating back to Archimedes in 200 B.C. It supposedly is capable of detecting “fissures in time.”
Of course, Nazis are involved — in this case, an embittered officer played by Mads Mikkelsen seeking to find a way to change the end of World War II. The entire film involves a struggle by rivals to find this valuable artifact.
Unfortunately, the film becomes a gigantic mess as you watch our heroes in one lengthy chase scene after another involving trains, motorcycles and three-wheel transports. I suspect most of you will be moaning, “Good God, what’s next!”
In particular, one of the most ridiculous scenes ever filmed involves Helena leaping from a vehicle onto the wheels of a moving plane as it prepares to take off. I was left wondering if this was one of the reasons Spielberg decided not to direct this movie.
Let me close by noting a couple small roles that keep you from mumbling, “Why am I here?”
Ethann Isidore is fun to watch as Teddy, Helena’s young sidekick. Toby Jones gives an expectedly fine performance as Indy’s archaeologist friend, and John Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah, Indy’s pal from the earlier “Raider” films. Shaunette Renee Wilson is memorable as a smart, government agent pursuing Helena.
But I must admit that the film’s ending brought a small tear to my eye. It involves the appearance of Karen Allen as Indy’s old lover, Marion Ravenwood. It also involves a great kiss. I still love her performance in “Animal House” (1978).•
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Robert Hammerle practices criminal law in Indianapolis. When he is not in the courtroom or the office, Bob can likely be found at one of his favorite movie theaters preparing to review the latest films. To read more of his reviews, visit www.bigmouthbobs.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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