I’ve always been intrigued, but never got around to any of his films. They seem to have a very unique “flavour”, like I can almost taste his style, which I find really interesting.
Should I start with Bottle Rocket and go through by release date, or is there a recommended film to start with?
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Royal Tenenbaums would be my recommendation. It’s fairly close to the start of his ouevre but his style had been given a chance to develop a little bit by that point.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson films have a kind of cartoon surrealism that is hard to explain, but Fantastic Mr. Fox, being stop-motion animation, captures the spirit of his work perfectly. It’s the ideal entry point.
Alternatively, go chronologically and start with Bottle Rocket. It’s interesting seeing Anderson and his troupe mature over time.
Just for science I would be fascinated to see what your opinion would be if you started with The Phoenician Scheme that just came out.
It’s such pure, unadulterated Wes Anderson tropes that I wonder what a newcomer with your level of interest would take to it. Would it be fun or impenetrable?
That said: Royal Tenenbaums would be a strong safe start otherwise.
Well, I haven’t started yet and now I’m intrigued…
Isle of Dogs yo
Best one.
Granted all over seen are Isle of Dogs and Asteroid City, and Asteroid City was a big miss for me.
…what about it is likable enough to make it worthwhile? Yeah I liked a part of it. But it was largely a drag.
The Life Aquatic is my favorite :3
Who’s that with?
I think it was with Steve Kuzko
The two best Wes Anderson movies, according to me:
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Asteroid City
Life Aquatic is just all around good. Probably don’t need any kind of esoteric knowledge to understand any of the humor or plot. Asteroid City, on the other hand, might hit harder if you are or ever were a theatre kid.
As someone who’s watched all Wes Anderson films as they were released and gone back over the years to rewatch them, my opinion is that Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums are his best 2 films. I think out of those two Royal Tenenbaums is the fan favorite, but the more I watch Rushmore, the more I’m starting to think it’s the better of the two overall. Jason Schwartzman, the lead actor, was 16 when it was filmed and he absolutely owns the role.
A lot of people, including myself, are starting to think Anderson is going a little overboard on the “quirkiness” factor in his newer films. I still think they’re good. I just think the focus on the quirkiness is detracting from character development and soundtrack and story overall.
Grand Budapest is one of the “newer” ones that captured the vibe of the older movies. Still don’t like it as much as Rushmore or Tenenbaums, but it was up there. The Life Aquatic is somewhere in between the new and old eras. I’ve always enjoyed it. The talented cast kind of helped save the story a bit on that one.
Generally speaking, I’d say go from old to new. You can maybe skip Bottle Rocket (his first) until later as it’s kind of its own experimental first movie before he found his niche.
Anderson is a love him or hate him director. I’ve always found his films unique and fun. A breath of fresh air.
No mention of Moonrise Kingdom!? I finally got around to watching Asteroid City recently and enjoyed it
Bottle rocket.
Honestly, just skip his work altogether.
OP: I’ve chosen to look into a specific director’s work. What’s your opinion on where to start?
Edgelord: SHIT SUCKS BRO, DON’T WATCH!!!
Edgelord for disliking Wes Anderson?
I confused the name with wes craven and was like, well I mean seems like the original elm street is where to start.
From the begging.
Bottle rocket is fantastic and layout the narrative and characters from him lacking his characteristic art style. Then Rushmore where you can start seeing his style start to forming. After that Fantastic Mr Fox to see his animation. And finally The Grand Budapest Hotel, that is imo his best movie.
I’ve decided to go through by release date, and suspect his style could easily become overwhelming so I’m gonna limit to 2 per week.
Fantastic Mr Fox is one of my favorites. His visual style is reminiscent of children’s illustration books, so why not start with an adaptation of a children’s book?
I would suggest The Grand Budapest Hotel without a doubt.
Brilliant choice. Ralph Fiennes showing just how brilliant he is but also a lovely surprise to have seen F. Murray Abraham in the film.
He told me how you can call something very ugly in a very diplomatic way: “It’s not that I don’t like it. I am physically repulsed”
The one scene where Ralph fiennes runs from the cops may be my single favourite comedic shot in all of cinema.
It was also ‘copied’ in severance s2 and I loved it again. The show Barry also has a similar comedic style where the lack of movement of the camera is funny in and of itself
Just know that if you don’t like one, chances are pretty good none of them are for you.
With Wes Anderson, I think that he’s found his knack and if it’s pleasing the critics, then he’ll continue. You have some directors such as Ang Lee who can produce works across many genres but I suppose Wes must be doing something right as anyone who is anyone in Hollywood is literally falling head over heels to star in his films.
Yup, he’s got a singular cinematic language that is very ‘him’, not unlike Tim Burton.
It’s just not for me personally, and that’s okay.
I love it when I see obvious artistic expression in the medium, and those filmmakers with clear styles make it super obvious and easy to appreciate. Most aren’t for me either but I love that they exist.
Yeah, that’s the impression I’ve been getting. I’m also assuming I should pace myself? Maybe only a few per week?
I strongly recommend starting with bottle rocket and most definitely Rushmore. Both are a good way of easing yourself into the Anderson universe.
Yeah I’ve decided to go in order of release. I get the impression he’s a director that’ll be really interesting to watch evolve.
That’s a solid approach.
I don’t think I had seen a Wes Anderson movie until about 3 years ago when I watched one with friends.
It was ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’, and my reaction to it prompted a friend of a friend to suggest that maybe I should watch more of his movies.
Now, I am no fan of certain directors or produces and know/recognise their work. I just like a movie because I like the movie.
So I cannot say if this is a good one to start off with or how good it is compared to other works of his.
Edit:
Wait, I lie.
I watched The Grand Budapest Hotel a few years before The Life Aquatic and I enjoyed that one as well.
I didn’t realise that was one of his as well, but I had a hunch and looked it up.
I’ve decided to go by release date and limit to 2 per week so I should hit Life Aquatic next week.
