Calay News
Director Wes Anderson’s star-studded film “Asteroid City” made a glamorous debut at the Cannes Film Festival. The space-themed fable features an ensemble cast of Hollywood’s finest, including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, and Margot Robbie.
Notably absent from the premiere was Anderson’s regular collaborator, Bill Murray, who missed the film due to an illness from COVID-19 during production.
Despite pandemic protocols, Anderson successfully incorporated a quarantine scene into the movie. The vast set, resembling a desert, provided an exclusive and controlled environment for the cast and crew to bring the imaginative story to life.
Following its world premiere at the prestigious Grand Theatre Lumiere, “Asteroid City” received an impressive six-minute standing ovation from the audience.
Set in the 1950s, the film takes place in the fictional town of “Asteroid City” in the southwestern United States. The story revolves around a convention for young scientists that is disrupted by a UFO that turns their lives upside down.
Jason Schwartzman portrays Augie Steenbeck, a war photographer coping with the loss of his wife, while Scarlett Johansson plays Midge Campbell, a famous actor attending the convention. Their lives intertwine as they navigate the unexpected events in the town.
The film incorporates a unique framing device, presenting the story as a stage play. Bryan Cranston takes on the role of an unnamed host in a black-and-white TV program, focusing on the process of staging the play.
“Asteroid City” is Wes Anderson’s third entry competing for the festival’s top prize. The film was co-written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, known for their successful collaborations in the past.
Critics praised the film’s visual detail and Anderson’s distinct style, but some felt it lacked emotional depth. The Guardian awarded it four out of five stars, while Variety suggested it may primarily appeal to devoted Anderson fans.
