16 votes

Wes Anderson talks about Roald Dahl’s ‘The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar’, teases his next movie, and claims: “I don’t have an aesthetic”

Posted by cloud_loud
Tags: usa, directors, wes anderson, roald dahl, the wonderful story of henry sugar, aesthetic, interviews, author.damon wise, source.deadline, long read
https://deadline.com/2023/09/wes-anderson-interview-roald-dahl-the-wonderful-story-of-henry-sugar-1235548935/

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Authors
Damon Wise
Published
Sep 18 2023
Word count
4039 words

10 comments

  1. [8]
    Sodliddesu
    Link
    I'll admit, I clicked the article based on that claim and I'm glad the interviewer pushed back as well but I also agree with Wes when reading his explanation... but he basically describes an...

    I'll admit, I clicked the article based on that claim and I'm glad the interviewer pushed back as well but I also agree with Wes when reading his explanation... but he basically describes an aesthetic! He talks about all the differences in his movies but he also admits how many things he does that make up his aesthetic.

    I'll admit I'm a fan of his work and it's always nice to get an inside view of the creative mind. I think it comes across more modestly in the context of the interview.

    8 votes
    1. [7]
      lou
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I am glad he had some laughs about it because I can hardly think of a director with more of an aesthetic than Wes Anderson. I'd argue that he doesn't have much beyond that, but hey, I'm just a...

      I am glad he had some laughs about it because I can hardly think of a director with more of an aesthetic than Wes Anderson. I'd argue that he doesn't have much beyond that, but hey, I'm just a dude that doesn't like his movies. Which is, of course, wrong and immoral. I'm evil like that.

      9 votes
      1. [3]
        thefilmslayer
        Link Parent
        There's nothing wrong or immoral about disliking Wes Anderson. With the exception of The Life Aquatic, I loathed all of his movies. A lot of it has to do with the aesthetic he claims that he...

        There's nothing wrong or immoral about disliking Wes Anderson. With the exception of The Life Aquatic, I loathed all of his movies. A lot of it has to do with the aesthetic he claims that he doesn't have.

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          lou
          Link Parent
          Oh I was trying to be funny. Of course it is not immoral to dislike his movies. But it certainly feels that way when you express an unpopular opinion about movies.

          Oh I was trying to be funny. Of course it is not immoral to dislike his movies. But it certainly feels that way when you express an unpopular opinion about movies.

          3 votes
          1. thefilmslayer
            Link Parent
            I can understand that. Everyone I know personally that I talk to about movies generally dislike him as well. You aren't alone. xD

            I can understand that. Everyone I know personally that I talk to about movies generally dislike him as well. You aren't alone. xD

      2. [3]
        Sodliddesu
        Link Parent
        I can totally understand not liking his movies, oddly enough. It's like Twin Peaks, anything by SWERY or Suda51... you get it, they're just not things I recommend to people unless they say they...

        I can totally understand not liking his movies, oddly enough. It's like Twin Peaks, anything by SWERY or Suda51... you get it, they're just not things I recommend to people unless they say they like them!

        I'd say that there's more to an Anderson movie than just aesthetic but I don't think he realizes how much his personal style is his aesthetic. I'm sure J. J. knows that he loves lens flare - but would he call it his aesthetic or just his style?

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          lou
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          I can't deal with his obsession with symmetrical shots, and I non-jokingly wonder if he has a case of OCD. His compositions have an unnerving, tedious regularity. They are tame, robotic, and...

          I can't deal with his obsession with symmetrical shots, and I non-jokingly wonder if he has a case of OCD.

          His compositions have an unnerving, tedious regularity. They are tame, robotic, and uniform. They feel like advertisements, and not in a good way.

          3 votes
  2. thefilmslayer
    Link
    I found his claim a bit farcical; Wes Anderson's films are the literal embodiment of an aesthetic, same as someone like Tim Burton. Maybe he just can't see the forest for the trees?

    I found his claim a bit farcical; Wes Anderson's films are the literal embodiment of an aesthetic, same as someone like Tim Burton. Maybe he just can't see the forest for the trees?

    4 votes
  3. tomf
    Link
    Even if you're neutral on Anderson's work, these are worth watching in one go. The work sits between an audiobook and theatre. Pretty neat sets and such. Its silly, but there's a part when...

    Even if you're neutral on Anderson's work, these are worth watching in one go. The work sits between an audiobook and theatre. Pretty neat sets and such.

    Its silly, but there's a part when Kingsley is removing eyebrows and it may be one of the most honest performances for a brief second. Something about his delivery, cadence... maybe pace is a better word; its just great.

    1 vote