Few directors in the history of cinema have a style as distinctive as Wes Anderson. You know it when you see it: the symmetrical compositions, the dollhouse set designs, the magazine ad colors, the bespoke costumes and props. And yet, as much as Tiktok would have you believe otherwise, Anderson’s touch is no mere series of tics, but the work of a real artist. The director’s visual style has grown more refined and daring across his thirty year career. And his writing is as sophisticated as his visual work, his stories a blend of melancholy and comic, featuring deep, sad hearts and powerful endings. He’s one of the most important filmmakers of the century so far, and one of my favorite ever.
Anderson emerged from the Sundance scene of the early ’90s in a partnership with actor brothers Owen and Luke Wilson. The Wilsons were the first two members of Anderson’s regular troupe, which has expanded and morphed over time. As Anderson’s affected, deadpan style received more attention and inspired more imitators on the festival circuit, the director began experimenting and innovating. By the 2010’s, he’d won over most of his critics and entered an imperial phase, earning 7 Oscar nominations, and finally winning a statuette in 2024.
Podcast Episodes
Chronological (Feature)
Note: Films marked with a ** are ones I’ve recently seen and rated, but not reviewed. I’ll re-watch and review them at some point in the next year or two. Ratings subject to change as such.
- Bottle Rocket (1996) (Very Good)
- Rushmore (1998) (Masterpiece: Tour De Good)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) (Exceptionally Good)**
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) (Very Good)**
- The Darjeeling Limited (2007) (Exceptionally Good)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) (Very Good)
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012) (Masterpiece: Tour De Good)
- Isle of Dogs (2018) (Exceptionally Good)**
- The French Dispatch (2021) (Very Good)**
- Asteroid City (2023) (Exceptionally Good)**
Chronological (Shorts)
- Bottle Rocket (Short Film) (1994) (Nearly Good)
- Hotel Chevalier (Short Film) (2007) (Good)
By Rating
Masterpiece: Tour De Good (8/8)
Exceptionally Good (7/8)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)**
- The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
- Isle of Dogs (2018)**
- Asteroid City (2023)**
Very Good (6/8)
- Bottle Rocket (1996)
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)**
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- The French Dispatch (2021)**
Good (5/8)
Nearly Good (4/8)
Not Seen / Not Rated
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
- The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024)
Last Updated
- 10/2/2024
Review Index
| Title | Date | Film Year | Director | Is It Good | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushmore (1998) | 09/04/2023 | 1998 | Anderson, Wes | 8 | Wes Anderson |
| Bottle Rocket (1996) | 08/16/2023 | 1996 | Anderson, Wes | 6 | Featured Post, Wes Anderson |
| Bottle Rocket (Short Film) (1994) | 07/08/2023 | 1994 | Anderson, Wes | 4 | Wes Anderson |
| Moonrise Kingdom (2012) | 11/12/2022 | 2012 | Anderson, Wes | 8 | Wes Anderson |
| Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) | 10/30/2022 | 2009 | Anderson, Wes | 6 | Wes Anderson |
- Review Series: Wes Anderson
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.