B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City into the ol’ VCR. 

Okay, friends, it’s time for us to discuss my movie writing origin story. And, unlike some of my tangents, I promise this one actually connects to Wes Anderson. 

You see, I took an insane amount of dual credit classes in high school, so I went into college as a second-semester sophomore. This meant I had a lot of flexibility in my classes, and it’s a big reason why I tried out a couple of different majors before landing on PR & Advertising. 

What many of you don’t know is that I didn’t really have a passion for pop culture writing specifically until college. I know, it’s a lot to process. 

But, during my junior year of college, I took a class called Film Theory & Analysis that remains one of my favorite classes to this very day. The two big assignments for the class were film analysis papers — one film you chose as an individual and one film the class voted on. 

For my first analysis paper, I chose Requiem for a Dream. I turned in my paper, and when my professor handed them back out, there was an A++ on the front with the note, “Come see me.” 

If you ever leave me a cryptic note like that, I’ll always jump to the worst scenario aka I thought I had somehow made a 110 but plagiarized. 

I was confused, but I scheduled time to meet with him the next day where he proceeded to ask me how long I’d been writing about movies. I told him this was my first major analysis outside of some various newspaper film reviews in high school and college. He was shocked and told me that I needed to write about movies. 

Cut to the other paper of the class. Moonrise Kingdom had just been released on DVD, so our class voted to make it the topic of our second paper. I received this paper back with an A+++ on the front and another note to see my professor. 

During this second meeting, my professor told me I HAD to write about movies, and this is what I was meant to do. Looking back, I fully agree. My passion took flight in my professor’s office, and I would’ve gotten my film minor if he taught the other two classes I needed. However, the professor teaching the last two classes I needed didn’t like me one bit, so I came up six hours short. 

I wish I could’ve told 20-year-old Baillee that her professor was right, and she was meant to do this. I wish I could’ve told her that people would read about all of her opinions, and that she’d find her audience (as well as not to listen to the other film professor who thought her analyses were “too different.”). But, honestly, I don’t know if she would’ve listened. I digress. 

I saved Latin. What did you ever do?

Asteroid City made me feel the same way Moonrise Kingdom did. I’ll be so bold to admit I started smiling when it started. It’s obvious Wes Anderson really had fun with this one, and I’d consider it one of his lighter works, as well as one of his funniest; the comedic beats in Asteroid City are *chef’s kiss.* 

Running two concurrent storylines of the play and the making of the play could’ve easily fallen apart, or, quite frankly, gotten really pretentious. But, our boy Wes manages to avoid the perils of meta filmmaking while also making a solid 1950s Sci Fi Western. 

I feel like this movie was made for kids who did fine arts in high school (I was in band from 6th-12th grades, including both marching and concert) and also secretly loved the unit on The Crucible like I did. I also controversially think that Wes Anderson fans will either really like this movie or call it one of his weakest. I don’t think there will be a lot of in-between. 

I truly adore this movie. I think it’s hilarious and beautifully made. I also think it’s a wonderful examination of filmmaking, screenwriting, playwriting, and everything else along the way. I also promise I don’t love this movie simply because there’s a dead mom in the premise. 

Me praying that Maya Hawke has earned her place with the Wes Anderson regulars. 

I don’t think Asteroid City will lose its charm if you choose to wait for a physical and/or digital release, but I think seeing it on the big screen adds something special. Plus, if you’re like me and live in a state with hot ass summers, nothing beats spending an afternoon in a cool movie theater. 

So, grab some friends or kick it solo and spend two hours with aliens, a tupperware urn, and one of my favorite Wes Anderson movies. 

P.S. Professor Butler, if you ever see this, thank you.