wes anderson

Uncovering Curiosities: Wes Anderson’s THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU

Wes Anderson’s brilliant 2004 film, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is the writer-director’s forgotten masterpiece. It includes Anderson’s usual precise visual style and tropes about broken families and distant fathers, but this time [...]

December 17, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Hal Ashby’s HAROLD AND MAUDE

Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude is a certified cult classic. It’s a film which has stood the test of time and gained a following since its unsuccessful release in 1971. Ashby’s film is a glorious black comedy that plays by its own [...]

November 23, 2021

Behind The Scenes: Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow & Wes Anderson On The Set Of THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS

The success of 1998’s brilliant Rushmore meant that writer-director Wes Anderson was effectively given carte blanche for his follow-up film. What he delivered was 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums, an expertly crafted off-beat family drama [...]

November 18, 2021

The Cannes Film Festival 2021 Lineup

The Cannes Film Festival has announced its line-up for its 2021 incarnation. President Pierre Lescure and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux announced the 61 titles for the festival, which will run from July 6-17 2021. Spike Lee is president of the [...]

June 3, 2021

Notebook Reviews: THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS

Wes Anderson – 2001 A perfect cast heads-up Wes Anderson‘s wonderful follow-up to Rushmore. Gene Hackman is excellent as always although Bill Murray is underused – but the rest of the cast more than make up for that. The soundtrack [...]

May 26, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Peter Bogdanovich’s SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY

The great Peter Bogdanovich’s love of the old studio comedies has long passed into Hollywood lore. Nobody has a love of the screwball comedy quite like Bogdanovich. From What’s Up Doc? to They All Laughed shows that the writer/director has [...]

March 30, 2021

Behind The Scenes: Wes Anderson Directs Bill Murray On The Set Of 2004’s THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU

A true masterpiece, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is a wonderful piece of cinema. It sees Wes Anderson crafting an experience like no other and showing blatant disregard for convention and the rules. It’s a $50 million art movie with an [...]

January 4, 2021

Notebook Reviews: RUSHMORE

Wes Anderson – 1998 It has the mighty Bill Murray in it, so of course it’s going to be good – but Wes Anderson‘s Rushmore is a fantastic off-beat comedy. It’s anchored by Murray, but Jason Schwartzman is also excellent [...]

September 25, 2020

Uncovering Curiosities: Alex Ross’ LISTEN UP PHILIP

An odd mash-up of a movie, Listen Up Philip is a 2014 comedy from Alex Ross Perry that plays like Woody Allen meets Wes Anderson. If that concept floats your boat, then you’ll take great enjoyment from Listen Up Philip. If it doesn’t, then you [...]

August 17, 2020

Behind The Scenes: Bruce Willis & Wes Anderson On The Set Of 2012’s MOONRISE KINGDOM

Moonrise Kingdom is a fairytale; a rose tinted look at the past, with the usual Wes Anderson style. There will be those who will criticise the 2012 release for its lack of reality or depth, but they will have misunderstood Anderson’s point – it [...]

July 14, 2020

Wes Anderson’s ISLE OF DOGS Isn’t Just For Kids

The general gist is that Movies In Focus are rarely does animation – but Wes Anderson‘s 2018 film Isle of Dogs is a mini-masterpiece Anderson’s stop-motion feature is a gem of a movie. It might be animated, but this exceptionally put [...]

July 7, 2020

Take Me Back… First Trailer For Wes Anderson’s ALL-Star Comedy THE FRENCH DISPATCH

Movies In Focus adores the visual aesthetic of Wes Anderson‘s films. I was captured by his work when I first saw Rushmore way back in 1999 and I’ve been a fan ever since. Anderson’s movies look great. but they also have a [...]

February 12, 2020

Blu-ray & DVD Review Round-Up: READY PLAYER ONE, ISLE OF DOGS, JOURNEYMAN, A QUIET PLACE & More

This time around: Steven Spielberg goes inside the Oasis in Ready Player One, Wes Anderson takes us to the Isle of Dogs, Paddy Considine is a Journeyman, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski go to A Quiet Place, Dwayne Johnson goes on a Rampage and Paul [...]

August 19, 2018

Blu-ray Review: Criterion’s Release Of Wes Anderson’s THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU Is The Perfect Way To Present A Masterpiece

To many The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (henceforth known as The Life Aquatic) is Wes Anderson’s creative and commercial misfire, but to others (Movies In Focus included) it’s the writer-director’s forgotten masterpiece. This 2004 release [...]

June 23, 2018

Wes Anderson Is A Genius – But I Won’t Be Watching ISLE OF DOGS

Wes Anderson has been a consistently great filmmaker for the last 20 years or so, but I’m not interested in his latest film, Isle of Dogs. I have no interest in animation, stop motion or otherwise. I still haven’t seen Anderson’s [...]

December 19, 2017

Blu-ray Review: Criterion Collection Presents Wes Anderson’s THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS

Originally released in 2001, The Royal Tenenbaums remains one of Wes Anderson’s finest works. A highly visual black comedy, Tenenbaums is a timeless film which still packs a punch 15 years after its initial release. Anderson’s literary tinged [...]

November 21, 2016

DVD Review: Peter Bogdanovich Delivers With SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY Starring Owen Wilson

Peter Bogdanovich’s love of the old studio comedies has long passed into Hollywood lore. Nobody has a love of the screwball comedy quite like Bogdanovich. From What’s Up Doc? to They All Laughed shows that the writer/director has always tried to [...]

August 20, 2015

Review: Jason Schwartzman And Jonathan Pryce In The Quirky And Literary LISTEN UP PHILIP

An odd mash-up of a movie, Listen Up Philip is a comedy from Alex Ross Perry that plays like Woody Allen meets Wes Anderson. If that concept floats your boat, then you’ll take great enjoyment from Listen Up Philip. If it doesn’t, then you might [...]

May 28, 2015

DVD Review: The Excellent PADDINGTON Glows Like Golden Marmalade

You could search the globe and go as far as deepest darkest Peru, but you’ll probably never find a family film as good as Paddington. Paul King’s 21st Century update of Michael Bond’s iconic bear glows like his beloved golden marmalade. Paul [...]

March 21, 2015

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