Hi, everyone. I'm Shakyra Mabone.
Jack:And I'm Jack Williams.
Shakyra:And welcome to Brilliant In, a podcast where you take a moment to reel in the best and worst film moments while keeping our commentary a % real.
Jack:Today, we're talking about the man, the myth, the legend, Wes Anderson, and also the Academy Awards because those happened last week while we were on spring break. Mhmm. So, grab your popcorn, and let's reel it in. Mhmm.
Shakyra:So would you like to introduce our guest?
Jack:Yeah. Today, we got Claire with us. Claire is the
Claire:Hi, everyone. Claire is
Jack:the host of the House House Lights podcast here at State News.
Shakyra:Yes. Go House Lights.
Jack:Go House Lights.
Shakyra:Thanks, guys. Oh my gosh. How are you guys today? How was spring break?
Jack:Spring break was great. I went on a road trip. It was great fun. I did not get to watch many movies, though, unfortunately.
Shakyra:Yeah. Me neither. Wait. No. I didn't.
Jack:Hold on. How about you, Claire?
Claire:I didn't watch a lot of movies. I did go to Puerto Rico, which was very fun.
Shakyra:Nice. Nice. Nice.
Jack:That's good.
Shakyra:So yeah. So today, we were talking about, like, our, I guess, filmmaker like, very first filmmaker highlight, which is Wes Anderson. So, like, yeah. I like Wes Anderson because his style is, like, so weird. Mhmm.
Shakyra:I don't know how to really explain it, but, like,
Jack:The symmetry. Really one of my favorites. Claire?
Claire:I like Wes Anderson. I chose,
Jack:I
Claire:I didn't choose. I heavily suggested that this be the topic so that
Shakyra:I could come on and
Claire:talk about Wes Anderson.
Jack:Well, you're not a big you're not a big movie watcher.
Claire:So Yeah. I I go in phases with it. Okay. But one of, like, the phases that I was most intense about, I think, was Wes Anderson. Like, when I started when I saw my first Wes Anderson movie, I was like, okay.
Claire:Which was? I believe it was Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Shakyra:Okay. That has to be in, like, at least everyone's favorite person.
Claire:I was like, what's the deal with this guy? Yeah. And it's the only, like, animated movie that I've seen as an adult that I've really enjoyed, which makes me sound like a meanie snob. But I just don't really have to gravitate toward the animated movies.
Jack:So you said it was the first you saw and you were an adult when you watched it?
Claire:No. Not the first animated movie ever. No.
Jack:No. No. Wes Anderson movie.
Shakyra:Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
Claire:Yeah. I like, two years ago, maybe?
Jack:Because the first the first one I saw was Moonrise Kingdom, and I was I was young. I was around the age that the kids are in that movie. I don't know how old they are in that movie. But that was why I got so attached to it because I was like, I that's so that's me.
Shakyra:Yeah. This is me.
Jack:I had, like, an attachment to that movie, probably more so than other movies. And that's that's what I love so much about these movies.
Shakyra:Well, mine just was also of Man's List and Mister Fox. Wasn't really, like, into his movies back then because I was, like, a kid myself. So, yeah. I just started watching it. And then the second one was I was a dog.
Shakyra:So I like his animated films, obviously. The first not animated film was what was it? The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Claire:Yeah. Yeah.
Shakyra:Yeah. That was a really great movie. I think that was, like it was so cute. Like, I don't know. It was different for, like, a murder mystery Mhmm.
Shakyra:Film or whatever. So
Jack:yeah. And they always have, like, the best, cast. And I don't know how he gets them. But he gets, like, every, like, a list actor, and
Shakyra:it seems like what's, I don't know if you guys seen The Grand
Jack:Budapest.
Shakyra:Yep. The lost the the Bellhop Boy. What is his name? Okay. Let me look him up.
Jack:Oh, I
Shakyra:know you're talking about You got it?
Claire:Wait. I totally lied. This was the first one I saw. Oh, that one? Fantastic Mister Fox.
Shakyra:Oh, okay. Okay.
Jack:Tony Revolory?
Shakyra:Yeah. And I was like, oh my gosh. He has so much great film. So yeah. He was in,
Jack:Spider Man.
Claire:Old Pistols. And a lot of them go on to appear in Wes Anderson movies again. Mhmm.
Jack:Especially Bill Murray.
Shakyra:Yeah. Him and Owen Wilson. So Owen
Jack:Wilson. Yep.
Claire:Yeah. Did you guys know him and Owen Wilson, like, started together? Like, they were friends. They went to school together.
Jack:Wes Anderson?
Claire:Yeah. Oh, wow. That's interesting.
Shakyra:They made a short
Claire:film, and then, like, that's how they both kind of, like,
Jack:launched into actor combo.
Claire:I would have probably never put them together as a combo.
Jack:Mhmm.
Shakyra:Yeah. Like I mean, it kinda makes sense, though. To me, it does. Like, now that you said that, I'm like, oh, okay. Mhmm.
Shakyra:Yeah.
Jack:Like, I believe, Sam Raimi. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who both went to MSU before they dropped out, but, you know, Evil Dead was, Bruce Campbell and stuff. Mhmm. But Yeah. Yeah.
Jack:Well, I mean
Shakyra:So, like, I just wanna ask you guys, like, what makes you, like, gravitate towards his films? Like, what is it? Like, what was that pop for you? Like, was it, like, the plot, the characters, like, the way he, you
Jack:know For me, it was definitely, one thing he always does in his movie or does frequently in his movies is, he makes he makes, like, children's kind of the center of, like Mhmm. Yeah. The adventure a lot of the times. As, like, Isle of Dogs, we're watching. There's, like, the kid, Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore.
Jack:He portrays, like, kids as, like
Shakyra:It's like a coming of age stories.
Jack:Yeah. And they're like Yeah. But they're always, I don't wanna say they're more capable than the adults, but they're they're more capable than, like, the average kid, like, in real life that age, which I think, like, for me, when I was younger and I was watching those movies, I was able to attach to those characters so well because it's not like I feel like when you when you watch a lot of, like, movies featuring kids that are that age, they're, they're always fantasized to a bit to an extent because it's like, well, kids can't really do anything. You know? Kids can't do anything when they're, like, 12 or whatever.
Jack:So we have to give them, like, powers or, you know,
Shakyra:love. Or, like, special abilities. Yeah.
Jack:And it's
Shakyra:like Just think about, like, Chris Chris Chrisofferson. I think that was the Fox name. I don't know. Like, he was, like, really into meditation and stuff like that. Yeah.
Shakyra:What teenager
Jack:meditation? Yeah. And it's like and it's like those are cool to watch, and I love I love watching those kinds of movies. Yeah. But I what I loved about, like, Moonrise Kingdom, for example, is, like, they didn't have any abilities.
Jack:And it was just, like, well, that that could be me if I you know what I'm saying? Like, it was a lot easier to, like, attach to those characters. But I'd be curious, like, Claire, like, what, what did you like about Wes Anderson watching him as an adult for the first time?
Claire:Mhmm. So it definitely was not the plot, because a lot of his plots just, like, go over my head. And I don't care. Like, I just don't I To
Shakyra:be honest.
Claire:I'm watching, like, for the, like, the visual aesthetic. Yeah.
Shakyra:And
Claire:then I think all of his characters are super sharp. And I I just I don't know. Like, a lot of I guess this is more specifically for the the, like, most recent series he did about the Roald Dahl books.
Jack:Yeah.
Claire:A lot of those were filmed. Like, the the literal setting was the same for most of it, but I didn't care because it was so fast paced and, like, the way that it's staged. And, like, I know you mentioned, like, symmetry and just how intentional he is. And that was something in preparation for this, I watched a couple interviews of him and then people who've been in his movies. And they all kind of said, Cemetery was huge and Yeah.
Claire:Him being intentional was huge. And, like, there's no improv. You can tell, like, everything is done exactly to a t, but it works and you're not bored. And then the more I've kinda thought about him and, like, his style, I'm also just really drawn to the way that he just doesn't really care if he repeats himself. Yeah.
Claire:Yeah. Which he has said in interviews, and you can just see in his work. Like, a lot of people could accuse him of doing the same thing over and over again or the same type of aesthetic or doing and he has flat out said, he goes, I just like it. Like, that's really all there is to it.
Shakyra:Like, that's It's really nice. Like, I don't know. Every time I watch, like, the royal, Tandybombs, I think I said that right, I get, like, this real warm feeling even though the plot of the movie is, like, the opposite. Right. And I think that's his point.
Shakyra:Like, it could be about, like, grief or, like, loss, but, like, the tones and his costume design, it could be, like, so warm. Like, for example
Jack:He's always approached through a warm way. And I was thinking that because there was, like, Astrid City is one of my favorites. I think that's, like, the recent, like, feature he did.
Claire:Yeah. Mhmm.
Jack:The there's that scene when he, when there there's all that chaos happening inside the the comet, crater. Yeah. And he just looks at the camera, and he's like, I don't understand the play. And then he walks off. And then he's talking with, he's talking to Adrian Brody's this is, I forgot his first name again.
Jack:Schwartzman. But he's talking to Adrian Brody's character.
Shakyra:Yeah.
Jack:And he's talking about, like, oh, I don't understand the play. And he's, like, it doesn't matter. Just keep telling the story, which is, you know, it's this big metaphor for, like, life and how you're supposed to kinda, like, keep moving despite, like, not fully understanding it. And I think that's just such, like, a fun way of approaching, such a heavy topic, You know? Where, like I I mean, I feel like you can see that theme in, like, a million different movies.
Jack:Mhmm. And Wes I think what makes Wes Anderson so great for me is he always he approaches it in a way where it's it's a lot more light, but it doesn't sugarcoat it. You know? Mhmm. Yeah.
Jack:You're still getting the same, like, themes, just not like
Claire:Yeah. He's, like, using play and, like, comedy to, like, engage you and help you understand, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice the actual meaning. He said once that he used to wanna be an architect, and then in high school, he wanted to be a writer. And, like, that just makes sense to me.
Shakyra:Yeah. Yeah.
Claire:That just makes sense. And, like, this scenes he builds and, like, the world building in
Shakyra:his movies is really entertaining.
Claire:Mhmm. And I'd be interested to see more, like, behind the scenes of how he does that just because he he's so dialed in, like, the little clips that I have seen. And I don't know. I just
Jack:And where's that?
Claire:That makes me wanna watch it more.
Jack:And we're talking earlier about, like because, we were watching Isle of Dogs, and you you were talking about, the actual characters themselves. And you're like, I wonder who makes these. And I can only imagine there's gotta be, like, a whole team of people that go into, like, all those, like, little aspects. Because it's all, like, yeah, it's all curated to, like, such a such an art. There's such an art to, like, his movies, and I I love that so much.
Shakyra:It's just, like, it's so cute too. Like, who don't like who doesn't like stop motion? Like, I don't know. Exactly. Yeah.
Shakyra:It's so cute.
Jack:And it's like, who doesn't like
Shakyra:The details.
Jack:Mhmm. Who doesn't like colors? Who doesn't like
Shakyra:Color system.
Jack:Who doesn't like bright colors? Who doesn't like movies that look like paintings? I I think the people who who accuse him of, like, doing the same thing over and over again, I just don't know what more they expect. Because he's very clearly established a style. And it's like I think it was around when Asteroid City came out is when people really started to be like, oh, he just does the same thing over and over again.
Jack:And it's like Okay.
Claire:Then don't watch it. Yeah. And it's like Which yeah. Sorry.
Jack:No. You're yeah. Yeah. I was gonna like, it's like, he's clearly established a style. Why would he stop now?
Jack:You know?
Claire:Right. And he's so happy doing it, and he clearly is producing work that people like.
Jack:Mhmm.
Claire:So okay. My question on this, I've had conversations before about, like, who does an artist make art for?
Jack:Yeah.
Claire:What do they owe their audience, if anything, owe in quotes? And Wes Anderson has been the prime example of this conversation. Primarily because he's accused of, you know, doing the same thing, which doesn't need to be negative, but nonetheless. Or developing these concepts that, you know, they just kind of go over your head.
Jack:Yeah.
Claire:Like, oh, he's he's purposely trying to make it He's
Jack:being pretentious.
Claire:Yeah. He's being pretentious, and he's doing all these, like, weird little quirky things. And it's like you're just projecting that you don't understand it. Mhmm. But, also, he doesn't have to make a movie for his audience.
Shakyra:Right.
Claire:The argument is, like, once someone gets this big and has the attention of so many people, should they be factoring in understandability? Mhmm. But it's like, I believe if you could tell with my tone, I believe no. And I just think, like, I'm satisfied watching a Wes Anderson film and not caring if I get the plot on the first round because I'm enthralled by other elements of it. Mhmm.
Claire:And it's like, you don't have to understand the whole thing. And the fact that he even says that, because he was asked about, outside perception and he fell outside. He goes, I can't think about the outside perception because then I become more confused by it.
Shakyra:Right.
Jack:I agree. And I think the way I see it, the the reason he's so famous, because you talk about at a certain point of fame, do you start doing this? I think but, like, the reason he's famous is because of, like, he's followed the style. And, like, he's developed a fan base for this style. So it's, like, I think it only stands to reason that by continuing to do that style, he's only gonna make those people who like that style happier, you know.
Claire:And if you don't I'm just a big believer in there's enough art out there.
Shakyra:It's one
Claire:of the few things you can really say this about and mean it is if you don't it's just not for you.
Shakyra:Yeah. Most of
Claire:the time. I believe that is a true phrase. I know there were some people that disagree with that.
Shakyra:Because it's just like if you start catering to, like, you know, I guess, like, the mainstream, like, moviegoers, blockbusters, yada yada, it's just not gonna hit the same, you know. It's gonna be feeling, I don't know, watered down, I guess. So
Jack:Well, and it's I think there's also a beauty to, like sorry. Knowing what to expect to some extent, you know, when walking into a theater. You know to like, you know you're gonna you know there's gonna be symmetry. You know there's gonna be, it's gonna be colorful. You know it's gonna the dialogue's gonna be kinda written a certain way, which I I think there's a beauty to, you know.
Jack:And I I think having an expectation I mean, like, you see with, like, a lot of painters. Right? Like, if if Van Gogh suddenly, like, switched up the style that he used, like, it would you know, I'm not saying it'd be like a bad painting, but it'd be like, oh, okay. Mhmm. But, like, when you look at a Van Gogh painting, there's something about it where you can always be like, that's Van Gogh, you know?
Claire:Yeah. And if you don't like it
Shakyra:Yeah. There's other rocks.
Jack:I I think it's cool.
Shakyra:Yeah. Literally. Get it together.
Jack:I like being able to look at a movie or, like, a frame from a movie and then instantly being able to be, like, oh, that's Wes Anderson. That's a Wes Anderson movie. You know? Mhmm.
Claire:And it's just so, like I don't know. The costumes, like, we've been talking about the dialogue, the music, which we could talk about too.
Jack:Lots of music.
Claire:It's just so playful. And it's, like, how could you just makes you not even yeah.
Shakyra:I don't even care. I don't even get a lot of banjos, like, his yeah.
Jack:Some are, like, wacky kinda yeah.
Shakyra:Yeah. Yeah. Music is so cute. Because we
Jack:were watching, Isle of Dogs. That was what you kept returning to. You kept just being like
Claire:The music is crazy.
Jack:Yeah. The music is awesome. Yeah. I think of that scene in Astrid
Shakyra:City,
Jack:when he walks out on the balcony and, like, Margot Robbie's there. Mhmm.
Claire:This
Shakyra:is,
Jack:like, near the end of the movie. And it's playing this way. It's, like, it's playing two notes. It's it's like, do do do do do do do. It's like it's doing that for, like, three minutes.
Claire:It's almost like satirical. Yeah. Like, it's almost yeah. It's like almost mocking it, but it's it's working.
Jack:Yeah. And it works so well.
Claire:That went so well. And I just I don't know. I also, in an asteroid city interview, some of the cast members said that Bo because they were asking, you know, what's it like working with someone who has such an intentional, specific vision? Like, he's making a very quirky piece.
Jack:Yeah.
Claire:And they said it's really fun. And Adrien Brody even said, like, even though he's super specific about what he wants, it's still very collaborative, which I thought was a really, like, important and good thing to say. Yeah. And other cast members were saying, you know, even though we don't Wes is the only person that has the vision because it's so which sounds so, like, I don't have a vision. But, like, in his brain, that's only where it exists until he creates it.
Claire:So they are like, we just trust him, and we just go along with it. And he did everything he could to try to help us see it. So before we even went to set, you know, like, he gave us part of a score. He gave us, like, pictures, like, literal pictures of, like, what we were gonna be looking at or doing. Mhmm.
Jack:And you're that beats the director who who doesn't who doesn't have anything. Right. You know how
Claire:I mean, he's trying. He's like, just trust me. I mean, I'm gonna help you out as much as I can. But Mhmm. Yeah.
Claire:And then that that's when they kind of commented with all that said. You know, there's no improv. There's no
Jack:Right. He he
Claire:wants your head tilted a certain way.
Jack:He's gonna
Claire:And not in, like, a controlling or, like, maybe pretentious way. Yeah. Just very particular.
Jack:Well, it's just it's it's also each scene looks like a painting. It's all very, very particular. Yeah. And so it's like,
Shakyra:you know scenes are like that.
Jack:I think it would stand to reason, though. Like, yeah. If he needs your head a certain way, it's gonna it's gotta be that way. Do it. Mhmm.
Claire:Yeah. Did you guys watch the miniseries about, like, the Roald Dahl stories?
Jack:Yes. I watched I watched most of them.
Shakyra:Oh, I didn't know.
Jack:There were
Claire:There's four.
Jack:Because we're four. Yeah. You said four, and I I'd only seen three.
Claire:There's four Fantastic Mr. Fox, I guess, is also a Roald Dahl story, which I did not know.
Shakyra:But Really?
Claire:Before were the wonderful story of Henry Sugar with Benedict Cumberbatch.
Shakyra:Oh, sure.
Claire:Is that his name? Cumberbatch?
Jack:Yes. Yes. Yep.
Claire:The Swan with Rupert Friend, who's in a couple. The Rat Catcher.
Jack:I did not see Poison. That's what I
Claire:And then yeah. Poison. Okay. But they were all really good. And I just think I don't know.
Claire:I wanted to ask you guys what you thought about, like, the use of a narrator because I like it. I like it too. And I think it helps, especially when you're doing a book adaptation. It makes complete sense that there's someone, like, walking you literally walking with you through and you can, like, imagine.
Jack:It's also the best way to include the author's voice, in my opinion. Mhmm. Especially if it's a book that's not, like, super dialogue heavy, to include, like, the author's voice through narration, I think is Yeah. Probably the best way of doing that. Yeah.
Jack:And I think I I I do find a lot of book adaptations that do that. Out of the three I did see though, I think the Ratcatcher was my favorite. That one was really good.
Claire:Yeah. I like that one.
Jack:How about you, Claire? What was your favorite?
Claire:I think my favorite was probably the Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar just because I felt like it was the most dynamic. Yeah. We changed settings the the most amount
Shakyra:of times in that one. Mhmm.
Claire:I like the rat catcher as
Jack:well. Yeah. I am But yeah. Excited to see what he has coming next. I'm always I'm I'm always gonna be out there seeing them.
Shakyra:Oh, yeah. Well, speaking of that, apparently, according to Variety, I don't know if you guys read that, but, he's coming out with a film called the Phoenician scheme. Oh. The story of a family business that features an all star cast.
Jack:Of course.
Shakyra:Focus no stranger to Anderson's meticulously crafted diehouse worlds, having released extras CDs in Remedy's Kingdom, blah blah blah blah. Mhmm. So yeah.
Jack:Who's in it?
Shakyra:Who's in it? So sorry.
Jack:My god. Woah.
Claire:Michael Sarah. Sarah? Let's go.
Jack:Yeah. And you said that's
Shakyra:And it's coming out on May 30 this year. So yeah. Oh, perfect. I'm gonna be sweet.
Jack:No. I'll be out there. Yeah. I'll be I'll be first row.
Claire:Oh, we can talk about the French Dispatch, which we watched.
Jack:That was another one. I was a fan of that one.
Shakyra:You'd seen it before.
Claire:I watched it very recently. Have you seen it?
Shakyra:Yeah. I've seen, like, bits and pieces of it, but it seemed like I get it.
Jack:So I like the anthology. I like the anthology style.
Claire:I thought I was gonna say, yeah, a lot of his films are part one, part two. Mhmm.
Shakyra:Or
Jack:That one was a lot more loosely connected. I I I have noticed as a bit he, like, does chop it up like that. But that one is, you know sorry. Each, like, chapter was not, like, connected to the previous Wasn't like linear. Yeah.
Jack:The thread through, like, Bill Murray's character was the same. Yeah. My personal favorite was the Timothy Chalmeid.
Shakyra:Well, yes. Oh, yeah.
Claire:Well, yes.
Jack:That was just like a classic.
Claire:He's in a few. Mhmm. See, like, yeah, everyone he cast has always they either always come back or I don't know how he brings actors back. But Mhmm. Actors
Jack:back. But Mhmm. But it's definitely like Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson. Tilda Swinton's been a decent amount. And then
Claire:Scarlett Johansson.
Shakyra:Yeah.
Jack:It looks like Benicio del Toro is coming back, because he was in the French Dispatch. He was the painter guy.
Claire:Okay.
Jack:Yeah. Yeah.
Claire:Yeah. I love the casting. And I love the characters that he builds. And I know that they're, like, based either off of real people or people he knows. Or, like, combinations of people.
Jack:That earlier.
Claire:Yeah. That was one thing in one of his interviews that I really liked. And I'm sure that might be true for a lot of movies. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Claire:Like, character building and, like, as someone who used to write fiction, like, obviously, yes.
Shakyra:Like, you face it off people you know.
Claire:But Yeah. I don't know. I just because these characters are so weird that it does make me think. I'm like, who is this about? Yeah.
Claire:Who could be actually doing these things?
Shakyra:Interesting people. Yeah. But Yeah.
Claire:Yeah. Even the kids too. And, like, do you know all of these children that you're
Shakyra:I would I don't know.
Claire:If it's I just want I wish he could be here, and we could just ask him. But
Jack:Yeah. If I had to guess, I would assume the and I haven't read any knowing nothing about this, I would assume the kids had to be based on some versions of people he knew. Like, when he was Or himself. Yeah. Or himself when he was younger.
Claire:I feel like some of them are definitely for his self for of himself. Mhmm. I feel like he said Rushmore is his most personal Yeah. Film. He's like, I I
Jack:think that one might have been about him. Yeah.
Claire:Like, that's based on Mhmm. My actual experience.
Jack:But what I love about the like, because cause I feel like there's always this, like, sort of uneven dynamic of, when you have, like, kid characters and adult characters in movies. It's either the kids are, like, overly, like, overly independent and adults are kinda portrayed as, like, stupid, or it's the other way around. Yeah.
Claire:They're really adults are, you know Zero or a hundred.
Jack:Yeah. But I there's a really good balance, especially in, like, Moonrise Kingdom and Rushmore two. But, like, in Moonrise Kingdom, there's obviously, like, the story with the kids, but then they keep showing, like, the parents and stuff, and they all have their own problems. Their own problems are very real. And then there's, the character that I think the girl stays with.
Jack:I forgot who plays him or what his name is, but it's very it's it's very real, you know? Mhmm. And you don't get that a lot in in those kinds of stories. It's either, like, about the kids or about the adults, and there's no in between.
Shakyra:But I
Jack:I like his ability to balance that.
Shakyra:So speaking of, like, you know, his style and things like that, do you guys feel like any other, like, act well, not actors. Sorry. Director, like, picked up or influenced from Anderson style? Or
Jack:I don't know about directors, but
Claire:Mhmm.
Jack:I do I used to follow this account on Instagram. I don't follow it anymore. I don't know why. But they, it was called
Shakyra:Okay. Thanks for that.
Jack:I don't know what happened. It was called, Accidentally Wes Anderson.
Shakyra:Wait. I think I followed that too. Yeah.
Jack:Yeah. They made a they eventually made a book. And what they would do is they just go around the world, different places, and they just take photos of things, that just kinda look like it it would be in a Wes Anderson movie.
Shakyra:Mhmm.
Jack:And kinda what you get, and we can show some pictures on the video. But what you get is, like, these, like, really cool photos. But, yeah, they just look like they're from a Wes Anderson movie, but they're real. And I thought that was really interesting how a director's fictional style could start could spark people's interest to look for that and, like, really, you know, it's like the whole art imitates life and vice versa kind of thing. So that that was I I was always fascinated by that.
Jack:And I I love seeing that book in, like, bookstores.
Claire:There was a trend on this is far less cool sounding. It was a trend on TikTok for a while. Like, there was a some of I I'm not gonna imitate it myself, but one of his, like, classic little songs that he puts in the beginning Mhmm. Like, just the instrumental and people doing things that characters in West Anderson films would do or, you know, framing themselves and their friends in that way.
Jack:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Claire:That was, like, all over TikTok for a while. I don't remember when that was, but
Shakyra:I've never seen it.
Jack:It's so cool. Like, I feel like he created, like, a he created a style almost.
Shakyra:Yeah. Yeah. And almost like He had fun with it too, and you could tell.
Jack:Exactly. No. You can tell.
Claire:Well, I feel like he wouldn't keep doing it.
Shakyra:That's the
Claire:other thing. It's like if you're not making art for yourself first or just for your own enjoyment, I personally believe you'll just burn out. And he's been doing this a long enough time with no sign of stopping as we're seeing May 30 that's coming out.
Shakyra:Yeah.
Claire:So, like, you can just tell it's really authentic, and you can tell, like, he I mean, it would be hard to fake caring about this much detail.
Jack:And Yeah.
Claire:I think
Jack:care is really what, like, one of the big things. Like
Claire:So true, Jen.
Jack:There's so no. Like, there's so much there's so much care into it. Yeah. Like, it's I don't know any other director who, like, invokes such, like, warm feelings, you know, in their films just through, like, the dialogue and the visuals and or it's
Shakyra:Can't think of anyone on top of my head, but I know it's probably, like, at least one or two that I Yeah. Watch.
Jack:I just think it's a very unique feeling
Claire:Yeah.
Jack:The West Anderson. It's like childhood whimsy mixed with, like
Claire:Satire and, like, adult feelings.
Jack:Adult feelings that
Claire:And, like, art. Like, a very Mhmm. Kind of quirky Mhmm. Contemporary art style.
Shakyra:He keeps this dark humor, and it's like Yeah. Oh my god. It's so funny. It's so awkward. Like Yes.
Shakyra:You wouldn't catch it the first time, but then you'd be like, wait. He did he
Claire:really just said that? Yeah.
Shakyra:Like, oh my gosh. LOL.
Jack:When Claire when we were watching I Love Dogs, I swear it was like every because it was like the all the dogs are sick, and you'd be like, oh. And then they they would, like, turn into a joke. Yeah.
Claire:Like Be
Jack:like, oh, like, what am I supposed
Claire:to The dog would tear up, and then another dog would, like, say some, like, sarcastic pun at it. And I'd be like, oh, I
Shakyra:Or he'd, like,
Claire:say something. Laughing. Yeah. It's when
Shakyra:I forgot their names. I didn't even see that movie. It's so long. But he was like, I don't play fetch. I don't do this.
Shakyra:I don't do that. I bite. Like, it was so dry. Like, I just love dry humor. I was like, he does that really well.
Jack:So scene where they go to the trash bag. Yeah. Should we even fight over this? They tear it open. He's like, okay.
Jack:That's worth it. Let's fight. Yeah. It's a great scene.
Shakyra:Anderson. He's the goat for
Jack:sure. Mhmm. My personal goat.
Shakyra:My personal GOAT.
Claire:The title of this episode, My Personal GOAT, Wes Anderson. Yeah.
Jack:So But speaking of Adrien Brody Mhmm. Who's in so many Wes Anderson films.
Claire:This is true.
Jack:He made headlines recently because he won best actor at the Academy Awards, which we're gonna get into.
Shakyra:So Okay. How do you feel about it?
Jack:Like Thanks, man.
Shakyra:How do you feel about it? How do you feel about Adrienne Brody? Like, do you think
Jack:I personally I love Adrienne Brody. I think definitely one of my favorite favorite actors working right now.
Shakyra:I could tell.
Jack:There were
Shakyra:some Definitely, love that guy.
Jack:There were some people that I could tell were a little less enthusiastic about him winning. But me personally, I was happy. I think he deserved it. I think the other the other people that were up were great. I think Timothee Chalamet definitely deserves an Oscar at some point.
Shakyra:A lot of people don't really like his actor style, honestly.
Jack:Yeah. And, you know
Shakyra:It's just crazy. Yeah. Anyways.
Claire:He definitely
Jack:no. I agree. He definitely deserves an Oscar. Mhmm. Maybe not for that movie.
Jack:Yeah. I like that movie. He was great. He did great. He's done better, and I think he will do better in the future.
Claire:Yeah. I also just think he's super young. Like, I I read someone say Well,
Jack:that was yeah.
Claire:Yeah. Like, he'll get his everyone was really not everyone, but a lot of people really upset that he didn't win. And they're like, he deserved he deserved it, which the whole thing about this is everyone nominated deserves it. That's the point. And also, he's pretty young.
Claire:So I'm sure that he was gonna gonna be
Shakyra:the youngest to win. To, like I don't know. He's gotta find that right role for him. I'm pretty sure he's gonna get it. Not right now.
Jack:Well, he was up. He was up when he was what he was really he was, like, 20 early twenties, he was up for, What was
Claire:he now?
Jack:Call Me by Your Name, I believe.
Claire:Oh, yes. He was up for that.
Jack:That was,
Claire:like, his first big, Mhmm.
Jack:Yeah.
Claire:Guy. He's 29?
Jack:Yeah. So he would have been the, youngest he would have been the youngest to win an Oscar had he won that night. The he would have beat Adrien Brody, who actually previously won for, The Pianist back in 02/2002.
Claire:Mhmm.
Jack:But he because that was Adrien Brody's first Oscar, first best
Claire:Oh, so Adrien Brody has
Jack:Yeah. That was his second.
Claire:Okay. So if Timothy has been
Jack:nominated twice. If Timothy Chalamet beat him, he would've he would've been the youngest. So sad that didn't happen, but I do think Adrian Brody definitely deserved it. Other stuff, Onora
Shakyra:Oh, yeah. Swept.
Claire:It's like, damn. What did
Shakyra:there were, like, five different
Jack:Well, Sean Baker, yeah. He got best director, best picture, best, screenwriter. Mhmm. Screenwriting or screen script. I don't know.
Shakyra:Wait. I'm sorry. I was just, like I I kinda locked out for a minute. So sorry. Let me see.
Claire:Yeah. Wow. It really did get a lot.
Shakyra:Mhmm. Mhmm.
Jack:And I don't I don't know
Shakyra:if Editing.
Jack:I don't know if anyone expected that. I think people which I think we talked about a bit. We talked about, how Amelia Perez was up Mhmm. For a lot. And they ended up not really winning.
Shakyra:That was funny.
Jack:Yeah. Yeah. But, Onora, I was happy about that. I I I'm really, really into Sean Baker.
Shakyra:Yeah. Original screenplay. I'm sorry. I'm still, like, trying to find it. But yeah.
Claire:Yeah. I mean Oh, Dune part two got
Shakyra:this. Sad that Wicked did not win, the music score because I feel like
Claire:Yeah. They broke the
Shakyra:I know those songs. I mean, like, come on now.
Claire:Mhmm. What did we could get best costume design and Mhmm. And Something else. Production. Yeah.
Claire:Best production design.
Shakyra:Which is like okay. I'm satisfied with that too because, you know, they really worked hard on that. It was really nice. Yeah. Yeah.
Shakyra:But visual effects, like
Jack:for Wicked?
Claire:Yeah. Do Part two, that best visual effects? Mhmm. I shouldn't say it in that tone. I didn't
Shakyra:see it. Like, so many
Claire:I'm like
Jack:It was it had good visuals.
Shakyra:Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure.
Jack:I felt. Yeah.
Claire:It won. So I'm sure. I felt.
Jack:Yeah. Adora Sweep.
Shakyra:I need to
Claire:see more movies, you guys.
Jack:You do.
Claire:The substance. That's on my list. Did you guys see The substance?
Jack:I did. Yeah.
Shakyra:You know, I wanted to watch it, but I don't really like what's her name? Demi Demi Moore?
Jack:Demi Moore. You don't like her?
Shakyra:I wanna say like. She's just not my favorite, honestly. Well, there's
Jack:the thing, she because she was beat out by Mikey Madison Mhmm. Who is significantly younger than her. And if you've seen the substance, that is kind of the plot of the movie. This idea that, older women in, like, Hollywood and other industries are kinda, like, cast aside Okay. For the sake because they're older.
Jack:Yeah. And then people were kinda using that as an example of,
Claire:Oh, I see.
Shakyra:This is why. Yeah.
Jack:Like, oh, they're proving the movie right. I didn't I didn't really Oh, god.
Shakyra:That's funny.
Jack:I wasn't on board with that, take. But
Shakyra:Well, yeah.
Claire:Much to consider about these.
Jack:Yeah. I try to get through all of them, every year. I I end up not usually watching everything, that's up.
Claire:But I
Jack:still have to watch The Brutalist, even though I was talking about how great Adrienne Brody is It's a three and a half hour movie, guys. I I will get through
Shakyra:it at some point. That? No.
Claire:Three and a half hour movie.
Jack:I'm gonna get through it. I will see it. I heard there's a, intermission,
Claire:which but
Jack:I need to see it.
Shakyra:Oh, yeah.
Jack:I promise maybe by next week I'll have seen it, and I'll I'll tell you guys what I think about it. But I
Claire:still need to see the Bob Dylan movie.
Jack:That was a good one. Like I said
Shakyra:Oh, yeah. Mom, let's about that. The the Bob Dylan movie.
Jack:Like I said, great actor. Love Timothee Chalamet. I was a huge fan of the movie. I love I like Bob Dylan, and I like Timothee Chalamet. So it's kind of a good, like I think he embodied the character really well.
Shakyra:Right.
Jack:Maybe not his year for best actor. Sometime, though. I hope
Claire:Soon, Timothy. Don't worry. It's coming.
Shakyra:Don't
Jack:worry, Timothy. You'll get an Oscar someday. He did win the SAG award, though, which is gonna
Shakyra:feel weird.
Claire:And I liked his speech that he gave at the SAG award.
Jack:I liked the Adrien Brody speech a lot more. You it was a little long.
Shakyra:Wait. Wait. Guys, I will wrap it up.
Jack:Oh, yeah. They started playing the music and then
Shakyra:Yeah. I've done this before. This is my first rodeo.
Jack:That was funny.
Claire:It's like, please turn the music off. Please.
Shakyra:And again And then
Jack:they did. And you could tell he kinda didn't expect that because he kinda stuttered for a minute.
Shakyra:He said that was great.
Claire:And he received. Mhmm. That's And
Jack:then, there were some other good speeches. Did you hear
Claire:the Kieran Culkin one? Mhmm.
Jack:He, he got up there and he talked about how
Shakyra:You know, I totally forgot that he was, McCallory Culkin's brother. That's right. Yeah.
Jack:Yeah. I was gonna say that. They look very similar to it. They, like, look like brothers. But, yeah.
Jack:He got up there and he was like, the last time I won an award, I, my wife promised me, like, a third kid. And then he ended the speech with, let's let's go with a fourth or something. Oh my god. Alright. I just swore.
Jack:I don't know if I can help.
Shakyra:That's that's cute. You know, willing the legacy, I guess.
Jack:Bleep it out.
Shakyra:Yeah. But, yeah, I think this is, like, it's a pretty solid, you know. I think, Claudia, you're a student in Lynn. Oh, that's crazy. Of course.
Shakyra:Well, Wicked. Yeah. Of course. But, you know Of course. Of course.
Jack:It was a good year for Academy Awards. I was proud.
Shakyra:Yeah. That's what I meant to say.
Jack:Sorry. I might have talked I might have talked earlier about how I I had kinda lost faith in it, but I think this year was a good year. I was proud of the nominations. I was proud of who won.
Claire:Jack's on your side, everyone.
Jack:I'm on your side. The academy. Thank you.
Shakyra:I was proud. Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Jack:Well, this has been reeling it in Mhmm. With Jack, Kyra, and Claire. Boom. And we'll see you guys next week. Remember to email me at jack.williams@statenews.com.
Jack:If you have any film opinions or if you disagree or agree with anything we've said, we'd love to hear from you guys.
Shakyra:Please, email him.
Jack:Please. We haven't heard from anyone of you yet.
Claire:And watch Wes Anderson.
Jack:And watch Wes Anderson. He's great. We love him. Alright. Till next time, folks.
Shakyra:Bye. Bye.