Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self)
Few filmmakers have a signature style as instantly recognizable as Wesley Wales Anderson, more commonly known as Wes Anderson. Anderson’s style is recognizable and he has been able to make a unique name for himself in the film world, but still, he continues to be misunderstood.
Wes Anderson’s style consists of meticulously planned frames, symmetrical shots, pastel color palettes and perfectly composed sets. His style of shooting has made him both admired and criticized. Some viewers have said his movies focus too much on how they look, while others said that he keeps making remakes of the same film over and over again. Still, Anderson has continued with his vision and creativity. His visuals are meant to add to the overall emotion and storytelling.
While Anderson’s films may seem simple on the surface, they are layered with deep meanings. His films commonly explore themes of family, grief and loss of innocence. His work is crafted so that the themes are apparent and meaningful, while not overwhelming.
Anderson’s film, Fantastic Mr. Fox, seems simple on the surface. It surrounds Mr. Fox (George Clooney) and his life as he struggles with breaking a promise to his wife (Meryl Streep) when he raids the farms of their human neighbors, Boggis, Bunce and Bean. His execution endangers the whole community and forces them to go deep underground. The central conflict for Mr. Fox is between his animalistic instincts and his role as a responsible, domesticated father and husband who promised to get a “safe” job.
Anderson’s film, The Swan, one of his four short films based on the stories of Roald Dahl, focuses on Ernie and Raymond, two bullies, who are pursuing Peter Watson. While short in its runtime, this film still manages to powerfully capture deep themes of cruelty, innocence and the trauma of bullying. The visual metaphor of the swan represents his loss of innocence and the trauma that follows him into adulthood. By showing both young and adult Peter with the swan’s wings on, symbolizes how the trauma of bullying can linger until adulthood.
Calling Wes Anderson “underrated” could seem odd to some people, but the title “underrated” does not come from his fame, instead it comes from the understanding of the work behind the films and the denial of how amazing they are. Many people recognize his aesthetic without recognizing his depth. His influence has become so widespread that it shows up in design, photography and it even became a viral TikTok trend to copy his visual style.
RECOMMENDED FILMS: Fantastic Mr. Fox / The Grand Budapest Hotel / The Swan / Asteroid City
