Film: Asteroid City

Today, was thinking film - and delighted to see that Asteroid City had risen in ratings, and was now top of my list! Ah well, that's a no-brainer - a Wes Anderson comedy, with an all-star cast, including Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, Rupert Friend, Steve Park, Liev Schreiber, Matt Dillon, Steve Carell, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum (playing an alien, appropriately I guess..), Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie.. and probably some other people I recognise. Anyway, I love Wes Anderson's stuff - and it's on in my local cinema (for flat #1). And there were showings all today, so, given that I hadn't any other demands on my time, until I get another job, I could go to whatever suited!

5.30pm was what suited, and off I trotted, stopping at recycling on the way. And wouldn't you know it, I never before heard that they have cheap tickets on Wednesdays in Curzon! Obviously never been to the Curzon on a Wednesday before.. I was the first into the Plaza, one of the screens it's on in, which is a small one - I'd chosen an aisle seat near the front. Mine was a popular row - with another couple sat inside me, one seat away, when the lady who'd booked the seat beside me came and saw all my stuff on her seat, she volunteered to go into the (empty) front row. Quite sensible - who wants to have people on either side of them anyway, if not necessary?

Ah, Wes Anderson. Quite surreal. First, we meet Byran Cranston, who's hosting a tv show about the writer (Edward Norton) of this play called "Asteroid City". That bit's in black and white - then we're into the technicolour of the desert, where Jason Schwartzman is driving the kids to Asteroid City, where there's a science event for which his son, Jake Ryan, has qualified. His daughters are of similar age, if not actually triplets - and a right little coven they make. Also accompanying their children to this shindig are Scarlett Johansson, a famous actress, and Liev Schreiber. Maya Hawke is a teacher, accompanying a school group to observe. Jeffrey Wright plays the local military general. Rupert Friend is a local cowboy, who hangs out with a gang of cowboys, playin' music, mostly. Tom Hanks is Jason Schwartzmann's father-in-law, who drives to the rescue when his car conks out - Matt Dillon is the mechanic. Steve Carell runs the motel. Tilda Swinton is a local scientist involved with the event. Margot Robbie plays (spoiler) Jason Schwartzman's deceased wife.

And then it gets weird. So, Adrien Brody doesn't apparently exist in this version, he plays Jason Schwartman's character in - the stage version, I think? Lives on the set, gives advice to Jason Schwartzman at one point. Willem Dafoe shows up as a kind of talk-show host, interviewing Edward Norton. Really, some of them are only in it for one scene - you can imagine them joining for fun, then kind of hanging around the set chuckling at the rest of it, once they're finished and can relax. And fun it is - gloriously funny, in that weird, Wes Anderson way. Absolute star of the show, for me, however - is Jeff Goldblum, who plays an alien like nobody else can. Ah yes - won't be for everyone, but if you like Wes Anderson, you'll probably love this. Oh, and why not stay for the road runner's antics, over the closing credits..

Tomorrow, thinking of heading back to Watkin's Bookshop, for the first time in an age - they have an author talk called Holy Waters - Searching for the Sacred in a Glass. There's a new book about this, which considers the use of alcohol in religion - sounds interesting!

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. Was waiting to hear what rating the new Indiana Jones film would have - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees Harrison Ford, back again as the coolest archaeologist in the Western world. And yes, your eyes don't deceive you - that is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, tagging along as the female interest (his god-daughter). So, expect some good lines. And Antonio Banderas shows up as - someone scruffy-lookin'. And I'd be happy to see it - if only for the CGI that makes Harrison Ford look young and gorgeous again.. (there's some time travel, I believe).

However, now that its rating is out, the highest rated is Jesus Revolution, based on a real-life spiritual movement across America in the 70s. Stars Kelsey Grammer as the straight-laced pastor whose daughter convinces him to give these long-haired hippies a go.. Showing, as is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, in Limerick Omniplex. (Actually, it was also showing this evening in London, but I really wanted to see Asteroid City, so although it wasn't as highly rated, I executed an executive override..)

On Monday, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for A Playlist for the Revolution, at the Bush Theatre.

On Tuesday, thinking film again - and it's looking like Hello, Bookstore, a documentary in the Curzon Bloomsbury again.

Then two more days with UITCS - well, they book so much stuff! Next Wednesday, it's Robin Hood: The Legend - Rewritten, at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

And on the 6th, it's School Girls: Or, the African Mean Girls Play, at the Lyric Hammersmith.