Cinephile No. 711 "Isle of Dogs"
“Every Scene Matters”
A Review of "Isle of Dogs” by Nathan H. Box
Directors: Wes Anderson, Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Starring: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton
Rating: 5 STARS, SHOWTIME
The Plot
Set in Japan, “Isle of Dogs” follows a boy’s odyssey in search of his lost dog.
My Critique
I have never given an animated film a five-star review. That changes today. It changes with Wes Anderson. I am an unabashed fan of Anderson. Sure, his writing and directorial style are quirky, strange, and tend to buck the norm. Still, inside of every single film is an extreme attention to detail; detail trending toward some sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In Wes Anderson films, every shot, every line, every scene, and the placement of every character is gone through with a fine-tooth comb. Every detail matters, because every film should matter. We, as audience members, deserve to be treated to something with this much love and devotion. Anything else is disrespectful to our intellect and our hard-earned money.
On the surface, this is just a film about the unbreakable bond between a boy and his dog. As it blossoms into a tale of conspiracy and anarchy, you being to realize it is much, much more. The plot itself is wildly creative and brilliant; better than most animated films deserve. The animation style is beautiful and engrossing. The way the story flows feels like an orchestral performance. When pulled together, you have a film that feels nearly perfect.
Films such as these are why I go to the movies. As summer and its blockbusters approach, I know months of wading through unbearable films is before me. “Isle of Dogs” with its humor, wit, and devotion to the art of cinema will guide me through. For these reasons and so much more, I highly recommend seeing this film. Even if the movie isn’t for you, I promise when you get home you will love your dog a little bit more than you thought possible.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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