Review of Isle of Dogs (2018) by Geraldine E — 31 Dec 2018
I admit that I am predisposed to love this movie. It's all there in the name - if you haven't caught it, the title is a homonym of sorts for "I Love Dogs"... and indeed, I do love dogs! Now, you don't have to love dogs to love this movie.
.. but even if you don't, I'll bet you that by the end of this movie, you'll love them a little more. It is just delightful. This is a Wes Anderson film, so you know even before it starts that it's going to be chock full of charm, whimsy, and symmetry, and it does not disappoint on any of those counts.
Anderson is one of the most original and innovative filmmakers working today; he has become a master of the medium and uses it in ways that no one else does, creating films that are always uniquely his.
Though this is an animated film, it's a pretty adult movie with mature themes - I would say it's probably not the best choice for small kids, but it's great for older ones. The whole film is an allegory for xenophobia and the disenfranchisement of marginalized populations (the film is ostensibly set in bizarro-world Japan, but I would argue that the attitudes of the people in this film are more similar to American culture right now).
That's a lot going on for an animated film, but its genius is that it's also really funny, sweet, and surprisingly sentimental. This is a film that brilliantly toes the line between darkness and lightness, illustrating serious themes with humorous execution.
For some reason, the way the characters all look straight into the camera creates such a comedic effect. The reaction shots alone are priceless... and those little dog-sneezes! Adorable! The ending is a little contrived, but whatever, I wanted the happy ending and was willing to sacrifice realism to get it.
This is definitely my favorite movie of 2018 (so far), it is such a joy. He is a smart and clever man, that Wes Anderson, and he has made a smart and clever movie that is massively appealing while also delivering a potent message.
Standing O.
This review of Isle of Dogs (2018) was written by Geraldine E on 31 December 2018.
Isle of Dogs has generally received very positive reviews.
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