Scarlett Johansson names the perfect “B-side” to Wes Anderson
It is hard to find a modern-day filmmaker with a more recognisable style than Wes Anderson. Since the late 1990s, the director has carved out an aesthetically-driven world that even the most casual of film fans can associate with his name. He prioritises vibrant colours, unique set and costume design, and distinctive cinematography – especially symmetry. Anderson’s movies feel like they exist in a world of their own, separate from the rest of society.
Anderson’s subjects are often awkward and offbeat, making for memorable characters, such as Max Fischer (Rushmore), Margot Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums) and Mr Fox (Fantastic Mr Fox). Naturally, due to his auteurist, distinctive style, Anderson has garnered a dedicated fanbase since his career began, making his movies some of the most anticipated of the year.
From Bottle Rocket to Asteroid City, the filmmaker has always kept his singular vision, never compromising his style. Luckily for Anderson, his unique aesthetic – drawing inspiration from French New Wave filmmakers like Jean-Luc Godard – makes his movies a popular alternative within the mainstream. While he is able to bring an idiosyncratic viewing experience that stands out to many popular movies, he simultaneously offers enough narrative accessibility and humour to earn significant box-office success.
Anderson often works with the same actors repeatedly, such as Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Tilda Swinton. He has worked with Scarlett Johansson twice, with the actor appearing in 2018’s Isle of Dogs and 2023’s Asteroid City. However, in an interview with Letterboxd, she picked out a director whose movies could potentially work as an “interesting” double feature with the latter movie.
Johansson compared Anderson to Quentin Tarantino, suggesting that one of his films could work as a “good B-side”. Best known for his heavily stylised work, such as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, Tarantino is – like Anderson – one of cinema’s most distinctive working filmmakers. Thus, it is somewhat unsurprising that Johansson would compare the two, despite the fact that Tarantino’s work is considerably more violent and obscene than Anderson’s.
The actor explained that there is “something about that troupe that he uses,” referring to his love for ensemble casts, much like Anderson. Similarly, Tarantino can often be found working with the same actors repeatedly, such as Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth. Johansson also declared her love for the “genre-bending” element of Tarantino’s movies – often seamlessly incorporating comedy, thriller, and crime elements into one cohesive film.
Tarantino has expressed his admiration for Anderson in the past, declaring his love for The Grand Budapest Hotel. He revealed in The New York Times, “The fact that I wasn’t a die-hard fan before made me even more happy that I could finally embrace him.”
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