The Wonderful Ways of Wes Anderson
- Text by HUCK HQ
Huck was born to celebrate people who paddle against the flow – the ones who are comfortable doings things differently to everyone else. That’s why we’ve always been drawn to Wes Anderson. Love ’em or hate ’em, his films are about as idiosyncratic as they come; there just isn’t anyone in the world who makes films quite like Wes. His unique blend of the surreal, the dysfunctional and the eccentric has created cult classics like Rushmore, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited, among others. These are just examples of the imprint he’s left on the Huck landscape.
Machotaildrop – An Anderson-Inspired Skate Movie
Machotaildrop paints one of the most unique, dreamlike visions of skateboarding ever imagined. In a bizarre comedic world, skateboarding is not simply the reserve of a renegade youth; instead, it’s a universal phenomenon where skateboard professionals are cultural icons, groomed like royalty and living like kings in a whimsical castle. The influence of Anderson is all over this offbeat skate comedy, which also explores themes of corporate corruption and the loss of innocence. The brainchild of filmmakers Corey Adams and Alex Craig, Machotaildrop is more than just an overnight classic – it’s the first, and quite possibly the last, great skateboarding movie of our generation.
Wes Anderson: Style Icon
If Steve Zissou had turned his talents to mass producing his signature red beanies he wouldn’t have had to worry that all of his recent films had been major commercial flops: he could have funded his questionable cinematic adventures for decades to come. As you can see from this photo, the Zissou look is a staple of the Huck/LWLies office.
A regular day at the Huck/LWLies office.
The beanies came out for an interactive screening of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, part of the Little White Lies Weekender at London’s ICA in December 2013 to celebrate the launch of LWLies #50.
The Fortune Wild – Wes Goes Surfing
This dreamlike journey through Canada’s remote islands shows Anderson’s influence has extended as far as the surf movie. Director Ben Gulliver is straight up about his big influence, “The film is a homage to Wes Anderson, I always wished he would make a surf film.” Until he does just that, The Fortune Wild is the next best thing.
The Little White Lies Interview
In this interview with Huck’s sister magazine, Little White Lies, Wes answers the burning question: Why are the same actors in all of your movies?
LWLies: You have this regular troupe of actors who all appear in small roles [in The Grand Budapest Hotel]. Are the roles written for the actors or is it vice versa?
Anderson: Most of these parts were quite abstract. I don’t know that I had so much of a visual feel for these characters. I was more interested in what they sounded like. What I think usually happens that when I’m in the middle of writing it, I start to make little lists of things — just to take a break from trying to figure out what happens next. I usually have ideas of which actors might work in certain parts. Most of the actors here are people I’ve worked with before, and I made these initial connections because they are just my favourite actors. And not only are they my favourite, but I have all their email addresses.
Head over to read the full interview at Little White Lies.
A Master Of Self Parody
The Wes Anderson formula – a predictable roster of characters, unnatural dialogue and a self-referential style – is incredibly polarising. Audiences seem to both love and hate his approach with equal measure. But in this advert for American Express, the director manages to parody his signature filmmaking style while at the same time indulging the image of what his fans all secretly wish working on a Wes Anderson set is really like.
Sweet Sounds
Music plays a huge part in Anderson’s films, but nothing quite encapsulates his brilliance quite like the soundtrack to The Darjeeling Limited. Somehow he blends The Kinks and The Rolling Stones perfectly with tracks like this – from Merchant Ivory’s film Bombay Talkie – that celebrate the rich heritage of classical Indian cinema.
The Guiding Light
Way back in 2005, the cover star of the very first issue of Little White Lies was Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) from The Life Aquatic, sporting his signature red beanie. For our publisher, Vince Medeiros, Zissou has always been an inspirational figure. “He’s the perfect hero precisely because the dude is so flawed. The imperfections make him a relatable guy. Who else would call dolphins dumb? I mean, what a legend! You have this sea mammal that’s held on a pedestal by scientists, children, polite society on a planetary level – and yet marine scientist Steve Zissou has the guts to throw this cosy consensus surrounding their intellect, human-like qualities, etc. straight out the window: ‘Son of a bitch, I’m sick of these dolphins.’ I also love this: ‘Don’t point that gun at him, he’s an unpaid intern.’ Who else says shit like that? Classic, heroic!”
Head over to Little White Lies now to read their review of the Grand Budapest Hotel.
