21 Oct The Wes Anderson Collection: Isle of Dogs

ISLE OF DOGS

dir. Wes Anderson, starring Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Bill Murray, et al

There’s no one out there that’s going to argue about Wes Anderson’s filmography being eclectic.  From his first film “Bottle Rocket,” to “The Royal Tenenbaums” and the “Grand Budapest Hotel,” each story is vastly different. The commonality of them all is his distinct style, which has earned him his massive following. His 2018 film “Isle of Dogs” adds to the ever-growing status of being one of the most unique voices in the industry. Set in the fictitious “Megasaki City” in the year 2028, a vicious canine influenza forces Mayor Kobayashi to relocate all dogs to Trash Island. This leads the Mayor’s ward, Atari, to venture to the island in search of his missing dog Spots (Liev Schrieber).

In a story like this, it’s easy to predict the rhythms that Anderson wants to unfold. What makes it stand apart from what you’d expect is his unique stylistic choices. Besides our cast of dogs which include the voices of Bill Murray, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and Owen Wilson, almost no characters speak English. Most human characters speak in their native Japanese language, with the exception of a translator (Frances McDormand) and an American Student (Greta Gerwig). When Anderson first used stop-motion animation in 2009’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” audiences were thrilled with the medium being a creative outlet for his signature style. While “Isle of Dogs” wasn’t hailed as being as inventive, It’s  one of his biggest hearted films in the bunch. 

With a sure-fire slew of dog puns (Including the title), the film is definitely designed for a dog loving audience. That’s an effective ruse on the surface, but while watching the film you can see a much deeper story of friendship. The cliché of “a boy and his dog” is turned on its head to create a story about togetherness. It’s hard to deny that a lot of Anderson’s films have heart, but the detail that makes “Dogs” stand out is how he uses silences. We get some signature Anderson moments–particularly in the balancing of his shots–but that wasn’t my main attraction to the film. What makes “Isle of Dogs” stand out in his large filmography is how he really makes us care about these characters.

Even when English speaking characters speak to non-English characters, their facial expressions speak a thousand words. Particularly later in the film when Chief (Cranston) speaks with Atari and possible love interest Nutmeg (Scarlett Johansson). In the years it’s been since initially viewing “dogs,” these are the moments I remember. Anderson has wisely crafted a story about non-humans that feels like the most humane story in his filmography. Even in scenes where we’re merely hearing characters speak in their own language, they speak with emotion. In the wrong hands speaking and acting on emotion can be a curse. Giving each of these dogs a voice and allowing them to comment on the actions around them, lets us learn about all characters. Which morphs it into a story about what we’re willing to do for those we love. 

There’s a lot to love here, but the film overall isn’t without its problems. Besides being visually stunning, it clocks in at a lengthy two hours. If you aren’t already onboard for the eccentric nature, there’s nothing here that will convert you to being a fan. His style has built him an audience, and which leads him to keeping the beats you’d expect. If that sounds like your speed, then there’s nothing here that will make you feel underwhelmed with what you get. It’s just hard to deny that his choices are only designed to appease the diehard fans who’ve followed him since the very beginning.

“Isle of Dogs” wears its intentions on its sleeves which is its overall biggest strength. Besides the typical zaniness, no one can deny how heartwarming a film with animals can be. Watching this vibrant world filled with characters we care about makes it feel even more personal. As a big dog lover, it’s so endearing to see a story told with this much care, that it’s simply hard not to be entranced.  It certainly isn’t as clever as something like “Fantastic Mr. Fox” but that doesn’t take away from the emotion he wants you to feel. If you want something to make you hug your dog even tighter you couldn’t do better.

Review by Gabe Lapolembella