I caught these two movies about a week ago and felt that I should at least say a word or two about them. Both are cleverly animated and fun to watch.
Wes Anderson, who brought us “Rushmore”, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Royal Tennebaums” created this very different and interesting film based in Japan. The “Isle of Dogs”is a place called Trash Island where the mayor of Megasaki has banished all dogs after an outbreak of canine flu, which is deemed to be dangerous to humans. The mayor dumped his own dog, “Spots” there as well. His adopted orphaned nephew, “Atari” is very attached to the dog and he sets out in an airplane to Trash Island to find him. There he meets a cast of dogs of all ilks and they agree to help in the search.
The film is beautifully made and visually a treat. The dialogue is quick and sharp and often very funny. Anderson likes to take risks and it shows here. He draws from many, many filmmakers and delivers a very interesting movie.
The voices behind the characters are as star studded as a Red Carpet lineup on Oscar night. Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson, F. Murray Abraham, Anjelica Huston and Harvey Keitel to name some of them! The role of Assistant Scientist Yoko-ono is played by (you can’t make this up!), the actual Yoko Ono. I found myself listening closely to try to identify the peoplebehind the voices. The exceptional Bryan Cranston takes the top award for providing the voice of “Chief”, a former stray.
Some will find this film wondrous and others may leave scratching their heads, but in either case it will be a unique experience. I expect that Mr.Anderson will be bringing us many more original pieces of work in the years ahead. I look forward to all of it.
On to “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero”. This animated film is based on a true story of an American soldier in World War I France. In boot camp the soldier, Robert Conroy, befriends a stray dog who in short order becomes the training unit’s mascot. When Conroy and his fellow soldiers ship out to go to war the cook agrees to watch after “Stubby”. Amazingly the dog manages to follow the unit and stow away on their transport ship, eventually making it all the way to the front lines.
The story is nicely told and despite being animated you get drawn into the action very easily and naturally. At times I seemed to forget that I was watching a cartoon like movie.
While not as star studded as “Isle of Dogs” “Stubby” does very well, landing two top French actors, the great Gerard Depardieu and the wonderful Helena Bonham Carter.
Stay in your seat at the close as some actual footage and photos of Conroy and his dog are shown. “Sgt. Stubby” is still recognized as the most decorated dog in US military history and his story is a heartwarming one.
Thanks to Richard Lanni for co-writing and directing ths unique and important piece of America’s legacy.
