criterionforum.org

It isn’t better than Don’t Look Up. That film looks subtle and humble in comparison.

mfunk9786 wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 3:19 pm

Spoiler

The moral of this picture being, in part, 'wealthy patrons/financiers of films and plays are the real heroes of our culture' certainly explains how it got made, but it doesn't explain why I'm supposed to be enraptured by it.

If that's what the film is saying, especially in this moment in time with everything that is going on, I can wholeheartedly say it deserves to flop hard.

aox wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 4:57 pm I didn't expect this board to be so anti-Asteroid City. I think it is one of WA's best films. Certainly, from his late period.

If there's one thing this board is consistent about, it's being inconsistent in our appreciation of WA's films.

I didn't like Asteroid City, but I wouldn't say it was terrible - still more palatable than most viewing options I'd find on an airplane.

beamish14 wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2026 7:14 pm I actually do think this will be a humongous bomb, though. Basically a Hollywood-ender for AGI

Nah. He might need to call in a favor to one of his stars to get the next one across the line but his track record will ensure he can work again (two directing Oscars, one Best Picture, countless actor noms, and of course the elusive DiCaprio Oscar). If the next one bombs and costs too much, sure, he might land in Director Jail (which, as Chazelle is proving, isn’t inescapable either), but remember that Cruise alone will result in this movie making money overseas

Some of you could really stand to be objective about some of this stuff (not mfunk, the only one here who’s actually seen this)