Review of Isle of Dogs (2018) by The3Academysins — 27 Mar 2018

Isle of Dogs is all at once an animated, slapstick comedy, an epic, and a redemption story. Wes Anderson has once again created a masterpiece of cinema that skillfully combines the highest comedy and the lowest tragedy into a delight for the soul. This is the best movie I have seen in theaters thus far in 2018, and one of the best animated films I have seen in recent memory. I can't recommend Isle of Dogs enough!

The stop motion animation is charming and beautiful. The art direction and design is so specific and intricate that you'll find new things in each frame every time you watch the movie. There is beauty in the desolation of Trash Island, and the characters feel alive and real.

Speaking of characters, the voice acting in this film is truly incredible. The Wes Anderson staple of a highly talented, highly acclaimed ensemble cast is in full effect here. Bryan Cranston and Greta Gerwig shine as the rough-around-the-edges stray turned pack leader and the American exchange student with a conspiracy theory respectively. The banter between Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, and Bob Balaban as the pack of alpha-dogs is simply delightful. Every single cast-member gets their moment in the spotlight, and it's a joy to watch.

In terms of direction, there is simply no director like Wes Anderson. The man is a modern-day auteur, and every film he's ever made is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Isle of Dogs is hilarious, somber, whimsical, melancholic, and utterly beautiful. There is something for everyone in Isle of Dogs, from kids, to animation fans, to Wes Anderson fans, to the average movie-goer. If you get a chance to see Isle of Dogs in theaters, GO.