Look, there’s no denying that in the grand scheme of things, the frontman for an indie band shouldn’t be the arbiter of quality filmmaking. Will Toledo, from the band Car Seat Headrest, is most definitely not Roger Ebert. However, his recent Twitter rant regarding the Wes Anderson film “Isle of Dogs,” speaks to an issue that has been asked a lot recently. Is the newest Wes Anderson film problematic?
According to Toledo, it most definitely is. “Isle of Dogs is bad. It is an infuriatingly bad film. I am infuriated,” he says (punctuation pulled directly from Twitter). “like. why. why is it racist. why is it written as a joyless kid’s film when it’s specifically designed to be alienating and inappropriate for kids. why is it so fucking ugly…I mean props to Wes for finally making a movie that would appeal to literally zero people beyond himself. But also, fuck you.”
Clearly, Toledo has watched the film and felt the same way that a variety of critics and moviegoers have felt since the film premiered. Most notably, LA Times critic Justin Chang published a long review of the film, addressing the same concerns Toledo has. Namely, is Wes Anderson guilty of cultural appropriation in the film, due to its setting in Japan? And, is there an underlying, subtle racism prevalent throughout the film?
In our review from critic Jessica Kiang, the topic of cultural appropriation is discussed more. “And here [Anderson] creates a fictional city in what might as well be the fictional country of Japanderson — the better to remythologize the myths that Kurosawa, Miyazaki and the whole Godzilla industry so brilliantly exported, and that have clearly intoxicated him so thoroughly. No one could come out of ‘Isle of Dogs’ with a sense of disdain for Japanese culture: Anderson’s Japanophilia is as infectious as snout fever, and peculiarly reverent, without a shred of condescension,” says Kiang.
Judging by the wide variety of opinions about “Isle of Dogs,” it appears the best way to judge the film is to actually watch it for yourself.
“Isle of Dogs” is in select cities now, and expands nationwide on Friday.
Isle of Dogs is bad. It is an infuriatingly bad film. I am infuriated.
— car seat headrest (@carseatheadrest) March 28, 2018