Did you hear the rumour, the one about the Isle of Dogs?

I started this week meaning to go and see John Krazinski’s A Quiet Place, but got hoodwinked into going to see Wes Anderson’s latest, Isle of Dogs instead. Having just watched the trailers and not really putting any thought into what I was about to see, I went in, still pretty hungover, not sure what I’d signed up for.

After thrusting us into the history of Megasaki City, the history of the child soldier and the cat worshipping kobayashi clan (exactly as mental as it sounds) it was pretty clear that this was going to be one of the weirdest films I’ve seen. What I didn’t expect, was that Isle of Dogs would be the first film I remember where the point of the film wasn’t some deeper meaning, complicated plot or chaotic action, it was simply the film itself. This sounds a bit too philosophical but I’ll try and explain what (I think) I mean...

Wes Anderson paints his films like a picture, every frame symmetrical, colourful and unique. However impressive in The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom, it is when he is allowed to animate that his creativity can bloom. You can either sit back and enjoy the film as Atari and his pack of strays trek across Trash Island, or appreciate the tiny details slipped into every shot. The ‘pro-dog’ Doctor Watanabe wearing a dogtooth pattern tie was a little personal favourite. This enables the awkward, not-quite-sure-what-you’re-laughing-at comedy that you either subconsciously find yourself enjoying or find the whole theatre booming at.

The beauty of Isle of Dogs lies in its uniqueness. Most films would maybe introduce one or two wildcards to keep the film exciting. Here, we have one about every five minutes. Secret student-led pro-dog anti fascism movement? Dog-oracle revealing her powers stem from being able to understand TV? Cutting from the hero’s journey to a minute long fully graphical sushi preparation? Secret heroine Yoko-Ono-San and her one line? Honestly one of the most unique films I can remember seeing, either for its particular style or hilarious absurdity (I can’t quite figure out which yet) Isle of Dogs is definitely worth a watch.