The Life Aquatic

-
Tue 24 May 2005 // 20:00 *

(Wes Anderson / 2004 / USA / 119min / Cert15)
(Tue 24th / 8pm / £2)

Having now almost completely abandoned a traditional approach to film
storytelling, Wes Anderson has secured his position as contemporary cinema's foremost visual stylist. Displaying an interest in symmetrical composition and meticulous production design, the joy of viewing is less that of seeing a film than immersing oneself in a series of intricate tableaux, each one designed to complement the last like a well-turned coffee table journal.

What the film lacks in substance, it more than makes up for in style and its countless joys are supplemented by terrific animated sequences by Henry "Nightmare Before Christmas" Selick and Casio keyboard underwater soundtrack.