From Left to Right: Rex (Edward Norton), Duke (Jeff Goldblum),
Boss (Bill Murray), King (Bob Balaban), and Chief (Bryan Cranston)
If you don't know who Wes Anderson is, I highly recommend you see a couple of his movies to get an idea of his work. Make sure Fantastic Mr. Fox is on that list.
If you wish to take a shortcut, then watch the following video.
Now that we have an understanding on Wes Anderson let us journey to the Isle of Dogs........
Set in the near future, the country of Japan faces a dog flu epidemic. In an effort to minimize the sickness, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura), has all dogs exiled to Trash Island, an isolated landfill. It goes without saying that life on Trash Island stinks especially for Rex (Edward Norton), Boss (Bill Murray), Duke (Jeff Goldblum), and King (Bob Balaban); housebroken pets who yearn for their old lives. Being a stray, their self-proclaimed leader Chief (Bryan Cranston), could care less until a boy named Atari (Koyu Rankin) arrives to their litter locale. The adopted son of the Mayor, Akari has come to find Spots (Liev Schneider), a dalmatian who acted as his bodyguard and friend before the dog deportation. What begins is a long and perilous journey to reunite a boy and his dog.
Atari searching for Spots.
Back at home, the news of Akari's disappearance reaches the country. As the Mayor sends in a rescue team, a foreign-exchange student named Tracey (Greta Gerwig) believes something is afoot in the Mayor's administration.
Tracey getting on the case.
Isle of Dogs is doggone delightful. Ever since Fantastic Mr. Fox, I waited when Anderson would do another animated film, his movies are a visionary delight with its picture postcard feel. It's nice in live-action but excels greatly in animation with less limitation and more creative freedom like with Tim Burton. Don't go thinking that it's a kid's movie, I find it strange how it was marketed as such.
The Mayor's translator.
The dogs speak English for the audience but no subtitles are given for the Japanese-speaking humans; the exception being the mayor's interpreter voiced by Frances McDormand. It might come as bother to some but I found this decision brilliant. Like the dogs we have no idea what Atari is saying but his expressions and actions are enough for us to understand. Language may be a barrier but the emotions are still conveyed.
You would think with familiar vocals like Bill Murray and Jeff Goldblum would be distracting but for the characters they play it works; matching the personalty of roles they played before. One of the best moments comes with the reveal of Harvey Keitel's character, before he talks you know on arrival its him. A peculiar casting choice is made with Yoko One as herself. Scratch that. She plays a scientist who happens to share her full name.
The movie treads into the political, covering deportation and prejudice but never coming off as preachy or moralistic. It feels relevant especially in this day age that merit discussion like what Black Panther did earlier this year. Speaking of said film, is it too early to call Isle of Dogs the best animated film of the year? I can't imagine another topping it, except for maybe The Incredibles 2 and Spider-Man: Enter the Spider-Verse.
Wes Anderson
One detail I failed to mention in my Early Man review is an appreciation of stop motion animation . With CGI dominating the field, this along with hand-drawn animation is sadly becoming a dying art. All the more why I commend Anderson for keeping this type of film-making alive.
P.S. I also want to give a shout-out to Aardman and Laika studios. While neither had a hand in this film, they are the few companies that continue to making these stop-motion movies and for that you have my thanks.
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