Most all directors have a certain style around filmmaking but there are some whose flair for the art form make them unmistakably themselves. One such is Wes Anderson. Through the casting of familiar faces, unmistakable visuals, love of pop music, and an almost whimsical surrealism amidst dysfunction, he has crafted something entirely unique to himself.
This September, die hard fans will be able to cherish his films all over again as Criterion publishes his first 10 movies in a deluxe box set
The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years gives you exactly what it says on the tin. From 1996’s “Bottle Rocket” to 2021’s, “The French Dispatch,” Anderson wrote and directed 10 films; two of them being stop motion animation, seven of them featuring Owen Wilson, nine of them featuring Bill Murray. You know, for those keeping score at home.
The box set itself looks like it could’ve been a prop from one of Anderson’s films. It’s very simplistically retro with its muted colors. Inside are 20 discs, with a Blu Ray and 4K copy for each of the 10 films. Collectors will likely be more interest in the 10 illustrated books that accompany the movies and the 25 hours of special features. Everything from commentaries to interviews, home movies and storyboards to visual essays; there’s a lot to take in and enjoy.
Virtuosity doesn’t come cheap though. Nabbing this box set will set you back $399.96 from the official Criterion website. You’d have to be an aficionado to sink that much into a set of films that Anderson devotees probably already own. That’s $40 per movie, but those unique books may be worth the price for the truly devout. And at least you have some time to save up for it, The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years goes on sale on September 30th.
