Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson
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Name:
Wes Anderson
Real name:
Wesley Wales Anderson
Who is:
, ,
Birth date:
(56 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Houston
Height:
6'1 ft ()
Weight:
187 lb (85 kg)
Relationship:
married
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Wes Anderson biography

Wes Anderson is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, and producer who earned his place among the most revered and adored Hollywood artists. His net worth: $50 million. His fans and critics alike joke that "the only people who can hate on Wes are bores and nerds." But what's behind all the hype surrounding the director who creates the most stylish and quirky modern movies? Well, let's find out.
Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson

Early life and childhood

Wesley Mortimer Wales Anderson was born on May 1, 1969, in Houston, Texas. His father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in public relations and advertising, while his mother, Texas Ann (née Burroughs), was a realtor who always dreamed of becoming an archaeologist.

Young Wesley was incredibly close to his brothers, younger Eric and older Mel; they were more than just siblings – they were his partners in crime for every project and prank he pulled off. The three were always painting, gluing, or crafting something; as they got older, they started making short silent films with their father's camera.
Young Wes Anderson
Young Wes Anderson
The peaceful, carefree atmosphere of his childhood was shattered in 1977 when Wes was just 8 years old – his parents filed for divorce. Later, Anderson would say the family separation was "the most important thing that happened in his life and one of his brothers." The aftermath of this heartbreak can be seen in the script for "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001), which earned Wes his first Academy Award nomination.
All three brothers stayed with their mother but saw their father often. These circumstances, unnatural for children, surely deeply traumatized their young psyches. Perhaps that's why Wes became such a shy and introverted person
Wes channeled his emotional experience into his creativity, constantly writing short plays and novels, surprising his teachers with unusual plot turns and unexpected twists. Some of these early works served as a foundation for his future movies.
Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
Anderson received an excellent education; he graduated from Westchester and St. John's School in Houston and later enrolled in the philosophy department at the University of Texas in Austin. It was there, where he met his best friend, colleague, and associate, Owen Wilson.
In 1994 Wes Anderson made his first film «Bottle Rocket»
In 1994 Wes Anderson made his first film «Bottle Rocket»
According to Zoomboola.com, in 1994 Wes, together with Owen (and his brother Luke), filmed his first black-and-white short film "Bottle Rocket," which was later colorized and turned into a full-length feature. The movie received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and from that moment on, the lives of these young philosophers changed forever.

Film career

After such an amazing and inspiring debut, Wes followed it up with «Rushmore» (1998) – a unique and unorthodox mix of comedy and drama, romance, and eccentricity. The movie, starring Jason Schwartzman, was filmed in the building of his old St. John's school. «Rushmore» perfectly showcased the main idea and philosophy behind Anderson's movies – the atmosphere of total control over a world of unending childhood through multilayered metaphors.
A shot from Wes Anderson's «Rushmore»
A shot from Wes Anderson's «Rushmore»
Touching and incredibly funny, Anderson's movies are able to perfectly and precisely translate the very intricacies of relations between people. The works of such an unorthodox director always attract audiences of every age and status due to their unique flavor and themes.
The story of Wes Anderson
A child, hiding from reality in cozy and simple dreams, can't accept the grim reality of his family's disintegration and everything that was so dear to him. Perhaps that's the reason behind Wes Anderson's passion for basing his storytelling around children who don't want to grow up, don't want to face reality, or adults forever trapped in their memories of carefree childhood, desperately wanting it to come back.
Unusual characters, daring outfits, provocative colors and spellbinding soundtracks – Wes Anderson uses every mosaic piece to create his masterpieces, captivating audiences of any age or stature
The commercial success of Wes Anderson movies can be explained by two main factors. The first is his unending collaboration with his friends Owen Wilson («Bottle Rocket», «Rushmore», «The Royal Tenenbaums»), Noah Baumbach («The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou» (2004), «Fantastic Mr, Fox» (2009)), Roman Coppola («The Darjeeling Limited» (2007), «The Moonrise Kingdom» (2012)), Jason Schwartzman («The Darjeeling Limited»). The second is, of course, his ability to cast the most talented actors such as Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes and many, many others.
Wes Anderson and Jude Law during the filming of «The Grand Budapest Hotel»
Wes Anderson and Jude Law during the filming of «The Grand Budapest Hotel»
«The Grand Budapest Hotel» (2014) is one of the most successful and revered works of Wes Anderson. The movie, universally considered a true masterpiece, received numerous awards such as «Golden Globe», five British Academy Film Awards, and 4 Academy Film awards. Furthermore, it grossed over 173 million dollars, multiple times surpassing its budget.
Wes Anderson during the «Golden Globe» award ceremony
Wes Anderson during the «Golden Globe» award ceremony
One of Wes Anderson's most celebrated creations, «The Isle of Dogs» (2018) was an absolute commercial and critical success and managed to win over the hearts of an audience, thanks to its meticulous script work, fresh and relatable characters, and great humor.
Wes Anderson's «Isle of Dogs» trailer
It's also worth noting that Metacritic's top analysts included Wes Anderson on their (admittedly short) list of filmmakers who've never tarnished their reputation with a bad or unsuccessful movie.
How to Direct Like Wes Anderson

Personal life

By all appearances, this long-haired genius with his perpetual smile and trademark velvet blazer seems destined to remain forever young at heart, with his whole life ahead of him—including the inevitable family settling-down phase. Media outlets have always struggled to break through the taboo surrounding Wes Anderson's personal life.
Wes Anderson with his wife Juman Malouf
Wes Anderson with his wife Juman Malouf
What we do know is that around 2013, Wes Anderson married Lebanese artist and costume designer Juman Malouf, who also provided the voice for one of his characters in "Fantastic Mr. Fox." In 2016, they welcomed their daughter Freya.

Wes Anderson now

2020 was set to bring the premiere of "The French Dispatch"—Wes Anderson's American comedy-drama. This time around, Tilda Swinton, Benicio Del Toro, and Timothy Chalamet joined Wes's creative ensemble. The film chronicles the French bureau of a fictional American weekly magazine.
Wes Anderson continues to make unusual films and delight fans
Wes Anderson continues to make unusual films and delight fans

Wes Anderson: latest news and articles

  • The Grand Budapest Hotel is a cult film, now I`ll watch others :)
    2021-04-21 18:27:18
  • Wes Anderson is a great director. I know that Tilda Swinton is very fond of filming with him, and I love her immensely. And all his films are so soulful and charming, it`s a miracle :)
    2021-04-19 15:28:42
  • His films are far from for everyone - a little less absurd and weird and would become a box-office director.
    2021-04-02 22:30:29
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel is an excellent film of him, I am no longer familiar with his creativity, but now I’ll probably go deeper
    2021-03-22 12:32:50
  • Rushmore was more or less but the rest was so-so..
    2021-02-14 12:32:37
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