Lovely coffee table type book for movie connoisseurs and Wes fans

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A great book to gift to a fan of Wes Anderson. Beautifully designed, in full colour, this book takes you through the sources of inspiration for the different worlds of Wes Anderson. The films and directors that inspired Anderson to create his very distinctive look. The book is packed full of information giving an insight into how one of our most creative directors thinks and works. I am not the most avid of Wes Anderson fans, though he is a director I prefer seeing on the big screen because of his visual inventiveness. However, I found the book fascinating. I am always interested in where artists get their ideas, and this book provides all the details you could want.

Barring <i>Fantastic Mr. Fox</i> and the sublime <i>Grand Budapest Hotel,</i> I find Wes Anderson's films to be mannered to the point that they are damn near unwatchable; however, I cannot deny his visual style stands out in the sea of dreck Hollywood mass produces each year. <i>The Worlds of Wes Anderson</i> gives a glimpse at the myriad works of art he draws on to create his films, and shows the director utilizing a long-established visual language to tell his tales.

Recommended mostly for hard-core Anderson fans, but casual viewers of his films will also find much of interest in this book.

Received via NetGalley.

This is a very comprehensive and in-depth look at the movies of Wes Anderson--the influences and homages across his filmography. Many will seem obscure if you're not a film scholar (or a Wes Anderson scholar) already, but the photographs paint a clear picture. Some of my favorites were the smaller asides, coincidentally about Grand Budapest, focusing on the artwork and the inspiration for the hotel itself. But really, I picked up this book for Fantastic Mr. Fox!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Going into this book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be the intended audience. I’m what could be considered a “casual fan” of Wes Anderson. I have seen maybe half of his major films, and I am not a film buff, but I do enjoy his work and was interested to learn more. I was quite pleasantly surprised by this, and I think this book will have broad appeal for serious fans and people like me alike!

I thought the layout and imagery had a lot of aesthetic appeal, and I really loved the multitude of side by side comparisons of stills from Anderson’s films with the influences discussed in the essays.

I also appreciated the general format of the book. There are themed chapters, each divided into four parts that the author calls “mini essays”. And because the author never intended for this to be an exhaustive analysis of every reference in every film, the book never gets weighed down by unnecessary detail. It keeps everything digestible, especially for someone like me who, as I mentioned, isn’t already well versed on this subject. I also liked that it wasn’t organized linearly or by film, and instead thematically. It allowed for broader analysis and I think it made everything more interesting. Topics covered range from more specific influences on Anderson’s process (e.g., specific filmmakers/creators) to broader cultural movements (e.g., changes to television in the 50s or the British Invasion).

I’m walking away with a lot of movies, books, and media I want to consume next, and a greater appreciation for the Wes Anderson movies I have already seen. (There’s even a recommended viewing list in the back!) I would recommend this for even the casual fan of Anderon’s films, or even to give as a gift to a fan you know.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for the complimentary eARC for the purpose of providing an honest review!*

This book is very detailed, and sites Wes Anderson's films within the broader cinematic history, rather that dissecting each of the films. It's beautifully illustrated and laid out. The book (as advertised) focusses on Wes Anderson's influences. It surprised me by not focussing more on Wes Anderson the person or his films. Because I only had an electronic copy I had to read it on my phone, and it suffered for that. I can see myself lounging, in a carefully coloured room, on a striped sofa, flipping through the hardback, smoking and being mannered. Maybe I've also been influenced by Wes Anderson.

This was just absolutely stunning. As a Wes Anderson fan, writer inspired by him and owe my film degree to him, it's safe to say that out of my entire Wes Anderson book collection, this one was my absolute favourite.

A beautifully designed tour through the visual culture influences on Anderson’s work. The book is a smart, accessible, and engaging survey of themes and reference points for better understanding Anderson’s films and distinctive style. I felt inspired to rewatch all the classics mentioned and found some new titles to add to my viewing list as well. This book would be a great coffee table book and gift for cinephiles!

Wonderful book about the influences of Wes Anderson, putting in perspective Anderson's point of views and references.
If you have seen any of Anderson's films, you know nothing is in a frame by chance, everything is deliberate. And this is why he is a master, because it all makes sense and can be analysed.
Personally, I am not a movie fanatic, so I do not have the vast historical knowledge of professionals. I like films, but I love all art forms and as such it's hard for me to have specialised knowledge. I love the theatrical aesthetics, the stunted external display of emotions contrasting with explosive internal turmoil, I love the dandy precious look like old-fashioned candy boxes, but most of all I love the huge empathy in all of Anderson's films, and I can tell it goes way beyond my superficial knowledge of the French Nouvelle Vague (which I personally hate) and stunning Japanese classic cinema (which I greatly enjoy, but only know the cannons).
This book opens up a great number of doors for you to decode and appreciate even more the work of Wes Anderson. It will also probably add a good number of movies to your to-see-list if you are a curious person.
I know that I am now dying to discover Satyajit Ray, an Indian director I knew nothing about, that Darjeeling Limited gave homage to.
A book for all the fans, and for cinema enthusiasts.

This was a wonderfully fun deep dive into not only the incredible film maker but also the history of Wes Andersons most famous films and the worlds and themes included in each film.

While the cover doesn't give much away the set up of the book is great. Categorized by several themes you get a look at the interconnectedness between the films themes and the creativity and inspiration behind the story telling.

If you are looking to find out more about the film making process of this wonderfully creative mind or just enjoy films to this depth you will love this books insights.

I was not particularly a Wes Anderson fan though I do enjoy his books I did quite like the learning I received from this book.

This book is great, whether you’re a Wes Anderson lover or just a lover of film in general. It would make a good coffee table book to flip through and read on what you want.

Thanks to the dozen or so clever, talky, visually inventive, occasionally slightly irritating films which he produced over the last twenty-five years. Wes Anderson has established a well-deserved reputation as one of the most interesting and original American filmmakers of the 21st century. Packed with a variety of full colour images from both his own films and from the work of directors such as Truffaut, Lean and Spielberg, who have influenced
him, this book serves as an invaluable deep dive into the career of the man behind Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

I was excited to receive this ARC as I love Wes Anderson, but even more so does my husband.

This is a lovely dive into what inspires the quintessential themes and iconic look that is a Wes Anderson film. I can't wait to have a physical copy of this book to give to my husband!

Book was beautiful organized and detailed. I loved exploring the inspirations that has led Wes Anderson to create the masterpieces that are his films. I was drawn to the sections and side notes that highlighted where key cinematic points from my favorite of his films came from. I especially loved the varied influences that were included, be it a piece of art, another film, or a person. Worth the read for any Wes fan.

This was a really in depth guide to one of my favorite directors, Wes Anderson. Loved all the behind the scene photos and the information on the inspiration for all the films.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for an advance copy of this new book that looks at the films of Wes Anderson, a filmmaker with a particular set of skills, and the art that shaped and defined the movies that he has created.

The word influence seems to draw a little bit of shade when used today. As most people of a certain age do, I blame the Internet and the rise of Social Influencers. I recently saw a cook, who talks of the high life in video discussing how great her food was with Dole pineapple, and how she used it as a mixer in her drinks with fellow influencers. That's not an influencer, that's a huckster. In creative terms, at least to me, an influence is something a person comes across that makes a lasting effect on their lives, their thinking and art. Star Wars at age 7 gave me a strong love of science fiction, science, movies and more. The Simpsons influenced the way I look at comedy, and how to draw on past work. I would like to say my essays writings were influenced by Joan Didion, and John McPhee, both who I adore, but my writing always seems like an ad on Craigslist selling a broken washing machine. Influence is not theft, though better writers are supposed to steal according to T.S. Eliot. But to understand an artist, is to find out who they draw from, and in turn learn from them. That happens to me all the time. And this book on the director and writer Wes Anderson has introduced me to a whole new world of movie makers, writers, artists, creators and much more. The Worlds of Wes Anderson: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films by editor at large for Little White Lies Magazine Adam Woodward is a look at oeuvre of this movie maker, and goes into depth on the many works and ideas that Anderson has drawn on to enrich his movie palette.

The book is broken into themed chapters with some examples being Youth in Revolt, Family Values Colour and Composition, and of course Life and Death. The chapters are broken down by subject. Say a section on the Kinks music, or the artist Mark Rothko, or even the Scorsese movie Mean Streets. The book is lavishly illustrated and mixes moments from Anderson's life, how he might have come across say the movie The 400 Blows, and what movie it might have influenced, or the themes that might appear in a variety of films. There are of course a lot of film references, but books and magazines, especially The New Yorker make an appearance. What I found must interesting was after reading and thinking about what I had read, was that I had a whole new appreciation for the films I have seen.

The book is set up like a larger sized issue of the magazine Little White Lies, a film magazine that I have enjoyed for years. The colors the set up, the illustrations, really are quite similar. And I enjoyed that as Little White Lies is a great magazine, and Adam Woodward really knows how to convey film onto the page. Not just a book about Anderson, this is mini-course on film history and what to look for. Even if one is not a fan of Anderson, there is a lot to be gained from this book. Fans will quite enjoy it, the references, the little things that Woodward points out that might be missed, but upon reading suddenly open up scenes a lot more. Woodward goes into color, the sets, and especially the music. Why these songs work, and why songs did not. Woodward has done an incredible job researching for this book, and I can't imagine how many times he had to watch these movies.

A wonderful gift not only for the Wes Anderson fan, but a movie fan. Woodward is a very good writer, and his discussion about film makes one want to put down the book and start watching things. As I said a bit like a film school in book form. I look forward to more books by Woodward, and of course more films by Anderson.

I absolutely love Wes Anderson's films, he is such a unique talent! I found this book so interesting and informative, it really gives a great insight into the many aspects of life that contribute to and inspire the ideas behind Anderson's films. I think the cover is a bit lackluster but the book itself is really great and stays true to the amazing filmmaker that is Wes Anderson

This book is incredibly well researched. If you know only one thing about Wes Anderson, you know he is unique. Adam Woodward has captured so many interesting details about the people, movies, and life experiences that shaped Anderson into the filmmaker he is today. This is a great book for cinephiles and those interested in how movies are made. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson's work, this will be right up your alley!





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review scheduled to post on blog and socials on 10/1/2024. Links will be added then.

Except for the underwhelming cover, the book is actually pretty awesome considering the pictures, the information and the facts provided in this book.

The guy is already a legend and this book is defining the making of the legend all over again!

A fun informative and entertaining read!

Thank you, Frances Lincoln, for the advance reading copy.

This is a book that delves into the right amount of detail about Wes Anderson’s filmmaking, Everything is presented in an engaging and lovely manner.

I will make sure to order this to our library and purchase one for myself, and as gifts to my Anderson fan friends.