Break out your red caps and speedos, this week Time on Screen is tackling The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Wes Anderson’s follow up to The Royal Tenenbaums was a box office flop and a definite miss with critics when it was released in 2004, but over the years the film’s reputation has improved, and it is now considered one of Anderson’s most emotionally complex and ambitious projects. Featuring great performances from Bill Murray and a stellar supporting cast that includes Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, and others, The Life Aquatic is particularly rewarding on a rewatch, as there are endless sight gags, easter eggs, and new ways to view the arc of the Zissou character.
Today’s episode features Zach Kazan and his guest Kyle Snarr, making his return to the Time on Screen podcast to talk about not only his favorite Wes Anderson movie, but his favorite movie, period. Not only is The Life Aquatic a fantastic example of Anderson’s visual style and the themes he’d go on to explore in similar depth with later films, but it has some great watch spotting, including a fun and affordable diver that Kyle is sporting on this very recording.