Wes Anderson fussy compositional style finds its perfect correlation in the stop-motion animation of Isle of Dogs.
These abandoned canine living on a trash heap island in a vague Japanese city exist between hope and melancholy. Each matted hair blowing in the breeze, open wound casually glimpsed, limp meticulously choreographed is a reflection of past abuse. The frame is littered with baleful eye creatures staring at the horizon, sitting and patiently awaiting their masters return. The sorrowful wisdom brought by their abandonment can be heard in the dialogue (spoken in English by a talented American voice cast), a disaffected whine two hopes, a pat and a cheerful compliment removed from love.
The plot about a boy who crash lands on the island searching for his beloved Spots, feeds these lovelorn mutts only scraps. They help Atari find his beloved boy because that is what good dogs do. The feeling left is the nausea an adoptee feels knowing that he can only save one pet from a high kill shelter.
After a while I found it too much to watch. I just wanted to go home, pet my dog and tell her forever that she is a good girl.
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