We here at UGO couldn't possibly be more excited about Moonrise Kingdom -- writer/director Wes Anderson's upcoming sure-to-be-bone-dry comedy featuring another incredible cast of quirky-yet-incredibly talented actors, most of which being newcomers to his projects (like Ed Norton, Frances McDormand and Bruce Willis) and others who have become Anderson staples (like Jason Schwartzman and, of course, Bill Murray.) And while we can't wait to see what bizarre character traits and deadpan deliveries the writer/director has in store with his latest film, we figure what better time than now to recall some of his funniest, strangest and just plain most awesome personas from Anderson movies past? So pour yourself a Campari on the rocks and read on as we run down Wes Anderson's 11 best and most bizarre characters.
Wes Anderson's Best And Bizarre Characters
To celebrate the trailer to Moonrise Kingdom, we run down the 11 best (and most bizarre) Wes Anderson characters, from Ash Fox to Steve Zissou and every Tenenbaum in between!
 |
By Casey Seijas January 16, 2012 |
| 11 | Alistar Hennessey |
Pretty much any role Jeff Goldblum touches is magic and truly becomes his, but his take on Steve Zissou's (Bill Murray) nemesis Alistar Hennessey in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou tops 'em all. Sure, he's condescending, arrogant, a bit creepy and has no qualms about rapping a three-legged dog on the nose with a rolled up magazine, but at the same time he's a villain that you can't help but like -- or at least laugh at. And do we really need to be the ones to ask this: Hollywood, can you please make more films where Goldblum and Murray interact? We'd go see them do a two person film adaptation of the phone book!
MEMORABLE QUOTE: Hennessey: "I just became a Knight in Portugal. The Presidente gave me a special ball." Zissou: "Be nice to Ali, he's my nemesis."
| 10 | Magnus |
For a seemingly exclusive private academy, Rushmore certainly had its share of bullies, and although Ronnie and Donnie Blume were the most humorously vocal, Scottish import Magnus definitely deserved the most fear. As if the severe case of cauliflower ear wasn't enough to warn the weaker set at Rushmore to steer clear, the improvised blow darts and Chinese Stars solidified his place atop the roughneck food chain. However, showing that every bully has a secret wish to appear on Broadway, the key to Magnus' heart was a part in one of Max Fischer's (Jason Schwartzman) stage productions, or as he eloquently put it, "I always wanted to be in one of your f**kin' plays."
MEMORABLE QUOTE: Magnus: "Why don't you just piss off, Fischer, ya dotty wee skidmark?" Max Fischer: "Is that latin?"
| 9 | Dignan |
We all have a friend like Dignan (Owen Wilson) -- or at the very least wish we did. While on the surface, his fascination with big heists and elaborate schemes in which an "elaborate scheme" wasn't even necessary might come off as a bit insane, but dudes like him make life an adventure and worth living. And even if his daring-do isn't up your alley, at least he had a funny comeback for most conversations (whether he realized he was being funny or not). Dignan was clearly the bright spot in Bottle Rocket, the most oft-forgotten (and underrated) of Wes Anderson's movies.
MEMORABLE QUOTE: "Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers -- can't you see how incredible this is going to be? -- hang gliding! Come on!"
| 8 | Ash Fox and Kristofferson Silverfox |
George Clooney's turn as Mr. Fox might get all the shine (and top billing) in Wes Anderson's adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox, but it was the rivalry between cousins Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and Kristofferson (Eric Chase Anderson) that garnered the most laughs, partly because of Ash's dry sarcasm mixed with Kristofferson's sincerity and zen like ways of dealing with Ash, and partly because it's always funny watching a pair of foxes play superhero with tube socks on their heads.
MEMORABLE QUOTE: Kristofferson: "Do you mind if I slide my bed roll slightly out from under the train set? It's hard to sleep in a corkscrew position." Ash: "There's a lot of attitude going on around here."
| 7 | Eleanor Zissou |
It's difficult to peg one Anjelica Huston role from Wes Anderson films to champion on a list like this, but her role as Steve Zissou's ex-wife Eleanor from The Life Aquatic combined her stunning looks with a headstrong personality that made her simply irresistible. The only woman who could tame the ever-arrogant Alistar Hennessey and, well, the ever-arrogant Zissou, her blunt manner and soft heart hiding behind an unmoving exterior were clearly the proverbial glue holding Team Zissou together through all of their misadventures (well, that, and her money, of course).
MEMORABLE QUOTE: Eleanor: "Your cat's dead...a rattlesnake bit it in the throat." Zissou: "...dammit, Eleanor, why do you have to say it like that? You couldn't try and break it a little bit nicer?"
