Watches
October 14, 2023
The best (and longest) of the four new Wes Anderson shorts that are based on the work of Roald Dahl. These are cute little stories, executed in a very peculiar (and similar way), pretty much in line with Anderson's other films. They do feel like a bit like filler though, which is why they can't really compete with his feature-length films.
Henry Sugar is a passionate gambler. When he hears of a man who can see without using his eyes, he decides to follow in his footsteps. He masters the skill and applies it to his gambling addiction. While it makes him a ton of money, the result isn't quite what he had expected when he started his quest for glory.
The thing with short films is that they present a unique kind of freedom. There's more potential for experimentation, for doing things differently, without burning through the budget of a full-length feature. In the end, Henry Sugar (and the other three shorts) are just regular Wes Anderson films, which is why they feel a little underwhelming. Good fun, but he should've done more with them.