Wes Anderson uses his latest film,This Ain't Cops XXX (2010) Asteroid City, to explore good, ol' fashioned questions about life, death, and the very nature of existence — on our planet and beyond. And in one perfectly picked song, the director pays homage to one hell of a cult classic alien movie.
In the second act of Anderson's desert-bound adventure, the eponymous city is abuzz from an extraterrestrial encounter, with the U.S. president deploying "Scrimmage Plan X" and enforcing a full quarantine on the town while investigations and interrogations are under way.
SEE ALSO: 'Asteroid City' review: Wes Anderson's latest is for the fansIt's in this scene that Anderson drops a reference to Tim Burton's wildly strange and star-studded 1996 sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks!Remember Mars Attacks!? Think Pierce Brosnan and Sarah Jessica Parker smooching while functioning as decapitated alien experiments. Think Martin Short being brutally whacked by a big-haired alien seductress. Think Pam Grier as an overprotective mom slash bus driver, Danny DeVito as an obnoxious tourist, and Tom Jones piloting a plane after his performance of "It's Not Unusual" is interrupted by aliens.
"We come in peace." Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock In Burton's film, the invading Martians seem unstoppable; they're blasting away with their ray guns, creating general chaos Gremlins-style — heck, they even assassinate the president (played by Jack Nicholson, natch). The key to their demise is discovered by accident when a Las Vegas teen named Richie (Lukas Haas, in an incredible Alien Sex Fiend T-shirt) goes to rescue his grandmother Florence (Sylvia Sidney, aka Juno from Beetlejuice) from her retirement home, which is alsounder Martian attack.
SEE ALSO: 'Asteroid City' band The Ranch Hands features Seu Jorge and Jarvis CockerIt just so happens that the song Florence is listening to, Slim Whitman's 1952 "Indian Love Call," is a particularly yodel-heavy tune that causes the aliens' brains to explode inside their helmets. Richie thinks fast, playing the song on his car speakers as he drives through Vegas to a radio station, where the song is played around the world and ultimately saves humanity.
Florence and Richie saved the world, thanks to Slim Whitman. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images In Asteroid City, Anderson uses "Indian Love Call" as a song cue after the interrogation sequence, while primary teacher June Douglas (Maya Hawke) is attempting to reassure her inquisitive young class after the alien encounter. "America remains at peace!" she insists, offering an interesting echo of the Mars Attacks!aliens, whose human language was limited to "We come in peace!"
Though Asteroid Citydoes move into a slightly more militaristic-slash-touristy frenzy around the alien's fleeting visit, it never goes anywhere near the chaos of Mars Attacks!In fact, "Indian Love Call" appears right before a scene with cowboy Montana (Rupert Friend) joining the legendary Seu Jorge and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker for a surefire hootenanny.
"I reckon that alien didn't mean no harm," says Montana. "No, he ain't American. No, he ain't a creature of God's Earth, but he's a creature of somewhere."
It's light years away from the brain-exploding pandemonium of Mars Attacks!but it's still a spectacular detail for fans of B-movie, sci-fi weirdness.
Asteroid City opens in select theaters June 16, expanding nationwide on June 23.
Topics Film
This is the fattest of the extremely fat bears
J.K. Rowling made a major correction to this 'Daily Mail' tweet
Bandcamp pledges 100 percent of its share of Friday's profits to ACLU
Viewers still using TiVo will soon see ads before their recordings
The Best Gaming Concept Art of 2016
Bandcamp pledges 100 percent of its share of Friday's profits to ACLU
Not just Big Tech: FBI gets personal data from banks and universities, too
J.K. Rowling made a major correction to this 'Daily Mail' tweet
Waymo data shows humans are terrible drivers compared to AI
Not just Big Tech: FBI gets personal data from banks and universities, too
NYT Connections hints and answers for May 1: Tips to solve 'Connections' #690.
Why the renovated Apple Fifth Avenue store isn't just another store
The Sega Genesis Mini is a reminder that good things are possible
Apple Arcade: How to decide where to start, based on your tastes
How to Reboot and Reset Android Devices
A group of people ready to ‘Storm Area 51' were met by armed guards at the gate
A group of people ready to ‘Storm Area 51' were met by armed guards at the gate
Plant recommendation: A snake plant that looks like a bunch of fingers
Norrie vs. Diallo 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
Facebook was also listening to Portal commands and will start again soon
'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' literally broke the internetThe one heartbreaking tweet that sums up this election for immigrants'Game of Thrones': Who will live and die, according to AIThe entire US election was basically one giant Photoshop battleNo America, this is not an episode of 'Black Mirror'The moment Trump fans learned the Donald had wonClinton calls and concedes as Trump takes the stageTesla's Model 3 shenanigans are getting ridiculousJoe Biden gave President Obama a hug and now the internet wants one, tooJoe Biden gave President Obama a hug and now the internet wants one, tooThe one heartbreaking tweet that sums up this election for immigrantsFake Australian Government Twitter is having an #ElectionNight field dayThe entire US election was basically one giant Photoshop battleCalexit: Californians want to secede now that Trump won'Avengers: Endgame' directors predict the ending of 'Game of Thrones'The black hole photo you've seen everywhere is thanks to this MIT grad's algorithmKate McKinnon to star as Elizabeth Holmes in limited series for HuluCalexit: Californians want to secede now that Trump wonThe one heartbreaking tweet that sums up this election for immigrantsThe most depressing photos from Clinton's election night party Why is everyone using their phones in movie theaters? The 2023 Emmy Awards has set a 2024 date for its postponed ceremony The Morning News Roundup for May 14, 2014 The Mystery of the “Schiava Turca” The Morning News Roundup for May 12, 2014 Whistle While You Work The Morning News Roundup for May 7, 2014 John Jeremiah Sullivan Wins James Beard Foundation Award The Other Yellow Pages Exploring Alexander Pope’s Grottoes The Morning News Roundup for May 21, 2014 Cops are playing music during filmed encounters to game YouTube's copyright striking How to watch Wes Anderson's 'Asteroid City': release date, streaming deals, and more The Trouble With Being a “Plus One” 26 best Dionne Warwick tweets of 2021 (so far) A Conversation About Mark Cohen’s “Dark Knees” August Strindberg’s Landscapes Black TikTok creators are 'striking' to protest uncredited viral dance trends What happens to the mind and body when you don't have sex? Google and Universal Music might license artists' voices for AI
2.431s , 10135.296875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【This Ain't Cops XXX (2010)】,Warmth Information Network