Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Film Review -- The Grand Budapest Hotel

Written and directed by Wes Anderson, the film features a brilliant cast in Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Saiorse Ronan, and Tony Revolori. In the 1930s, in the fictional Eastern European nation of Zubrowka, sits the majestic Grand Budapest Hotel, one of the finest in the world, and a model for opulence and luxury. Its devoted concierge is M. Gustave (Fiennes), who takes a young refugee lobby boy, Zero Moustafa (Revolori), under his wing. Together, they must set out on a wild adventure to prove M. Gustave's innocence when he is accused of the murder of an elderly hotel client, Madame D. (Swinton) by her evil son, Dmitri (Brody).  I was skeptical at first to see this film because Wes Anderson's filmmaking vision is definitely not my cup of tea. Two of his recent features, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Moonrise Kingdom, I freely admit that I did not enjoy. However, in Budapest, his "crazy" style absolutely works, and works brilliantly well. The overflowing energy of the actors, the colorful sets, the melodramatic score, and the sharp dialogue create a whimsical and entertaining narrative. This is one of those films where its essence is difficult to put into words, since so much of what works is a combination of visual and auditory elements that create a filmgoing experience. In addition to being almost fairy tale-like in its storytelling, the film also succeeds in being a poignant and melancholy critic of the destruction that the rise of Fascism inflicted upon ordinary people in that time. The viewers only get to experience the once opulent Grand Budapest Hotel through the lens of an aging Zero (Abraham), now owner of the empty and decaying palace -- its business destroyed by the second World War and communism -- telling this fantastical murder mystery story to a young Author (Law). This is truly a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable film, and a triumph of imaginative filmmaking. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A+

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