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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)'s comments - page 3
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The_Comatorium
There is only one word I can think of to describe Wes Anderson’s latest film. That word is “delightful”.There has not, to this day, been a Wes Anderson film I did not love. Every single one of them is special in my eyes. Had I known absolutely nothing about this film, I still would have had no doubt in my mind that it was directed by Wes Anderson. He has a style all his own and that has been copied by almost nobody. There’s something about that kind of niche that I just find enchanting. Enchanting could also describe this film, which stars more of my favorite people then I think any other film I’ve seen. I mean, look at that list of people who contribute to this film. It’s an indie film fan’s dream come true. I’m going to spoil something a little bit. Some of those names have such little screen time that I’d be surprised if they spent a full day on set, but the whole picture is empty without them. Everything about the film enchanted me. There are rarely times where I have a smile on my face throughout an entire film, and Wes Anderson has done this to me multiple times, this just being the latest.
In one of his more complex stories he has brought to the screen, the film takes place, during many time periods, in and around The Grand Budapest Hotel, located in a fictitious Polish town during times of war. During these time periods we are introduced to two characters whose friendship is the reason this story is being told. M. Gustave, played as perfect as anybody could play any character by Ralph Fiennes, and his protege lobby boy Zero, played at an old age by F. Murray Abraham and at a young one by a breakout actor named Tony Revolori, are the centerpieces of an intricate yet vastly profound story. M. Gustave has just inherited a small fortune from one of his hotel guests whom he has developed a relationship with and the immediate family of said guest is trying to get rid of him for their own greedy ways. Like always, I don’t want to give away much of the plot but that is pretty much the gist of the film and you’re going to have to find out the rest for yourself.
When “Moonrise Kingdom” came out last year, I thought to myself that one one Wes Anderson was going to cease being able to bring us fantastic cinema. I guess this is just some innate idea that at some point people start to decline but Anderson is proving that wrong by giving us some of his best work as his career continues to move forward. There is n doubt in my mind that he’s going to be making incredible movies until he dies of old age. This latest one is something special, but certainly has some of his traditional trademark qualities. One of the things I love about his work is how symmetrical every one of his shots are. There is a fluid way he moves the camera into the perfect position where we have an actor centered in front of the screen with nearly identical lines surrounding him. Perhaps it’s my OCD leaking through my eyes. I just can’t gt enough of it. He also utilizes the shots from a distance that he has been using since Fantastic Mr. Fox. We see some characters off scurrying along the base of the shot while behind them is a huge scene of mountains or buildings, obviously made of cardboard and paper, but nevertheless whimsical and charming. The wit in this film is also rampant. There were countless times I literally burst out laughing, mostly from either Ralph Fiennes or Adrian Brody saying something insane. The film, which is rated R, uses the perfect time and place to insert either bad language, or in some cases hilarious and crude nudity. It was a riot, and while I didn’t see the movie with a lot of people, the humor was felt all around. Everybody was laughing. It’s a hilarious film.
With such a talented cast, you can’t let everybody have a huge amount of screen time. There just isn’t enough time in the world. Everybody was pretty perfect though. Tilda Swinton was literally unrecognizable as an 84 year old woman. Willem Dafoe was a cold, evil man that almost seemed to turn into a vampire at one point in the film. Jeff Goldblum handled most of the legal dialogue with a diction that only the voice of Jeff Goldblum could make funny. Edward Norton gave the best laughs with the least amount said. His first appearance in the film had my dying and he hadn’t even said a word yet. Harvey Keitel as a bald, muscle flexing prisoner with prison tattoos and Adrien Brody with his short bursts of hilarious anger could not have been better used. I just loved every single aspect of this film. Every single character has their own quirks and humor no matter how long they were on screen.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things. Ralph Fiennes stoles every single scene he was in and he was in a damn lot of them. That’s how good he was. When “Moonrise Kingdom” came out, I knew that it was going to be in my top five of the year regardless of what else got released because of how unique and funny it was and I honestly enjoyed this a lot more. I’ll try to get out to see another viewing, maybe with some friends, but this is most certainly going to be one of my favorites of the year and is already inching it’s way up the ladder of favorite Wes Anderson films the more I think about it. I seriously can not wait to see it again and look forward to everything Wes Anderson will give me in the future.
5/5
www.thoughtsfromthebooth.com
fonz
Wes Anderson has a unique style that is influenced by everything he has experienced in his lifetime. He is perhaps the best example of the auteur theory. He creates films that one would only need to view a few frames of to know instantaneously who is the creator.I would like to imagine that all of his films take place in a single universe. For this reason, he makes films that are largely adored and attractive to his audience. The Anderson-verse is one in which we would all love to live in. One full of wit and airy whimsy. People aren't overtly cruel to each other, preferring to engage in pranks and mischief in which everyone has a laugh over.
To live in The Grand Budapest is to be momentarily frozen in time. A period that only dwells in the memory and imagination of those who know of its secluded existence. For me I would like to imagine that the hotel is the mirror image of Kubrick's Overlook Hotel. Winding maze-like corridors, distinctive carpet patterns, old-world charm. Whereas the Overlook was largely vacant during our stay there, we get to see the Grand near its prime and after time mostly forgets all about it. Both hotels are reflections of the world around them as well as of each other.
The influence of the caretaker or concierge is especially obvious. With Gustave H, the Grand flourishes. A grand facade that holds up all too well to cover the cracks in the foundations. But ultimately, nothing lasts forever and change happens whether we want it to or not. The spectacle of control we try to put forth will eventually dissipate when the reality we keep at bay checks-in for a night. And once it checks-out, nothing is ever the same. The grand chandelier is a bit dimmer, the champagne a touch less bubbly, the piano not as emotive.
However, I enjoyed my stay at the Grand Budapest and I shall return soon.
CSSCHNEIDER
Loved it!Lumen
The first Wes Anderson I managed to sit out...My friends recommended me this one, and I bought a ticket to see it not knowing it was an Anderson movie. As soon as I see the color pallet I recognized it. I'm screwed. I know the guy is cool, original and has a completely unique style. I mean, visually he is as instantly recognizable as an Ozu or more recently Burton or Wright. And I like that, but I must have some allergy or something because I think his movies are just uninteresting to me. It is never really smart, or fun, or sad, or insightful, or beautiful. Fries without salt, but well, it was never really an honest try.
ThomasFTB
@devilsadvocadoOf course it isn't meaningless. If you saw no meaning, you weren't looking properly.
It's a film about looking back, about nostalgia for an earlier time, and is both supportive and critical of it. The film revels in the fun and excitement of yesteryear, miring itself in the archaic, right down to its aspect ratio. It revels in the retro, delighting in the kind of plots over stolen artwork, cartoonish villainy and madcap chases that seem lost to modern film. Even the central macguffin of the movie is a painting, a preserved snapshot of something that no longer exists.
But it's also highly critical of looking back. The elder Zero keeps the Grand Budapest open, why? Out of nostalgia, of reverence for something long gone. But is he happy? Is he fulfilled? Of course not.
So YES, the film has meaning. It has something to say, a deeper motive to it. Several, if you want to dig deeper. If you choose not to, that's your loss.
Maxahlia
I simply adored this one. Marvelous, hilarious and just delightful.luxemburgerC
I've written a review of this film. You might want to read my review. If you don't, please ignore this. If you do, here's the link: http://luxemburgerc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/welcome-to-the-grand-budapest-hotel.htmldevilsadvocado
Fun. Cute. Cute fun.Wes continues to do what his hypermania and OCD compel him to do at exponentially higher standards: write fantastic dialogue and create breathtaking and inordinate visual displays. Unfortunately, Anderson has once again (as was also the case with The Darjeeling Limited and Moonrise Kingdom) devoted so much time and effort to being stylish there just isn't very much room left for story.
I fell in love with Wes Anderson's work a long time ago not because his movies looked cool but because I felt something from them. It seems each of his films following The Royal Tenenbaums has been more style over substance than the previous one, with the exception of The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I'm not sure if he no longer cares as much as he used to about storytelling or if if some kind of mental illness is causing him to hyper focus on the externals to the point that there just isn't any time/room left to develop plot and characters.
Still, for pure entertainment purposes, The Grand Budapest is worth seeing. Clever, creative, beautiful, but meaningless.
kaaaaaro
Gunness says: "Not nearly as funny as Moonrise Kingdom". I was laughing a lot as were a few other people at the cinema. But I fear the humour doesn't cater to as wide an audience which is why most people did not laugh 20% as much as I did. So Gunness is right and wrong with his assessment, but i go with Musanna.moontopmountain
A very fun little world to be in! I had a riot watching this adventure, a very traditional minded caper film from Wes Anderson. I dare say the visuals threatened to overpower the film at times (and trust me, i'm crazy about pretty looking films) as i found myself looking for the line of symmetry or noticing similar compositions in each painstakingly designed shot at expense of story, but there are are many great jokes in this film and the modern scenes with F Murray Abraham are very poignant. The underlying darkness present in most Wes Anderson is especially prominent in TGBH, the Gustave H. character conceals a lonely sadness underneath his charm and cordiality - watch for the shot of him sitting silently in his peeling, tiny staff bedroom - and the mention of war is repeated consistently throughout the story but ignored by the characters until - well, you'll see for yourself. The nostalgia for the past is wistful and close to the tone found in Evelyn Waugh's books, along with the satirical take on upper class decorum. However above all else this is a very enjoyable film and one to rewatch and rediscover many times, like a candy coloured ribbon-wrapped box filled with tiny treasures.Musanna
Arguably Wes Anderson's greatest film yet.fragmaster
This might possibly be my new favourite movie of all time. Admittedly, it's not as laugh-out-loud funny as Moonrise Kingdom (though there's still a myriad of hilarious moments), but Anderson seems to have perfected his unique style in TGBH. Perfect pacing, perfect cast, perfect comedic timing, incredible scenery (even the painted backdrops), immense attention to detail, a touch of surrealism. A story that manages to be epic, hilarious and at times touching. It pretty much has everything I could want from a film.Gunness
Vintage Wes Anderson, and probably his visually most elaborate piece yet. Not nearly as funny as Moonrise Kingdom or Rushmore, but the clever plot somewhat makes up for this.The cast is stellar, but quite a few of them are of the blink-and-you'll-miss-them variety, which is a shame. Ralph Fiennes is terrific in the leading role, though.
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