Set in the fictional Eastern European country of Zubrowka, and straddling three different timezone (signified by the changing of aspect ratios), The Grand Budapest Hotel is a deliriously quirky and deeply funny farce which scores another point in the win column for director Wes Anderson and his distinctive visual and narrative.
The titular hotel is the crown jewell of the war ravaged nation, headed by the legendary concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), whose expectational service extends to courting many of older female guests. When Gustave is framed for the murder of his many lovers he goes on the run, depending on lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) for help. Once the movie introduces us to its ambitious narrative within a narrative within a narrative, The Grand Budapest Hotel begins as it means to go on, moving forward with a boundless energy that never loses steam. From the visuals to the screenplay, Anderson is firing on all cylinders here, delivering one of his more accomplished works. It's an utterly charming movie, from Anderson's Lo-Fi sensibilities to the fact that, even though it is set in Eastern Europe, all of the actors keep their normal accents. It is shot through with the directors signature style, some of the framing being absolutely beautiful, delivery breathtaking shots with every scene. This is certainly Anderson's funniest movies to date, much of the humour down to a superbly written script, but he does mix in some melancholy and heavy drama that adds a quite a bite to proceedings. The movie juggles its many story threads effortlessly, bringing them all together in a deeply satisfying way.
Much of the movies success rest squarely on the shoulders of Fiennes, who is the heart and soul of the film. It is hard to imagine any one else in the role of Gustave, he owns it that much. The character is an absolutely wonderful creation, a conniving, well meaning dandy, as well as the owner of an impressive array of cologne, and you can see how much the actor relishes it with every scene. His comic timing is second to none, switching from quiet dignity to foul mouthed hilarity at the tip of a hat, but every so often he lets slip something a tad more heartfelt, making the character that more likable. Complimenting Fiennes is an impressive supporting cast, with the likes of Edward Norton, Willem DeFoe, Adrian Brody, Jude Law, and, of course since this is a Wes Anderson movie, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman, making the most of their limited roles.
A extremely charming and funny piece of cinema, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a typical slice of Wes Anderson brilliance. Highly recommended!!
The titular hotel is the crown jewell of the war ravaged nation, headed by the legendary concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), whose expectational service extends to courting many of older female guests. When Gustave is framed for the murder of his many lovers he goes on the run, depending on lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) for help. Once the movie introduces us to its ambitious narrative within a narrative within a narrative, The Grand Budapest Hotel begins as it means to go on, moving forward with a boundless energy that never loses steam. From the visuals to the screenplay, Anderson is firing on all cylinders here, delivering one of his more accomplished works. It's an utterly charming movie, from Anderson's Lo-Fi sensibilities to the fact that, even though it is set in Eastern Europe, all of the actors keep their normal accents. It is shot through with the directors signature style, some of the framing being absolutely beautiful, delivery breathtaking shots with every scene. This is certainly Anderson's funniest movies to date, much of the humour down to a superbly written script, but he does mix in some melancholy and heavy drama that adds a quite a bite to proceedings. The movie juggles its many story threads effortlessly, bringing them all together in a deeply satisfying way.
Much of the movies success rest squarely on the shoulders of Fiennes, who is the heart and soul of the film. It is hard to imagine any one else in the role of Gustave, he owns it that much. The character is an absolutely wonderful creation, a conniving, well meaning dandy, as well as the owner of an impressive array of cologne, and you can see how much the actor relishes it with every scene. His comic timing is second to none, switching from quiet dignity to foul mouthed hilarity at the tip of a hat, but every so often he lets slip something a tad more heartfelt, making the character that more likable. Complimenting Fiennes is an impressive supporting cast, with the likes of Edward Norton, Willem DeFoe, Adrian Brody, Jude Law, and, of course since this is a Wes Anderson movie, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman, making the most of their limited roles.
A extremely charming and funny piece of cinema, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a typical slice of Wes Anderson brilliance. Highly recommended!!
