140 Character Movie Review – #140RVW
Don’t have to be fan of Wes Anderson’s style to enjoy this near perfect film (handy, since I’m not). Hard to imagine how it could be better.
Spoiler-free Movie Review of The Grand Budapest Hotel:
Oscar predictions are always tough. You can do your absolute best, make your finest film, reach the top of your abilities, and still lose out to other equally worthy films. I’m no psychic, but I rather imagine that to be the fate of The Grand Budapest Hotel tonight.
It really is hard to imagine any possible way for this movie to be any better than it is. The Grand Budapest Hotel is unquestionably the finest film in Wes Anderson’s already impressive resume and represents a skilled artist at the top of their craft. The filmmaker has achieved personal perfection. And it still will certainly miss out on awards to more “serious” fare. C’est la vie…
Let me state that I’m not overly fond of Wes Anderson’s films. I find his intentionally quirky and detailed style to be affected, trite and precious and it usually rubs me the wrong way. But I’ve never sweated the technique. He is without any doubt a truly gifted, unique and incredibly skilled filmmaker with a singularity of vision that’s worthy of praise. I find that I admire his films without actually enjoying them.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is an exception; I could scarcely have had more fun watching a picture. Every moment is meticulously assembled, as is customary with Anderson, but they are all working together to propel the story. The quirky beats aren’t excess (mostly); there is a tight narrative and every scene hums along with energy towards that tale.
The imagery is first rate, as Anderson and DP Robert Yeoman switch between three separate aspect ratios to tell the tale through different timelines. The signature visual style of the director is familiar, while still very effective for the period story. The film shies away from digital effects, employing mostly miniatures to great effect.
The acting is marvelous, as you might expect with such a loaded cast, but Ralph Fiennes really owns this picture. It quite simply lives and breathes because of him.
Very highly recommended.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Fail
The Representation Test Score: C (4 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
[schema type=”movie” name=”The Grand Budapest Hotel” description=”THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft of a priceless painting; a raging battle for an enormous family fortune; and a desperate chase on motorcycles, trains, sleds, and skis – all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.” director=”Wes Anderson” actor_1=”Ralph Fiennes” ]
| Main Cast | Ralph Fiennes M. Gustave, F. Murray Abraham Mr. Moustafa, Mathieu Amalric Serge X., Adrien Brody Dmitri |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Fri 28 Mar 2014 UTC |
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Genres | Adventure, Comedy, Drama |
| Plot | The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 100 |
| Tagline | |
| Writers | Stefan Zweig (inspired by the writings of), Wes Anderson (screenplay) |
| Year | 2014 |