The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014.
Directed by Wes Anderson.
Starring Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, and Tony Revolori.
SYNOPSIS:
Wes Anderson returns with the gloriously bizarre tale of The Grand Budapest Hotel which follows lobby boy Zero (Revolori) and the enigmatic concierge Gustave H (Fiennes). Review Wes Anderson’s films are never straight forward and he follows up the simpler Moonrise Kingdom with The Grand Budapest Hotel. Grand is definitely the way to describe Anderson’s mystery thrill ride, which packs in a cameo from an Anderson favourite every few minutes and plenty of laughs throughout.
The plot is as typically bizarre as you would expect from someone who created The Life Aquatic and Rushmore. We begin with Tom Wilkinson’s unnamed author retelling the story of when he spent some time at The Grand Budapest Hotel. The narrative then shifts to a younger version of him played by Jude Law – a device that doesn’t entirely work and makes for a disjointed start to the film. It is however saved when Law meets the owner of The Grand Budapest played by F Murray Abraham – quite possibly with the best narration voice I’ve heard in some time. From there the film takes flight as Abraham tells of the glory days of The Grand Budapest. Although the plot is absurd at times with its many twists, hyperbolic characters and Anderson-esque features, it is engrossing to view.
Meeting Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H is where the film really gets going. A new addition to Anderson’s increasing collection of A-list stars; Fiennes is phenomenal throughout the film and seems to be enjoying himself with every joke and piece of physical mastery. Fiennes’ performance drives this film and he creates a character that you are utterly enthralled by, yet you never scratch beneath the surface.
The cast for The Grand Budapest Hotel is a who’s who of Hollywood. Anderson regulars Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman crop up in delightful roles. Schwartzman’s role may be nothing more than a cameo but he makes his mark and sets the tone of what’s to come on this delightful adventure. Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Ed Norton, Adrien Brody, Harvey Keitel to name but a few, make appearances that drive the bizarre story through. At times it does feel a bit like you’re waiting for the next big name to show up; but this can be seen in a positive light. Actors love working with Anderson and it’s clear from the amount of actors who are willing to undergo hours of makeup (Swinton), or just crop up in a non-essential role (Wilson) that it’s a joy to watch these actors get involved in the smallest of ways.
As with Moonrise Kingdom’s sprawling house of the Belafonte in The Life Aquatic, it’s impossible to discuss The Grand Budapest Hotel without talking about the set. Anderson’s attention to detail to the hotel and town is as delicate as the cakes that Agatha (Ronan) makes. We are treated to a maze of corridors, luxurious rooms, servant quarters and much more as Anderson explores everything the hotel has to offer. Anderson treats the hotel with as much love and attention as he does his well-crafted characters. From little details like the typically quirky mountain lift to the stark contrast of The Grand Budapest from its glory days in the 1930s to the ghastly décor of the 1970s. The hotel is as important a character as any of the others.
With The Grand Budapest Hotel, Anderson makes possibly his most accessible film yet in terms of traditional storytelling. It’s a delightful adventure story from solid core performances from Fiennes and newcomer Tony Revolori. It is by no means flawless, it does drag in a few places and the amount of cameos teeters on ludicrous at times. But that’s the enjoyment of a Wes Anderson film; you go into a bizarre world and simply let yourself embrace Anderson’s beautiful, bizarre creation.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Helen Murdoch
Originally published March 20, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
