The Grand Budapest Hotel

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Mathieu Amalric, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson, Tony Revolori, Bob Balaban, Fisher Stevens
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A charismatic concierge (Ralph Fiennes) and his lobby boy (Tony Revolori) embark on a series of misadventures after stealing a priceless painting that they believe belongs to them.

Review:

Tim: To be honest (as I always am with you, dear readers), I'm not the biggest Wes Anderson fan. I certainly respect his filmmaking style and I appreciate all the perfectly centered shots and his zany antics, but his films are a mix between good and average. I don't believe he has created a truly great film.... until now. The Grand Budapest Hotel is Anderson's crown jewel, thus far, the greatest triumph of his career. This movie has all the hallmarks of an Anderson film- the snappy dialogue, the absurd and humorous situations, the great cinematography. However, it's his most complete and enjoyable film. The Grand Budapest Hotel is unlike anything else that came out in 2014- it's a perfectly unique little gem of a movie that I absolutely loved watching. For the first time ever, I can easily say that a Wes Anderson film makes my Top 10 of the year. This is a great, great movie.

Anderson has always assembled impressive casts for his films, but this may be his best one ever. It all starts with Ralph Fiennes, who gives one of the best performances in recent memory. I cannot adequately put into words how much I loved Fiennes' performance. He is mesmerizing and hilarious in a zany, crazy, over-the-top performance that only he could deliver. It's one of the most remarkable performances I have ever seen. I feel like if I watched him in this role for a few minutes every day, my life would be greatly improved. His comedic timing, his mannerisms, everything he says or does it just wonderful. In a film with many strengths, none surpasses the sheer audacity and brilliance of Fiennes' performance. I saw this film before the Academy Award nominations were announced, and I am rooting very hard for him to be recognized for his work.

I would remiss without also singling out Tony Revolori. There is absolutely no reason for his character to have worked as well as it did. Revolori was matched up against Fiennes giving perhaps the best performance of his career, and shockingly-- shockingly-- he more than holds his own. I adored the interactions between these two. They had so many hilarious, absurd, unforgettable moments together. Revolori was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed him in this role.

The supporting cast is massive, but I do want to mention them. I always like seeing F. Murray Abraham and appreciated his small performance as a narrator. Adrien Brody was perfectly cast in a role that leveraged his strengths. Willem Dafoe had a thankless role, but played the brutal thug very well. Jeff Goldblum always make a movie better and I really liked his character and performance here. Harvey Keitel was okay. Jude Law had a small role, but he was good. I just wish he had a more substantial part. Bill Murray was there for his presence, but was wasted. Edward Norton was funny in a small role, but he does get a few outstanding moments to shine. I'm still not convinced of Saoirse Ronan and I thought she was one of the weaker parts of the cast. Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson added very little. Tilda Swinton was fine, but an afterthought. I like Tom Wilkinson, but I wish his time wasn't wasted in a mostly pointless role. It's always fun seeing Bob Balaban and Fisher Stevens. Whew- I know I went through that quickly. Much of the cast are relegated to small or thankless roles, but they are all integral parts in this crazy tapestry Anderson is weaving. This movie is really about Fiennes and Revolori, but the gigantic cast all play a part.

The cinematography for the film is outstanding. It's certainly a Wes Anderson movie, but he's perfected his approach here- the colors, the shots- this movie is like a massive candy-coated treat for your eyeballs. I just loved how the movie looked, perfectly symmetrical shots brilliantly staged in Anderson's trademark quirky, unmistakeable style. This movie just looked incredible.

I was also a big fan of the script. Anderson is a good writer, but I don't think he has ever been more funny or witty here. I laughed and laughed at various points throughout the movie, and a number of scenes just begged for an instant rewind to watch again. I won't go into detail as it would require several paragraphs to include all my favorite lines. Let's just say the script is hilarious and unforgettable.

I've been critical of Anderson in the past, as I haven't always loved his style. With The Grand Budapest Hotel, he's achieved a new level of quirky splendor. I was not prepared for how much I'd enjoy this movie. Not only is the film one of the best movies of 2014, it's the best movie Anderson has ever made.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums