The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * * * 1/2
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#Movies(Best releases)ofTheWeek/25thJuly2014/Johnson Thomas
#GrandBudapestHotel(English) Rating: * * * ½ Richly composed fantasy of a fictional cinematic universe, enriched by an intricate tale of a glorious grand hotel and it’s mainstays, in Republic of Zubrowka, dating back to 1920’s. Wes Anderson’s stray outing, is a quasi dark adventure thriller that is fast paced, and idiosyncratically humorous , fronted by accomplished actors in impeccable form. A must-see for lovers of cinema! #RalphFiennes #WesAnderson #EdwardNorton #AdrienBrody #TildaSwinton #WillemDafoe #SoairseRonan #ParagDesai #20thcenturyFoxStar #UniversalPR
English Film review
Johnson Thomas
A marvelously rich bouquet
Film: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Cast: Ralph Fiennes , Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Jude Law, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Tony Revolori, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson
Director: Wes Anderson
Rating: * * * ½
Synopsis: A hotel concierge is bequeathed a valuable painting after the death of one of his lovers – much to the chagrin of her family.
Review:
This is a Wes Anderson film after all and there’s much more to the story than the simplistic premise. The creative juices of the celebrated director/writer are at it’s apex. This may be a different genre from the usual Wes Anderson product, yet there’s a whole lot of class and skill involved in the telling of it to make it a much more satisfying and involving watch than the regular dark-comedy-thrillers we’ve been subjected to at regular intervals. This film is a bounty of sorts in that respect. It’s been exquisitely framed, beautifully composed, compellingly toned and effectively paced. Comedy, drama, music, writing ,structure and action are all superbly ingrained. In fact the action chops, are breathtaking and there are quite a few to make you salivate with the thrills experienced thereof.
The film’s fictitious universe dates back to the 1920’s in the Republic of Zubrowka which houses the significantly impressive and historic Grand Budapest hotel. It’s a lavish establishment with an old world charm that attracts older women who come there solely to be entertained by Monsieur Gustave H’s(Ralph Fiennes) companionship. Of course as part of his many duties he also provides them sexual comfort. So the women are much obliged. Gustave is a character. He is reputedly the smoothest concierge in all of Europe - charming, very propah in his graces, respectful and even loving to some of his guests.
come solely for Monsieur Gustave H.’s (Ralph Fiennes) companionship. Gustave is the smoothest hotel concierge in all of Europe, and it’s easy to see why: he’s charming, he treats his clientele with the jumps around a few different moments in time, but it’s mainly set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka during the 1920s. Zubrowka is the home of The Grand Budapest Hotel, a lavish establishment visited by old ladies who utmost respect, and, at least in some cases, he genuinely loves his guests.
His favorite, Madame D(Tilda Swinton), a woman in her 80s who depends on Gustave to take away her cares, is murdered soon after her visit to the hotel. Anf gustave is the No. 1 suspect. Madame D’s will is read and Gustave is mentioned as the beneficiary of a priceless painting titled ‘Boy with Apple.’ Her family including a son Dmitri(Adrien Brody) and three daughters are not amused. So Gustave is chased by Dmitri’s ruthless sidekick Jopling (Willem Dafoe), and is also wanted for murder by fascists led by Edward Norton. Gustave is forced to prove his innocence with the help of his lobby boy, Zero (Tony Revolori) who later on goes on to become the sole heir to the grand Budapest hotel. Therein lies another story told in flashback and the two intermingle as Gustave and his faithful Zero plan a grand escape with the help of an underground network of hotel operatives and finally manage to stay on the right side of the law.
The film opens with a young woman in what is now the former Republic of Zubrowka, visiting a grave labelled Author, its headstone festooned with hotel room keys. Thereafter we are treated to a rewind, author (Tom Wilkinson) in his study in 1985, telling of his visit to the Grand Budapest in 1968.
So the story begins with the author as a younger man,played by Jude Law, as he meets the hotel’s mysterious owner, Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham). The author is curious to know why Moustafa, phenomenally rich man, still stays in the servants quarter of the hotel he owns. And over a meal, the history unfolds. Budapest Hotel.
It’s 1932 when Gustave comes across the new recruit lobby boy Zero. And from thereon it’s a pummeling adventure.
Not all characters in the film are defined beyond the rudimentary. Agatha(Saorise Ronan), though crucial to the storytelling, has the most piecemeal back story. The romance between Zero and Agatha is also not seen as much as heard of. But structurally and visually there is pleantiful happening. This crime caper is both heart-stoppingly beautiful and just as thrilling. There’s idiosyncratic humor to be had and the performances are all of a high order. There’s an underlying sadness in the overall tone, much like in Andersons’s earlier work ‘Moonrise kingdom,’ which makes the experience that much more affecting. This is a film for those who love cinema in it’s truest form!
