This quirky comedy from director Wes Anderson was released worldwide on March 7, 2014...
and -- wait... a Best Picture nominee that was released in the spring!?
And with a year-high total of nine nominations... is such a thing even possible?
The $30 million dollar picture also did very well financially, taking home $175 million
in ticket sales - making it Anderson's most successful picture yet.
The 100-minute story follows the misadventures of a legendary concierge at a prestigious
hotel, alongside his trusted lobby boy.
The R-rated plot has dozens of twists, turns, and surprises, involving murder, conspiracy,
prison breaks, art theft, and surviving both world wars.
Ralph Fiennes leads the massive and hugely talented supporting cast which includes...
deep breath...
F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Bob Balaban, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum,
Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Léa Seydoux, Tilda
Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson and Tony Revolori.
They're all fantastic, but it's Fiennes who turns in the most surprising performance:
exhibiting comedic timing and playfulness we've never before.
Hard to believe this is the same guy who played a hard-ass Nazi in "Schindler's List" twenty
years ago.
Anderson's
direction is, as always, vibrant and unique - adopting different aspect ratios to delineate
three parallel narratives.
He also makes ample use of locked down wide shots that make quick 90-degree pans around
the decorative and colorful sets.
The quick-witted dialogue is peppered with vulgar language, and lots of deadpan punch
lines.
Making great use of the titular hotel's large ornate lobby, a scene where Fiennes suddenly
decides to flee from inquisitive police is followed by a brilliant beat before the pursuit
begins.
The entire script is littered with these fun little moments, with the picture bookended
by Wilkinson providing some introductory narration remarking, "The incidents that follow were
described to me exactly as I present them here, and in a wholly unexpected way."
The light and whimsical score from Alexandre Desplat is a perfect fit for the zany, somewhat
unbelievable events that unfold onscreen - even incorporating the rare balalaika instrument
during a tense ski slope sequence.
I often use the word "formulaic" as a criticism of modern cinema, but perhaps the highest
compliment I give this picture is how truly original and unformulaic everything feels.
Repeat viewings are almost required to catch all of the many intricacies and cross-references
in a story that flies by too fast to really soak it all in.
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" is a goofy time with layers of personality.
Here's what you had to say about it.
Awarding this the top score, you especially loved the writing and ensemble cast.
There was a certain intangible depth missing from this picture that's making me hold back,
so I'll give this a NINE out of ten.