The Grand Budapest Hotel Review

This is probably the most unique movie I've seen in quite some time. I suppose that's to be expected, seeing as though it's directed by Wes Anderson, a filmmaker who holds fast to his zany vision perhaps more than any other person in Hollywood today. Some people find his endlessly quirky style off-putting. I admit that it sometimes becomes a little too much for me in some of his films. However, he seems to have it down pat in The Grand Budapest Hotel, an imaginative and idiosyncratic effort from Anderson that's also accessible to mainstream audiences. This just might be his best work, or at least the most enjoyable work for non-Wes Anderson fans that he's done.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is about a concierge at - you guessed it - the Grand Budapest Hotel who begins training a young lobby boy to be the best lobby boy he can be. The two get embroiled in a murder mystery plot and the ensuing events give us our movie. Quite a good movie at that.

The film has an ensemble cast that rivals Pulp Fiction in terms of talent. Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Tom Wilkinson are just a few of the many great actors that make appearances. Fiennes' performance is probably the most impressive. He plays the aforementioned concierge, M. Gustave. He's funny, charming, and ultra-polite, and probably worthy of a Best Actor nomination in a less-competitive year. His sidekick is Tony Revolori in his first career role, who portrays the lobby boy that sticks by Gustave's side through everything that happens. He's not necessarily an eye-opening revelation of an actor, but I thought he did a good job here.

Wes Anderson does a wonderful job of drawing the audience into his outlandish world. I felt engrossed in the story and the characters. If they weren't believable by real-world standards, they were certainly believable within the confines of what Anderson has created. Right from the opening, I felt like I was along for a ride - a very entertaining ride.

This movie has so many different things going for it. Perhaps the most prominent merit is its humor. The Grand Budapest Hotel is, at its heart, a comedy, and is very effective as such. I found myself chuckling almost nonstop at all the mayhem. I can't say there were many moments of sheer hilarity - it's a quietly funny movie. The humor sometimes sneaks up on you. I was also pleasantly surprised by some of the pitch-black humor in the film. I wasn't expecting it from an otherwise light-hearted movie, but it didn't feel forced.

The Grand Budapest Hotel was also a lot more suspenseful than I was anticipating. It was marketed as a quirky comedy, but when the plot is reaching its climax, things get pretty intense. There isn't much action, just a brief gunfight towards the end. But, the suspense comes from the story and the characters. I viewed this as a testament to just how well-crafted these characters are, and how much you grow to care for them, even though they are so whimsical and eccentric.

I was pleased by the film's emotional payoff. It doesn't revel in sentimentality or tired cliches. It is simply an emotionally satisfying story that I found quite touching by the end. That's further proof of just how impressively and endearingly Anderson has taken the time to make these characters and this story.

If you aren't a fan of Anderson's work up to this point, this might be the exception for you. I don't count myself as a huge fan of his, but I did quite enjoy this one. Also, if you've never watched a Wes Anderson film, this is a perfect one to start with. It has his signature off-the-wall tone, but, as I said, is much more accessible than some of his other works. It wasn't quite as resonant as I was hoping, and it seems a little lightweight for a Best Picture nomination. Nonetheless, I had a great time watching it, and will probably see it a couple more times in the future.

A-