Germany/UK 99m, Colour
Director: Wes Anderson; Cast: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Edward Norton, Mathieu Amalric, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe
The Grand Budapest Hotel is the story of how a poor young boy immigrant became the owner of the once prestigious Grand Budapest Hotel. Set on a mountainside in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka, the hotel serves as a glorious backdrop to a story told by the hotel’s owner in 1968 about how, beginning in 1932, he became the lobby boy under the tutelage of the then beloved concierge, a man who was accused of murdering one of their wealthy guests. A symmetrically stylish film, The Grand Budapest Hotel is filled with quirky characters, dastardly deeds and rich dialogue that begs of repeated viewings (Klaus Ming April 2014).
Good review Klaus. Such a fun, delightful movie that I feel like only Anderson could deliver with, and not feel all that pretentious about.
I always get the feeling that everyone in a Wes Anderson movie is having a lot of fun. In this case, i think Willem Dafoe probably enjoyed his role the most.
I enjoyed this, but somewhat less than I had hoped for. I think the problem was that I was so enthralled and obsessed by Moonrise Kingdom that it was a bit of a let down by comparison (maybe anything would have been, after that). I liked the pace, though, and Fiennes was great. I wrote about it here: http://u-town.com/collins/?p=4775
I’ve liked everything he’s done. As far as GBH, I think it’s pretty lighthearted, and one of the most comic films he’s made (along with The Life Aquatic).