The Grand Budapest Hotel:
In present day, a young girl holding a memoir visits the "Old Lutz Cemetery", where she finds the gravestone of "Author". Flashing back to 1985, we see the elderly Author giving an introduction to his memoir, which focuses on a trip he made to The Grand Budapest Hotel in 1968. He finds it mostly empty, except for a few employees and guests, and the owner: Monsieur Zero Moustafa. Over dinner, the Young Writer learns that Moustafa once served as a lobby boy during the 1930s, and he narrates the story of how he and his mentor and friend Monsieur Gustave, a concierge, went on an adventure through a fictional alpine state: the Republic of Zubrowka (where the hotel is located) to solve a murder mystery and avoid the authorities, as Gustave was falsely accused of the crime. Taking place during a fictitious version of WWII (complete with "ZZ" officers from a fictitious German-esque country), this film is incredible. I'm not the hugest fan of Wes Anderson, but when he does something good, I won't let my dislike of some of his other films hold me back from enjoying it immensely. Using some stop-motion techniques he picked up during the filming of Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson gives this film a unique visual flare. The cast is great. Cast against type, Ralph Fiennes is excellent as the awkward, eccentric, debonair, and eloquent Gustave, who is strange but also very likeable and funny. Tony Revolori is great as the quiet and adventurous young Zero, who is loyal and close to his employer. F. Murray Abraham serves as a great narrator, and although he doesn't look at all like an older Revolori, it's his performance that makes you believe he really could be an elderly Zero. Jude Law, although his role is small, is cool as the curious and passionate Young Writer. Tom Wilkinson makes a cameo as the older and more experience Author from 1985. Sairose Ronan appears as Zero's shy and helpful love interest Agatha. Some Anderson regulars who appears in minor and supporting roles are Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton (who is nearly unrecognizable), and Edward Norton. Dafoe plays a creepy and psychotic murderer and assassin named Jopling who was hired by the film's main antagonist. Speaking of which, Adrian Brody appears as the obnoxious, foul-mouthed, and weird villain Dimitri, who utterly despises Gustave. Jeff Goldblum plays Deputy Kovacs, a smart lawyer who is an acquaintance of Gustave. Lea Seydoux, Mathieu Almaric, Harvey Keitel, and Bob Balaban appear in funny and odd supporting roles. The cast are all amazing, and do their best even in minor roles or cameos. Funny enough, I was surprised by how violent and vulgar the movie could be, but it didn't bother me at all, in fact, it made it kind of cool, as it was something fresh from Anderson, who's previous few films have all been PG to PG-13 fare. There are actually quite a lot of twists, turns, close calls and false alarms in this movie to kept anyone on the edge of their seat. But it's also quirky and hilarious, as well as touching and heart-warming at times. The dialogue is well-written and odd, and there's some vibrant visuals and beautiful sets and costumes. The camerawork is original and the editing is impressive. The soundtrack is brilliant and intriguing, and there's a cool little animated part during the end credits I'd recommend staying for. The Grand Budapest Hotel showcases Anderson's talent for making fantastic and highly entertaining and fun movies, and shows he's still got it. It's got an interesting and kind of complicated plot, and an exquisite screenplay, which is inspired by the literary works of Stefan Zweig. The performances, writing, and visuals are astounding, and even people who don't typically care for Anderson may find themselves reconsidering their positions, I know I am. 4.5/5 stars.
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