1008. The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014
Directed by Wes Anderson

Happy October everyone!  Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, as it combines the best things in the world: horror movies and candy.  In honor of that sacred day, I am going to do several scary movie posts throughout the month.

Anyway, first we have to take care of this film.  I invited my sister to watch this with me, but she bailed halfway through.  Knowing that this was on the List, I bravely soldiered on alone.  The film is a story within a story within a story...I am not sure why this method was chosen.  Maybe it allowed for more celebrity cameos.  I am not sure if Wes Anderson just wanted to give his film more star power or if a lot of actors just wanted to be in a Wes Anderson movie, but this film is packed with cameos.  It was actually kind of distracting.  But I digress.

Monsieur Gustave is the Grand Budapest Hotel's concierge.  He attends to the sexual needs of many of the older guests of the hotel, but only if they are blonde (some things never change).  Gustave befriends a young lobby boy and takes him on as his protege.  One of Gustave's lovers die under mysterious circumstances, leaving him in possession of a priceless painting.  Naturally, Gustave is suspected of the murder.

I have enjoyed the previous Wes Anderson films on the List and was looking forward to this one.  I always loved how literary his movies were.  However, I think Anderson has become a bit too infatuated with his own style (I thought the same thing about The Hateful Eight if you recall).  This movie was just too much.  Too many moments were odd merely for the sake of being odd.  I felt like he was sacrificing a cohesive story for his own strange style.

At least the film looked beautiful and everyone in the (slightly overcrowded) cast was extremely talented.  Still, I should have kept track of how many times I rolled my eyes.  I might have set a record.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

First Wes Anderson film to win an Oscar.

Tilda Swinton spent ten hours in the make up chair everyday

963. The Royal Tenenbaums

The Royal Tenenbaums
2001
Directed by Wes Anderson

If there was one way to guarantee that I will like a movie, it's to include Nico in the soundtrack.  I'm convinced Nico could elevate any crappy film.  Maybe I will play Chelsea Girl over whatever shitty movie the List comes up with next.

I suppose the easiest way of describing this plot is by giving a short rundown on each of the colorful members of the Tenenbaum family.  Royal is the patriarch whose insensitivity and basic awfulness is the main reason that the family is so dysfunctional.  Royal's estranged wife, Etheline, is a successful archaeologist who falls for her accountant.  Royal and Etheline have three children, all of whom were children prodigies who are stalling in their adult life.  The oldest son, Chas is a genius in international finance who is obsessed with his two sons' safety after his wife died in plane crash.  Margot is a wunderkind playwright whose status as "the adopted one" was constantly thrown in her face by her father during her childhood.  Now she is in a seemingly loveless marriage.  Finally, Richie is a tennis prodigy who suffered a nervous breakdown that ended his career.  The family is reunited when Royal gets sick.

I've changed my mind.  That was quite lengthy and there probably was a better way of describing the plot.  Anyway, the film is based on a non existent book that is narrated by Alec Baldwin.  I think this is brilliant; the characters are so rich and detailed that it truly feels as though they have a literary source. Rushmore hinted that Wilson and Anderson possessed comedic brilliance and this film certainly delivered.

So a beautiful film with a kick ass soundtrack.  Definitely deserving of its place on the List.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

The original hawk that was used to play Mordecai was kidnapped and held for ransom during shooting.

Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, and Danny Glover all turned roles in Ocean's Eleven to be in this film.

928. Rushmore

Rushmore
1998
Directed by Wes Anderson

I wasn't entirely sure that I would take to this one.  I thought the characters might be a bit too "wacky" for my taste.  Thankfully, I found the movie to be charming.  Wes Anderson seems adept at toeing the line between quirky and obnoxious.

Max Fischer is an eccentric prep school student who couldn't care less about his studies.  He is, however, obsessed with his extracurricular activities.  He is friends with Herman Blume, a successful businessman with an unhappy family life.  Max falls for the new first grade teacher, Rosemary, and quickly develops an unhealthy obsession (add it to the list).  Herman also falls for Rosemary, causing a feud.  Come on, guys.  Bros before hos.

I think the film blended comedy and drama well, but others might think it went too dark.  It certainly wasn't hilarious, but it treated serious matters with levity, which in itself was refreshing.  Bill Murray gave a brilliant, understated performance.  I was equally impressed with Jason Schwartzman; I might have to check out more of his work.

So a peculiar film but one that is worth watching.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Film debut of Alexis Bledel.

Elijah Wood auditioned for the role of Max.