#983. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, Wes Anderson)

-


Have I Seen It Before?: Yes


Thoughts Before Viewing: This is one I really need to re-watch.  I wasn't as big into Wes Anderson back in 2014 as I am now.  I have a feeling this will be a fantastic viewing.





Running Time: 99 minutes
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Written By: Wes Anderson
Primary Cast: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amairic


Summary: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.


My Thoughts: Well this was a great time.   It's a perfect representation of Wes Anderson's one of a kind style.  As with any of his films, the art direction is absolutely mesmerizing.  Makes me feel like I'm at an antique store. 


Although I still consider The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) to be Wes Anderson's greatest achievement (seriously, why isn't that on the list!?), I can definitely understand why this is considered to be his most popular.  I feel like it's the most confident film he has made so far.  All of the unique Wes Anderson tropes are cranked up to 11 here.  Quirky sense of humor, an insanely large cast, Charles Dicken's-esque approach, etc.  It's all here.  While I can't say I was as emotionally engaged by this one as his other films,  the amount of fun I had more than made up for it.  Kind of has a murder mystery vibe to it. 


Does It Belong In The Book?: Yes.  The best representation of Wes Anderson's style.  I'm a little let down by the fact there are only two Wes Anderson films on the list.  The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012) deserve a spot too!


My Rating: 8/10

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#479. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick)

-
Image
Have I Seen It Before?: Yes Running Time: 149 minutes Directed By: Stanley Kubrick Written By: Stanley Kubrick Primary Cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester Summary: Humanity finds a mysterious, obviously artificial object buried beneath the Lunar surface and, with the intelligent computer HAL 9000, sets off on a quest. My Thoughts: Oh my, where do I even begin with my favorite film of all time?  It's so epic and massive that it's overwhelming to even write about it.  It's a film that will mean something slightly different to just about everyone who watches it.  Even my interpretation of it changes with time.  I feel that a film that has the power to grow up with a person is the sign of an all time masterwork.  This is just an insane achievement on every level.  How this was made in 1968 is unfathomable.  The filmmaking technique still seems futuristic by todays standards.  There simply isn't another film like it.  This is a film t
Read more

The List (In Order Of Viewing)

-
1. The Ten Commandments (1956, Cecil B. DeMille) 2. She's Gotta Have It (1986, Spike Lee) 3. The Young Girls Of Rochefort (1967, Jacques Demy) 4. The Killing Fields (1984, Roland Joffe) 5. Singin' In The Rain (1952, Gene Kelly) 6. The Bad And The Beautiful (1952, Vincente Minnelli) 7. The Horse Thief (1986, Zhuanzhuang Tian) 8. The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg (1964, Jacques Demy) 9. The Big Chill (1983, Lawrence Kasdan) 10. Don't Look Now (1973, Nicolas Roeg) 11. Apocalypse Now (1979, Francis Ford Coppola) 12. Chimes At Midnight (1965, Orson Welles) 13. Paris, Texas (1984, Wim Winders) 14. Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994, Mike Newell) 15. The House Is Black (1963, Forugh Farrokhzad) 16. WR: Mysteries Of The Organism (1971, Dusan Makavejev) 17. The Birth Of A Nation (1915, D.W. Griffith) 18. Aguirre: The Wrath Of God (1972, Werner Herzog) 19. Zabriskie Point (1970, Michelangelo Antonioni) 20. The Asphalt Jungle (1950, John Huston) 21. 8 1/2 (1963, Federico F
Read more

Pink Moon (1972)

-
Image
A timeless masterpiece of minimalism.  Underneath the depressing air is an ocean of comfort from the perspective of a defeated optimist.  An enlightening record on how I perceive things.  A true one of a kind. 1. Pink Moon- ***** A perfect song.  It never fails to melt me.  The only one to feature anything more than Nick's guitar and voice with a piano solo in the middle. 2. Place To Be- ***** One of those songs that never fails to hit hard.  A perfect song about loss of innocence. 3. Road- ***** Just a perfect song.  Love the guitar riff to pieces.  Sounds defeated, yet comforting. 4. Which Will- ***** Such a dreamy song in Nick's unique way. 5. Horn- ****1/2 An excellent piece of minimalism.  Works so well in the context of the album. 6. Things Behind The Sun- ***** This one always hits me in the gut.  It's so heartbreaking and raw. 7. Know- ****1/2 Childish fun in the midst of defeat within the album.  Love it. 8. Parasite- ***** Powerful and
Read more