GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

A film by writer/director Wes Anderson

Review by Allison O’Donoghue

Golden Globes
Winner: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

BAFTAS
Winners:

Original Screenplay: Wes Anderson
Original Music: Alexandre Desplat
Production Design: Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock
Costume Design: Milena Canonero
Hair & Make Up: Frances Hannon

In one sense, I’m not surprised The Grand Budapest Hotel won the Golden Globe category for Best Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy, or a swag of BAFTA awards, because its so vivid, vibrant and rollickingly hilarious. But I am surprised that it has received several OSCAR nominations as the Academy is not known to like quirky films. And Writer/Director Wes Anderson is known for his quirky, off kilter films, and is an acquired taste. He is not considered mainstream Hollywood. However, the megawatt star power of his character actors will attract mainstream moviegoers just to see their favourite actors in anything they do. And they’ll be in for a treat.

It starts with Tom Wilkinson, “The Author” who has written a book on The Grand Budapest Hotel and narrates his experiences. Jude Law plays him as a young man, who arrives at the hotel in 1968 for a brief stay. It’s empty with hardly a soul in sight, glory days seemingly over. Set in a fictional European alpine state of the Republic of Zubrowka, where the region has been beset by poverty and dilapidation following the Great War, Jude Law wonders out loud why the hotel is all but deserted and is informed by the male receptionist of its slow demise. He points out the mysterious owner Zero Mustafa (F. Murray Abraham), who could live in one of the luxurious suites, but chooses to live in the servants’ quarters. Why? The Author befriends Zero, and over a long dinner in the cavernous majestic dinning room, Zero takes him on a wild and fantastical ride, so unreal it’s probably true.

In fact, the film was inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig, who may or may not have lived at a hotel similar to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Truth is always stranger than fiction.

As Zero relates his story the Grand Budapest Hotel comes to life in vivid colour, flashing back to 1932 as the hotel bustles with activity with the comings and goings of regulars and new comers. A young Zero (Tony Revolori) is the newly appointed Lobby Boy. A serious job taken very seriously by the concierge Monsieur Gustave H played brilliantly by Ralph Fiennes. This role is right up his comedic alley. I am surprised he didn’t win Best Actor in a Comedy, because he utterly deserves it. He’s in practically every scene and carries the film along at a cracking pace, with tongue-in-cheek delivery and copious swearing, which sounds less offensive spoken with a British accent – disarmingly charming.

The drama all starts when the wealthy Madame Celine Villeneuve Desgoffe und Taxis “Madame D” - an hilariously made up Tilda Swinton - dies under suspicious circumstances. You see she prefers to live at the hotel rather than her palatial home so as to enjoy the “exceptional service” Gustave offers middle-aged women who flock to the hotel. Reluctant to go home to face her marauding relatives and greedy staff, Madame D is encouraged by Gustave to return home - he’s exhausted and has other wealthy patrons to “service” but within weeks she’s dead.  

The spotlight falls on Gustave when he and Zero make an appearance at the reading of Madame D’s will. Thus far the owner of The Grand Budapest Hotel is unknown, however all messages are relayed to Gustave via lawyer Deputy Kovacs played brilliantly by Jeff Goldblum, who also happens to be the executor of Madame D’s will. That might be a clue. During the reading he reveals she has bequeathed a priceless painting, Boy with Apple to Gustave. This naturally upsets her greedy family members, especially her son Dmitri Desgoffe und Taxis played mischievously by Adrien Brody. So enraged is he, he sets out to destroy Gustave and retrieve the priceless painting.

Gustave knows he’s in deep trouble, and flees with Zero and the painting, but just in case he doesn’t make it, he makes a pact with Zero, if anything happens to him, Zero is his heir apparent who will inherit all his worldly goods.  Meanwhile, Dmitri hires a ruthless assassin J.G. Jopling (Willem Dafoe) to track down and kill Gustave. Luckily Gustave is arrested enroute to the hotel and imprisoned. Zero makes it back to the hotel where his fiancée Saoirse Ronan – who is all grown up from her Atonement debut but still immediately recognisable – runs the hotel patisserie and beguiles patrons with delicious delights while keeping an eye on the painting now “safely” locked up in the hotel safe.

If you take out the DVD of this film in the Special Features section there is a demonstration on how to make these yummy delights with instructions and the recipe. And catch Bill Murray doing a mini travel log of the fictional Republic of Zubrowka, set in an ancient picturesque German town, which Murray seems to be genuinely impressed by.

See what I mean about megawatt star power. Every eccentric, quirky and uniquely individual actor makes an appearance in The Grand Budapest Hotel. Thus far the film has set a rocking pace and doesn't let up til the end. No lapses. No slowing down to catch our breath. It lurches from one catastrophe to another. 

Of course, Gustave connives to make his escape with the help of fellow prisoners – watch out for a cameo from Harvey Keitel who plays Ludwig - anyway, aided by Agatha who conceals escape tools within her delicious profiteroles’ Gustave and cohorts make their escape. Greeted by the ever devoted Zero, he discovers in his absence his beloved hotel has been taken over by the Communist party and transformed into HQ forcing all the devoted workers to either flee or work for them. Agatha flees but urged on by Zero she goes back in to retrieve the painting but is hunted down by Dmitri. Zero to her fumbling rescue. Gustave can’t go back to the hotel while Dmitri lay in wait, so he makes a few hilarious calls and is eventually helped by Monsieur Ivan (Bill Murray) who smuggles him out.

I’m not going to tell you anymore, you’ll just have to take it out on DVD or go to the flicks but I doubt it's still playing now, most movies only get a 2 week run. I watched it twice to get the full impact, and absorb the sumptuousness of the vibrant colours, predominately purple, pink, and orange and reds as well as the magnificent set design. Watch out for more star studded cameos from Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman as well as Edward Norton who plays Inspector Henckels. Like I said - a cast of thousands, an enticing draw card nonetheless it does not automatically gurarrentee success. However, the hilarious story and plot twists, coupled with a well developed script and impeccable acting makes this film a standout. Plus everyone looks like they're having a ball.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a British-German co-production mainly shot in Germany in the dead of winter and is a visual feast, and a fantastically funny, which has been rightly nominated for 11 BAFTA awards as well as 4 Golden Globes nominations. It will be interesting to see if gets nominated for any Academy Awards. It has already won a swag of awards so I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t pick up a few Oscars. I’d love Ralph Fiennes to win Best Actor in a Comedy. He absolutely nails every scene. He so embodies the character of Gustave that no one could have played the part as well as him. No one. 

If you’re familiar with Wes Anderson’s work then you’ll know he is renown for his quirky, off beat slightly wobbly flicks that leave you either shaking your head in bafflement or totally getting the message. And there is always a message, hidden or otherwise, it’s in there somewhere. The Grand Budapest Hotel is by far his most complete and succinct work in that it has a clearly defined beginning, middle and end.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a creeper. It's been slowly creeping to the top of the pile since its release in February 2014, which is a lifetime in terms of box office, most films only about last 2 weeks on the big screen. Thanks to word of mouth and positive reviews from prominent film buffs everywhere it has pushed it to the top of the DVD rentals list and kept firmly in the minds eye of award voters and aficionados.

Can’t wait to see how it goes at the Oscars. See this film, its so much fun. It’s a MUST.