The Grand Budapest Hotel [M]

A young writer gets to talking to the owner of the Grand Budapest Hotel: a grand old monument that is sadly going to seed. The owner, a Mr. Zero Moustafa, regales the writer with the story of how he came to own the hotel. It’s a story about a legendary concierge, Gustave H., who ran the hotel between the wars and had many relationships with the elderly women guests. When one such woman dies there is tension between Gustave and the family as to the will, which escalates into a mystery that slaps the concierge with a murder charge. It falls to Gustave, his close friends behind the desk, and the lobby boy Zero to solve the case.  

The newest film from writer/director Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel is an absolute delight of a movie that stands just as strong as all Anderson’s other triumphs. The man is such a clever writer and has an uncanny knack for casting and translating things onto screen. Inspired by the writings of Stefan Zewig, this is a fantastic story within a story within a memory, filled to the brim with beautiful and witty dialogue, loveable characters, and a knockout cast. It’s absolutely delightful! 

A young writer gets to talking to the owner of the Grand Budapest Hotel: a grand old monument that is sadly going to seed. The owner, a Mr. Zero Moustafa, regales the writer with the story of how he came to own the hotel. It’s a story about a legendary concierge, Gustave H., who ran the hotel between the wars and had many relationships with the elderly women guests. When one such woman dies there is tension between Gustave and the family as to the will, which escalates into a mystery that slaps the concierge with a murder charge. It falls to Gustave, his close friends behind the desk, and the lobby boy Zero to solve the case. 

Everything about this movie is captivating! Anderson’s wonderful penchant for symmetrical mid shots, out of place long shots, and riveting tracking shots, all play in beautiful harmony with each other to culminate in a film that is both very funny and sweet, but harbours a few dark undertones and some graphic elements of the macabre. I see his movies as imps: cute and polite but with a fondness for mischief and a bit of a nasty streak. 

The performances are all excellent with a special shout going out to Ralph Fiennes who stars as Gustave. Ralph is really loveable in this movie: the epitome of courtesy, kindness, and taste, which makes me eat my words when I, until tonight, usually comment that he plays a dick regardless of being the hero or villain. I apologise profusely to Mr. Fiennes for my previous statement, consider all negative comments withdrawn. Having said all this, I’m not saying that I don’t love the man. I do have a fondness for Ralph. 

Starring F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Tom Wilkinson, The Grand Budapest Hotel is an absolute gem of a movie filled with romance, friendship, oddities, murder, mystery, memorable characters, drama, a touch of gore, and comedy. 

I must also give a shout out to the incredibly beautiful sets and the costumes! Absolutely mesmerising, and the snow covered European background brings a further level of charm and magic to the picture. This movie is an absolute delight and I would highly recommend that you take yourself to the cinema and indulge!