The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) a (right on time!) review

…well, right on time plus a couple of weeks…

Way, waaaay back in 1990 I went to the theaters to see Reversal of Fortune.  The movie, starring Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, examined the real life attempts by lawyer Alan Dershowitz and his students to overturn the murder conviction of Klaus van Bulou, who had been convicted of attempting to murder his wife Sunny, a very wealthy New York socialite.

The film was great and Jeremy Irons delivered a creepy turn as van Bulou.  Further, it featured a terrific courtroom drama, something I normally find very intriguing.  And yet, immediately after seeing the film I knew I would probably never see it again and therefore not buy it when it reached the home video market.

In those younger, more naive times I lived in, I found these divergent feelings very odd.  How could I, on the one hand, enjoy a film as much as this one yet, on the other hand, know that as good as it was, there was little chance I would ever revisit it?

Which brings us to The Grand Budapest Hotel.  Directed and co-written by cult favorite Wes Anderson, the film is a whimsical comedy/mystery/action film regarding M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes, absolutely fantastic in the lead comedic role), an outwardly elegant and well spoken (but inwardly somewhat sleazy and foul mouthed) concierge at the aforementioned Hotel and Zero Moustafa, a lobby boy he takes under his wing.  The movie takes place at the outset of World War II, but deliberately blurs reality of these times to make the movie more of a live action cartoon, with at times very dreamy set pieces and characters.

In many ways the film resembles a live action version of the Tintin graphic novels of Herge (not the film version by Steven Spielberg, which while entertaining enough, never grasped the “spirit” of the works nor Herge’s love of culture).

I laughed long and hard at many of the jokes presented, particularly the running gag of M. Gustave’s oh-so-proper diction, which at the turn of a hat becomes foul mouthed cursing.  The romance between Zero Moustafa and Agatha (Saoirse Ronan) was also well handled and bittersweet, as well as the story, involving the possible murder of a wealthy socialite (shades of Reversal of Fortune!) and the coming war.

The movie also features a wealth of cameo appearances by familiar actors, from Harvey Keitel to Bill Murray to Tilda Swinton, etc. etc.  That, unfortunately, winds up being one of the film’s weaker links as these cameos, amusing as they were, often didn’t pay off quite as well as the filmmakers probably hoped.  While it was interesting to spot the various actors here and there, they are often no more than window dressing and some are given very little to do (Bill Murray’s few scenes, in particular, felt pointless).

Despite this, the film is a worthy watch, a more than solid effort that entertained me during its run.  Now, I have enjoyed some of Wes Anderson’s films, but not all of them.  I think he is a unique creator, a man whose works clearly stand out from others.  The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of his better overall efforts, in my opinion, yet I would caution those who are not fans of Mr. Anderson’s particular style to tread lightly.  For those who are fans, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a no-brainer, another elegant, well thought out piece of whimsy.

Yet as good as the film is, I can help but return to my opening comments.  The Grand Budapest Hotel, to me is very much like Reversal of Fortune in the sense that as much as I enjoyed it, I doubt I’ll revisit the film anytime soon (if at all).  Make of that what you will.

Still, and also like Reversal of Fortune, I heartily recommend giving the film a look.  Though it ultimately may not be my cup of tea to revisit, it most certainly was worth at least one visit.