"The Grand Budapest Hotel" Movie Review

My review of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" starring   Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Posted on March 14, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures 

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)

Writer/Director Wes Anderson is back with the rollicking film “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”  M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) is a concierge extraordinaire, running with aplomb the Grand Budapest Hotel. It’s a fancy hotel that is high up in the mountains of an Eastern European country that caters to a wealthy, high profile clientele who revel in the hotel’s old world charm in 1932.

M. Gustave is very popular with the guests of his hotel, especially older woman whom he showers with attention, going as far as to sleep with them. As M. Gustave says “I go to bed with all my friends.”  He rules over the hotel like it is his kingdom and all the employees are his serfs.  Every detail from the lint on a lobby boys hat to the menu are under the scrutiny and control of the master concierge.

M. Gustave life changes with two events. First, he hires Zero (Tony Revolori) to be a “Lobby Boy” for the hotel. Zero quickly becomes M. Gustave’s protégé, seemingly always right by the side of the quirky concierge. Secondly, a mainstay hotel quest and lover of M. Gustave, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), leaves the hotel and soon after turns up dead.  Zero and M. Gustave travel to Madame D’s estate and quickly discover that she has bequeathed the concierge a priceless painting called “Boy with Apple.” Madame D’s wealthy family becomes upset over the loss of the painting and plot revenge. Soon after returning to the hotel, Capt. Albert Henckels (Edward Norton) shows up to arrest M. Gustave for the murder of Madame D..  It seems that M. Gustave has been set up by her family in order to recover the painting. Informed that he is being charged with murder, Gustave immediately flees, narrowly escaping, with the help of the trusty Zero, from the clutches of  the Captain and his men.

And so, off goes “The Grand Budapest Hotel,”  an adventure/murder mystery movie which can only be described as a Wes Anderson film inspired by the Marx Brothers. It’s probably the fastest moving Anderson film he has ever made, with multiple chases involving everything from skis to motorcycles, and a plot that moves with breakneck speed. There are a number of deaths in the film that occur in an almost cartoony way, where I almost expected the coyote and the roadrunner to show up at some point. The dialogue is fast and witty as absurd scene by absurd scene flies by.

It’s a Wes Anderson film and, therefore, there are a number of notable cast members, some that show up for only seconds on the screen, but deliver laughs none the less. Notables include Adrien Brody playing the slighted son, Dmitri, who plots revenge with his family. Willem Dafoe, who plays the menacing Jopling, a man who wears rings on both hands that effectively means he wears brass knuckles.  Jeff Goldbulm, a cat loving lawyer who is desperately trying to enforce Madame D.’s last will. And Saoirse Ronan, who plays a pastry maker of impressively baked creations. She becomes Zero’s love interest and eventually, his partner in crime.  All make this an impressive cast that look as though they are having the time of their lives making this film.

The core of the film is the relationship between M. Gustave and Zero.  Fiennes and Revolori  interact with each other that you instantly feel the rapport that their two characters have from almost the start.  Fiennes is picture perfect in the role of the stuck up M. Gustave, who though pompous, has a heart of gold.  Revolori, as the shy, subservient Zero, does a marvelous job of keeping up with the Fiennes.  You instantly like Zero and are willing to root for his character to succeed in his adventures with M. Gustave.

The film is beautifully shot full of vibrant colors that make the Grand Budapest a hotel filled with interesting scenery and costumes. This is a film that will delight with its fast paced delivery and fine performances.  After seeing this film you will wish that you too could stay at the Grand Budapest Hotel.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

The film is playing in Atlanta exclusively at the UA Tara Cinemas 4

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Website

"The Invisible Woman" Movie Review

My review of "The Invisible Woman" starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas.

"The Invisible Woman"

Posted on Jan. 24, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

“The Invisible Woman” (2014)

The film starts out in 1883, where Nelly (Felicity Jones) is teaching at a grade school on the coast.  She is mounting a production of Charles  Dickens play.  This brings her back to the memories of when she first met Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes), appearing in a production of one of his plays with her mother (Kristen Scott Thomas) and her sister (Perdita Weeks).  Instantly there is a spark between Dickens, who is in his forties and the teenager Nelly. Dickens becomes instantly enchanted with her beauty and charm.

Charles Dickens, during his time, was the most famous person in the world. His books were best sellers, and his book tours sold out every time making him one of the most famous people on the planet.  He is married to a woman who rarely speaks, the rather dowdy Catherine (Joanna Scanlan).  Their life together seems one of convenience where they don’t even share a bedroom, though at some point,  they did have ten children together.  Dickens seems to be drawn to Nelly because of her youth but also because she can keep up with him, both physically and verbally. She adores his work and the attention that he gives her.  And so, the incredible slow dance of courting in Victorian times begins with Dickens as the pursuer and Nelly the object of his affection but he must proceed with caution so that his marriage stays intact.

The film moves back and forth, mostly spent in the past as the romance between Dickens and Nelly blossoms.  The scenes set in 1883 are mostly ones of Nelly, walking about on the beach in what look to be mourning clothing.  Even though she has married a young man and has a child, it seems as if she will never get over her affair with Dickens.

Felicity Jones gives a fine performance and the young and sometime naïve Nelly.  Jones is quite beautiful and carries herself with the pride and the sometimes naivety of her character.  She really stands out, even in a crowd of beautiful actresses preparing for a play.

The problem with the film is Fiennes.  Charles Dickens was the rock star of his time, mesmerizing audiences with his readings of his books and appearing larger than life at any event he attended.  Fiennes never shows the charisma that Dickens must have had.  There is also no chemistry between Fiennes and Jones as their love scenes seem to played out more as two actors playing parts than to irresistible lovers that were meant for each other.

Besides starring in the film, Fiennes also directed the film, and he uses slow pushes into the settings, letting the scenery dominate the actors.  The set design and also the costumes do a great job of setting the tone of the film, with Cinematographer Tom Hardy creating scenes that seem to be always filled with a little smoke, even when the sun is shining.

It’s an interesting film but doesn’t quite have the passion that it should have for the romance between two strong individuals.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“The Invisible Woman” is at UA Tara Cinemas 4 and Lefont Sandy Springs