The Grand Budapest Hotel

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Released: 2014
Staring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldbloom, Edward Norton, Willem Defoe, Adrien Brody, Harvey Kietel, Jude Law, F. Murray Abraham, Bill Murray, Jason Swartzman, & Tom Wilkinson
Rated: R

  What can one possibly say about Wes Anderson? Love him or hate him (because let me tell you, those are the only options), the man possess the strongest aesthetic vision of any director in Hollywood. Never has a director been so consistent in the quality of his production and product; from Rushmore to Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson continually builds upon his unique style. A rainbow of hues accompany his equally colorful cast who expertly showcase his rapid fire scripts, bringing to life a world distinctly of Anderson's creating. Here is a man who knows what he wants, when and how he wants it, and most importantly, how to get it. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a triumph; funny, dark, and unbelievably gorgeous, Anderson cements himself as Hollywood's most valuable visionary. He has no where to go but up.

The man and master, Wes Anderson

  Anderson writes and directs with a hairline precision, making all his films feel of the same highly-saturated world. The Grand Budapest reins above all with it's opulent visual sets, costumes, and scenery. Robert D. Yeoman (with special assistance by Roman Coppola) acting as cinematographer, sets by Anna Pinnock, costumes by Milena Canonero, and three art directors, this lavish production is seamless. Not a color or shot is out of place with the rest. Anderson plays with aspect ratio in a classic, yet non-distracting way, harking back to films of old. The exactness and specificity of all visual aspects provides The Grand Budapest a golden seal of quality.

  Alexander Desplat's score, similar to his work in Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, is just as precise, distinguished, and devilishly funny as the film itself.

  The cast of The Grand Budapest is grand in their own right. The many, many familiar faces to have previously graced Anderson's picture are accompanied by fresh and talented new comers. Ralph Fiennes again proves his range as a comedic actor as well as a man of drama. Fiennes' involvement in acting has diminished somewhat in the past few years (focusing more on directing) and his presence from the big screen has been sorely missed. Fiennes performance is just the right amount of panache followed by some expertly timed curse words. I dare to say no other actor could have executed the role as expertly as he.

  New comer Tony Revolori is everything a young Wes Anderson hero should be and casting an unknown was a smart choice. Simply glancing at the cast list gives one an idea of what kind of talent and experience the film offers. A director who is able to work with a group of actors not only once, twice, but three times is a true testament to his skill. The Grand Budapest Hotel marks the 7th time actors Bill Murray and Owen Wilson have worked with Anderson on a film, and Jason Schwartzman's 5th.

  I do wish I had more to write, but when a film's as tight as The Grand Budapest it speaks for itself. The trailer alone gives the viewer a clear vision of what the film is and what to expect. Undeniably the best film of the year, The Grand Budapest Hotel rises above the mid-winter/first of the year slop that Hollywood produces in the months between Awards Season and Blockbuster Summer Season. If you're not familiar with Anderson's work The Grand Budapest Hotel is a great place to start; it's undeniable charm, snappy script and characters along with it's candy colored appearance make it the most satisfying treat in theaters.