The Grand Budapest Hotel is a Wes Anderson directorial comedy-mystery. With an ensemble cast spearheaded by Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori, this 2018 film is set in the fictional land of Zubrowka. With support from the likes of Jude Law, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody and Saoirse Ronan, the movie was distributed by Fox Searchlight and is a critical and financial hit.
Plot
Gustave is the famed concierge at the famed Grand Budapest Hotel in Zubrowka. Treating every guest in his own personal time and effort, he builds connections with all of them. Particularly close to D, a rich dowager in ownership of properties, he is shocked and baffled upon hearing of her death. When enquired upon, it is shown that she had been murdered and he is a suspect.
With the last will and testament also showing that all her belongings would go to Gustave. This sets him on a rat chase running from D’s son and mercenaries. Gustave has a young trainee at the hotel, Zero, in whom he sees potential. Zero stays loyal and faithful on every journey that Gustave takes, always learning from him and mimicking his behavior.
The end beautifully culminates as a just ending to most of the characters, but you can be the judge of that.
Opinions and review
The Grand Budapest Hotel as the single most extraordinary piece of art any camera can capture, and this is all owed to its cinematography. Robert Yeoman, who had previously worked with Anderson on his other ventures, nails the camera work in the film with the perfect mixture of natural and technical storytelling. There is perfect symmetry in every shot you witness, and balance is of the utmost priority. One feels such a soothing comfort as they go on with the movie, and it is all credits to Yeoman.
The Grand Budapest does not lack in story too. Anderson co wrote the movie and skillfully threads the needle. The film does not have a linear storyline, but has a bit of background narrative in a third person voice. This adds to the marvel of the movie, as it keeps you hooked to it throughout.
Although the concept would seem simple, the inception of the story is to take you on a fictional and dislocated journey from the real world. This is done flawlessly, with the cast’s dedication as the cherry on top.
Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori delivered mind-blowing performances, and this wouldn’t be possible without the amalgamation of all the other aspects of audio and visual as well. When one watches the Grand Budapest Hotel, it is their perseverance to continue staying in character that sells the show completely.
Color is another equally awe-inspiring emotion explored by Anderson. It is his signature to set the color palette beforehand, something we see in the Royal Tenenbaums and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. The hues and shades that one can notice is simply amazing and the level of attention gone to reworking on it is commendable.
Why watch The Grand Budapest Hotel?
The film is good in every aspect required of it. Right from the intricacies of technical camera film to the dialogues and corresponding props, they delivered. The cast is not entirely bad as well, with critically acclaimed big names, and the acting range is beyond admirable. This is a movie with little of everything, humor, romance, mystery, drama but does not shy away from the technical complexities of cinema as an art. If you aren’t a fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, check out the historical fantasy drama The Green Knight.