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The Grand Budapest Hotel
5/5 MUST must see SEE
dir-scr Wes Anderson
prd Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Jeremy Dawson, Steven M Rales
with Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, F Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Mathieu Amalric, Harvey Keitel, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman
release US/UK 7.Mar.14
14/Germany Fox 1h39
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Going up: Revolori, Swinton and Fiennes

ronan law brody

33rd Shadows Awards
TOP 5 FILM


BERLIN FILM FEST
R E V I E W    B Y    R I C H    C L I N E
The Grand Budapest Hotel There's no mistaking this for anything other than a Wes Anderson film, but even by his standards this is bracingly fast and funny, a raucous adventure that keeps us laughing with broad gags along with some wry, intelligent ones. And the cast is on fire. As is production designer Adam Stockhausen.

We're in a story within a story within a story, where in 1932 young Zero (Revolori) becomes the apprentice to uber-efficient concierge Gustave (Fiennes) at the Grand Budapest Hotel somewhere in Middle Europe. Then Gustave gets entangled in an inheritance battle, and as the deceased's son (Brody) and his henchman (Dafoe) try to take the law into their own hands. Zero helps Gustave fight arrest and then, when that doesn't work, escape from prison. Meanwhile, Zero falls in love with a baker (Ronan) and war breaks out. Twice.

All of this is recounted in flashback as the older Zero (Abraham) speaks to a writer (Law) in 1968. And there's a further framing device in which the older writer (Wilkinson) narrates it years later. In other words, this is about storytelling itself, capturing the nostalgia of old tales spun time and again through the generations. But even more than that, this is a film about the importance of remembering the old ways even though the world is changing around us.

Anderson has such a sure hand that we don't need to worry about the heightened reality: give in and enjoy the ride. It's an especially energetic romp, barely pausing for breath as the narrative spirals out in a brisk 100 minutes. Mixing slapstick with thrilling action, dark romance and an earthy sense of sardonic humour, the film constantly surprises us as it evokes memories and feelings.

The cast is simply wonderful. This is perhaps Fiennes most engaging role ever: he's funny and disarmingly likeable, generating terrific camaraderie with superb newcomer Revolori. Brody and Dafoe are the other standouts as pantomime villains. While there are also priceless cameos from Anderson regulars Murray, Wilson, Schwartzman and an especially marvellous Swinton. This is the kind of film that charms us over and over again, as we wish life was really like this. Which is exactly the point Anderson is making.

cert 15 themes, language, violence, sexuality 13.Feb.14

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© 2014 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
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