Film Review - The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

On DVD and Blu Ray - "The Grand Budapest Hotel" - (2014) - Ralph Fiennes stars as "Monsieur Gustave H."- the "legendary", womanizing concierge of The Grand Budapest Hotel, who, along with faithful lobby boy "Zero" (Tony Revolori), becomes embroiled in the events surrounding a murdered countess (Tilda Swinton).  Throw in the theft of a priceless painting and the vengeful tactics of the would-be heir (Adrian Brody) to a massive family fortune and you'd end up with a quirky farce reminiscent of the kind of screwball comedies that were popular during the the 1930's and 1940's... all lovingly mixed in with a bit of Alfred Hitchcock's dark humor, for good measure. A truly wonderful performance from Fiennes anchors the experience nicely, while a surprisingly effective and heartfelt conclusion had me fighting back tears.

Although I've enjoyed some of Director Wes Anderson's (Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore) films, the Houston, Texas native's distinct storytelling style isn't normally my cup of tea- the nostalgic tone and stagey approach works wonderfully here, though The Grand Budapest... is also his darkest and most violent offering, thus far.  I didn't expect severed heads and fingers in an Anderson film...

Fiennes (Skyfall) is at his most charismatic, displaying a surprising knack for comedic timing that I found most unexpected and appealing.  The English actor has been featured in comedic roles before, though never quite this zany and decidedly fine-tuned.

Guatemalan actor Tony Revolori (The Perfect Game) leaves his mark as "Zero Moustafa"; the young lobby boy who becomes Gustave's protege and most trusted friend.  Most of the film finds the young man at the star's side, willing and able to match Fiennes whenever necessary.

Saoirse Ronan (Byzantium) provides fine, if reticent, support as Zero's fiance, "Agatha"- a baker's daughter sporting a Mexico-shaped birthmark upon her cheek.  I believe Ronan and Olivia Wilde would tie for most alluring pair of eyes in Hollywood...

Of the supporting cast, most will remember Willem Dafoe's (Spider-Man 2002) turn as a cold-blooded assassin... complete with fangs.  His departure from the film elicited the heartiest belly laugh from myself. 

Expect a thoroughly charming affair of a bygone era told in retrospect, harkening back to a poverty-stricken landscape molded by an impending war- the subject matter is considerably different, though I found this film somewhat reminiscent of 1942's Ernst Lubitsch film, To Be Or Not To Be.  The film rockets along at breakneck speed, showcasing a number of elaborate, ornate set pieces, a host of cool cameos and a few delightfully innovative, budget-strapped chase sequences. A wild gun battle and a crowd-pleasing, cliffhanger-style climax should put a smile on most faces, though the film is capped off with a heart-breakingly poignant ending that will stick with you.

The Grand Budapest Hotel reeled me in early and held my attention throughout- I would consider it tied with “The Royal Tenenbaums” as my favorite film from Wes Anderson.  It's a fun throwback, of sorts, and comes Highly Recommended.

8.5 out of 10

Director: Wes Anderson

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson, Bob Balaban, Fisher Stevens and Tony Revolori

Run-Time: 100 minutes

MPAA: Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence 

For what it's worth: The Films of Wes Anderson-

Bottle Rocket (1996) - 7.5
Rushmore (1998) - 8.0
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - 8.5
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) - 4.0
The Darjeeling Limited (2007) - 6.5
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - NA- Haven't seen
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) - 8.0