20140617: Comedy Review--Grand Budapest Hotel

Grand Budapest Hotel

1. Fundamentals, reception.

1. American/German live action feature length film, 2014, PG13, 100 minutes, comedy.
2. IMDB: 8.3/10.0 from 90,986 audience ratings.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: 92% on the meter; 89% liked it from 63,065 audience ratings.
4. I watched this on iTunes, 20140617.
5. Directed by: Wes Anderson.
6. Starring: Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave H., F. Murray Abraham as the elder Zero (Mr. Moustafa), Adrien Brody as Dmitri, Willem Dafoe as Jopling, Jeff Goldbloom as Deputy Kovacs, Harvey Keitel as Ludwig, Jude Law as Young Writer, Bill Murray as M. Ivan, Edward Norton as Henckels, Saoirse Ronan as Agatha, Jason Schwartzman as M. Jean, Lea Seydoux as Clothilde, Tilde Swinton as Madame D., Tom Wilkinson as Author, Owen Wilson as M. Chuck, Tony Revolori as Zero.


2. Setup and Plot

1. We start the film with an Author, in his later years, doing a video recording.  He then promises to tell the audience how he came to know a particular story.


2. We switch back to 1968, when the Young Writer was staying at the Grand Budapest Hotel, which was in its fading, twilight years.  The Young Writer meets Mr. Moustafa, who tells him the story of how he came to own the Grand Budapest Hotel.


3. We switch back to 1932; the new Lobby Boy (Zero) begins his tutelage with M. Gustave.  Gustave likes older, rich, blonde women, and he romances them.  In particular, Madame D. is quite fond of him.  She is on a trip, and has a presentiment of death.  Sure enough, she dies in the town where she traveled to.  Gustave and Zero hurry to see her, and are there in time to hear the reading of the will.  The surprise is that she willed the priceless painting 'Boy with Apple' to Gustave.  The family is furious, and Gustave is accused of her murder, but not before Zero and he secreted the painting.


4. Mr. Moustafa pauses to describe his relationship to Agatha, who works in the bakery of the hotel.  Agatha helps in the escape of Mr. Gustave.  Then Moustafa returns to the investigation of Madame D's death, and the process of bringing the probate to a legally sound close.


5. Mr. Gustave, with the aid of Zero and four fellow prisoners, escapes prison.  Gustave reaches for help from his fellow concierge friends.


6. In the counter-theme, Dmitri and his cohort Jopling, pursue Gustave for the sake of the painting, mostly.


7. Will anyone find Serge, supposedly the real culprit in the death of Madame D. ?   Do we get to know how Zero gets enough money to buy the Grand Budapest?  Will Zero and Agatha ever get together legally?  What will become of Dmitri and Jopling?  Will Henckles re-capture Gustave or Zero?


3. Conclusions
1. One line summary: Funny, touching, bizarre, and well worth the watch.
2. Four stars of five.


4. Scores

1. Cinematography: 10/10 Fine job.


2. Sound: 10/10 Well done.  Sometimes wildly inappropriate but usually good for a laugh or two.


3. Acting: 10/10  What a cast!  Great jobs by most involved.  No bad performances.


4. Screenplay: 6/10 The main plot is so stupid it is beyond belief, but one assumes that was on purpose.  I got several belly laughs, dozens of smiles, and double handful of chuckles.