The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): ****

The Grand Budapest Hotel recalls the glory days in the 1930s of the titular faded hotel in the fictional country of Zubrowka. Whilst the likely prospect of war looms over the country, the Grand Budapest occupants are more concerned with living in opulent luxury; all their pleasures cared for by top concierge Monsieur Gustave (Ralph Fiennes). Under his tutorage is young Zero (Tony Revolori), the newly appointed lobby-boy having escaped from his war-torn homeland. When one of Gustave’s patrons dies unexpectedly and leaves him a priceless painting, Gustave is accused of murder and theft, and requires the help of his trusted lobby-boy.      

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a visually lush film, rich in colour with carefully constructed composition. Regardless of whether Wes Anderson’s distinct visual style is to your taste or not, the amount of care he puts into every shot has to be commended. Although at times, it can feel too tightly controlled. Under the hand of Anderson’s trusted cinematographer Robert Yeoman, the camera tracks along with the characters at a distance, rapidly tilts from a down-shot to horizontally, and frames scenes with perfect symmetry. The score, by composer Alexandre Desplat and inspired by traditional Russian folk music, further drives the film forward and also emphasises the comedic beats. 

The film is filled with wicked humour. When M. Gustave pays his respects to the deceased Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), he declares that she hasn’t looked so good in years. There is a delightful send-up of prison escape scenarios, filled with plenty of physical humour. Not since A Fish Called Wanda has the death of a beloved pet been so funny. This belies the sadness The Grand Budapest Hotel carries with it. Gustave clings to his old-fashioned romantic lifestyle, reciting poetic contemplations even at the most inappropriate moments, a relic of an era that was before his time. In the face of an uncertain, turbulent future and the traumas Zero has experienced, it’s no wonder he would so gladly embrace Gustave’s worldview, if only as a means of escapism.         

Ralph Fiennes runs away with this film, an impressive feat when the cast includes calibre actors such as Bill Murray, Edward Norton and Willem Dafoe, to mention a few names from the star-studded cast. Fiennes’s M. Gustave is hilariously sharp, a professional and a perfectionist to a fault, moving from flowery prose to coarse exclamations. Tony Revolori as Zero confidently plays the admiring straight-man, inexperienced but eager to emulate his mentor Gustave. Agatha (Saoirse Ronan) is as sweet as her tradecraft and has lovely chemistry with Zero. She is also extremely proactive, not afraid of putting herself at risk to help her friends. Jeff Goldblum stands out as the lawyer Kovacs, in charge of the thankless job of Madame D.’s executive of her will, exasperated with the constant interference of her relatives.       

Equal parts beautiful and entertaining, The Grand Budapest Hotel makes for a delightful viewing experience.