For reasons not really worth explaining on here, I am currently in the grip of horrendous jet lag due to flying for approximately 56 hours over the last 12 days. (I started this post well over a week ago)
This was split into 6 flights and on 4 of these flights I watched Wes Andreson's delightful orange and blue infused masterpiece, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
Sometimes farcical but always devilishly funny, this film is the pinnacle of this man's career and deservedly so, has already picked up 11 BAFTA nominations and a whopping 9 Academy Award nominations, all of which I hope are eventual wins.
Written and directed by the wonderfully weird Wes Anderson, who started his career with the Owen Wilson collaboration - Bottle Rocket, he has stayed true to form throughout his career with quirky yet moving, original movies - I think the fact that he both writes and directs most of his movies means he makes them stand out from the rest - we truly get a piece of his strange little brain spread all over the screen for us to enjoy.
This is truly his best effort yet, it’s essentially a crime caper with a dark comedic twist that will have you smirking like The Grinch and laughing out loud. The entire story is told in flashback to a devastatingly handsome Jude Law - always a pleasure!
Ralph Fiennes is by far the best thing about this movie, his quick fire dialogue and dry responses to often quite offensive insults and the fact that he calls everyone Darling, is absolutely delicious to me, he makes me beam throughout. He deserves an Oscar, which he has sadly been denied but then we all know really that everyone is completely fucked now; after what Eddie Redmayne has done, no one else stands a chance :-)
The cinematography is simple yet refreshing to the eye, beautifully centralised locked off shots almost entirely throughout, mean your eye is only really concentrating on the main actors, no getting distracted by unnecessary background movement or extras. The symmetry and simplicity of this entire movie is breathtaking, particularly the scenes involving the mountains and snow - beautiful.
I don't want to take away from the meticulous detail put into every last facet of this film by commenting on its simplicity - you will know what I mean when you watch it, it’s simple as in its not unnecessarily showy or Hollywood glamour filled. The sets are perfect, perfectly dressed, perfectly aged, perfectly fitting for the era in which it’s set. The costume, likewise, all the purples and oranges and yellows of the first act contrasted with the greys and browns in the second act are fantastic and pleasing to the eye. I particularly enjoyed Madame's D's costume and make up - Tilda Swinton was transformed into a haggard old woman with outlandish hair and makeup and teeth to match, I also enjoyed her performance - even though it was very short everything about her was brilliant; her accent, her dialogue delivery, her demeanor - all flawless.
The dialogue in this movie is something that sticks out for me, especially Adrian Brodie's. The words that come out of his mouth are completely out of place for post world war one era eastern Europe, but so bloody funny you just don't care. Also refreshing is that everyone speaks in their own accents (Apart from Tilda Swinton but then who even knows where she's from).
Relative unknown, Tony Revolori, shines as the younger version of our story teller, even though he is deadpan and monotone with only slight shafts of personality light piercing through on occasion, you are enthralled by him throughout - I predict great things for him.
We are also treated to various high profile cameos and bit parts including Willem Defo, doing what he does best and playing the villain of the piece.
The whole film has a spaghetti western feel about it with no cowboys, and a silent movie edge without the silence.
I love this little odd ball contraption and will continue to watch it repeatedly for years to come, I'm sure.