The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

I mentioned in my recent review of Rushmore that after something of a rocky start I am now firmly in the pro- Wes Anderson camp. His most recent movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel has further entrenched me in my support for this quirky auteur. Budapest is the only film that I am aware of that proceeds in a triple flashback format. At the start of the film a young women in a presumably central European country goes to visit the grave of a famed author, then we go back to 1985 when this unnamed author (here played by Tom Wilkinson) records an account of how he came upon the story featured in one of his most famous books, The Grand Budapest Hotel. For this we flash back again to 1968 when a younger version of this author (now played by Judd Law (I wonder if these framing scenes were largely conceived to offer roles for famous actors who just wanted to add a Wes Anderson film to there resume)) visits the Grand Budapest Hotel (interestingly not located in Budapest Hungry, but rather in a fictitious European Alpine state called the Republic of Zubrowka) where he meets the establishments reclusive owner Zero Moustafa. Over dinner in the hotel restaurant Moustafa tells the writer of events in 1932 (the third flashback) when as a young refuge and "lobby boy" (here played by 17 year old Tony Revolori, whose great in the part) Zero was befriended and mentored by the Grand Budapest's then concierge Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes) and had a series of adventures centered around a disputed inheritance.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a film loaded with clever sets, witty dialogue, a plethora of cameos and odd ball characters, yet it is still dominated by one character and one performance, and that is Ralph Fiennes wonderfully unexpected turn as Monsieur Gustave H. Now comic performances are seldom seriously considered for academy awards, but I feel that this one should be. Its a very different sort of part and kind of performance then we've seen Fiennes (who we already know is a very capable actor) do in the past, yet he devours this role, makes this comic character full bodied, vain, grandiose, sweet, perfectionist, kind, bold, cowardly and courageous, its a real treat to watch (and the dialogue is just wonderful). Of course all the supporting parts and elements of this film work splendidly and compliment well Fiennes performance, but the film belongs to and is dominated by Fiennes in a way I haven't seen done in a film since Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood. Easily the best film of the year so far, which isn't really saying much, but give it time, I have a feeling this movie will really hold up. ***1/2