The Grand
Budapest Hotel is a 2014 comedy film written and directed by Wes Anderson,
from a story by Anderson and Hugo Guinness,
inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig.
It stars Ralph Fiennes as a concierge who teams up with one of his employees
(Tony Revolori)
to prove his innocence after he is framed for murder.
The film is an American-German-British co-production that was financed by German financial
companies and film-funding organizations. It was filmed in Germany. The Grand Budapest Hotel was released to widespread acclaim
from film critics, and many included it in their year-end top 10 lists. The film led the BAFTA nominations, with 11
nominations, more than any other film, including Best Film and Best Director for Anderson, and Best Actor for Fiennes. The film won the Golden Globe
Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and garnered three more Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Director for Anderson. It also garnered nine Academy Award nominations, the joint most (with Birdman) for the ceremony, including Best Picture and Best Director. It won the
Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair styling, Best Production Design and Best Original Score.
A teenage girl visits the monument of the
writer who penned the book, "The Grand Budapest Hotel". In 1968, that
author was inspired to write the book when he visited that hotel, located in
the European mountainous country formerly known as Zubrowka. Once a luxurious
hotel, it, in 1968, has fallen on hard times. The author meets the then current
owner, M. Zero Moustafa, who recounts the story of how he became the hotel's
owner and why he holds onto it and keeps it open despite it obviously making
him no money. Zero's story begins in 1932, when the hotel was in its golden
era. Zero was the novice immigrant lobby boy, who, like all the other hotel
staff, was under the guidance of M. Gustave H., the devoted concierge. Gustave
aimed to please, he giving the guests whatever they wanted, especially the
wealthy blonde women. The story largely revolves around one of those women, the
wealthy Madame CĂ©line Villeneuve Desgoffe-und-Taxis - better known as Mme. D. -
her opportunistic son Dimitri, the bequeathing of a valuable painting called
"Boy with Apple" to Gustave, the mysterious circumstances surrounding
her death which is initially pinned on Gustave, and the attempts of Zero, his
girlfriend - a baker's assistant named Agatha - and others to clear Gustave's
name while Dimitri does whatever he needs to get what he believes is rightfully
his, namely the painting.
Almost
everything this movie, in terms of character depth, story arcs, all of them were written by Wes Anderson himself so honestly guys, it's not really a
shocker because this movie has the same kind of witty dialogues the previous
movies by him, and the story is very unique and interesting. In this strange,
witty, addictive, funny and ambivalent tale we get to meet a lot of other
characters and I loved how Wes Anderson built every single one of them, it was
all well written and every set up had a payoff, every piece fell in its place
by the end of it, the script of this film was as close to perfect as you could
ever get in terms of how a movie is supposed to be like, how you make
characters, how you manage them, how you handle the story, everything was done
right and it just proves that Wes Anderson has to be one of the best directors
of modern times. This movie is so filled with details and wit I don't think
I've got every single joke and small details of the movie in this first viewing,
but it just makes this movie feel re watchable, at every viewing of it I'll have
the impression that the movie keeps evolving like some kind of living being, I
simply adore movies that are able to do that with the writing. I left this film elated and happy but when I'm
actually recalling all that happened I'm realizing it's a bittersweet movie,
but oddly enough the film's tone is somewhat uplifting. Its just a testament to
Wes Anderson when he twists a tragic story to one of enjoyment and laughter. So
yes guys, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" shines on the writing
standpoint, the essential part of a movie. If I were to list off my favorite
actors who have played in this movie, I probably would have a deep dilemma
because seriously, bias aside, everyone in this movie turned on a spectacular showing here. Despite the grounded setting, this movie uses a lot of
special effects, especially hand-drawn matte paintings and some CGI to show the
world and the environment of "The Grand Budapest Hotel", and you know
what? It looks bloody brilliant.The look of all the matte paintings, all the
models and the minimal use of CGI. It looks AMAZING.
Pretty much, guys, when it came to this movie
EVERYTHING was done well, I mean, every aspect of this film is done so well
that this thing I now believe has taken the top spot among Wes Anderson's
films! This thing I believe is now my all time favorite! I’ll rate it 10/10.