Wes Anderson's latest eccentric comedy states it's a tribute to writer Stefan Zweig. Zweig was an Austrian writer best known for his autobiography The World of Yesterday. He also hated Naziism.
(He was a name best known back then than now.)
Anyone more familiar with Zweig can spot the physical similarities with him and the film's nameless Author (Jude Law). He visits the titular establishment in 1968. Once a highlight of the Ruritanian State of Zubrowka, it's now a shadow of its former self. Its aged-owner, Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham), decides to tell the writer of his early days in the hotel.
In 1932, Zero (Tony Revolori) is hired as the Hotel's Lobby Boy by the dandy concierge, M. Gustave H. (Raph Fiennes). Gustave is well-versed in serving the guests, and one of its former guests, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), is dead. She willed him a painting, Boy with Apple. Her scheming relatives, including son Dmitri (Adrien Brody), don't want Gustave to have it. Coincidentally or not, Gustave is accused of Madame D.'s murder.
It's up to Zero to help Gustave prove himself innocent of murder. All the while, they have to dodge the evil thug Jopling (Willem Dafoe) and the threat of Civil War.
The first thing you'll notice about this feature is its artistic style. Its sets and costumes wonderfully render the 1930's in a wonderfully cartoonish fashion ala Dick Tracy. The film's constantly changing aspect ratio was off-putting at first until I realized it was for each time period. The images captured on-screen, by Robert Yeomen, are incredible.
Anderson's ensemble is made of well-cast actors delightfully hamming it up. Aside from the aforementioned, there's Jeff Goldblum as an honest lawyer, Bill Murray as a fellow concierge, Harvey Keitel as Gustave's cellmate and Edward Norton as an affable Army Inspector. You'll have little trouble laughing along with their antics. Though be warned that it can get really violent at times.
The film's madcap presentation occasionally made it hard to follow a few key story-points. While Anderson made other story points vague, one can easily fill in the blanks to their satisfaction. A few revelations at the end were rather downbeat, so be warned on that too.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is, for the most part, a stylishly-silly comedy. You won't be disappointed if that's what you're looking for. And hopefully, this will be a movie we'll hear about next year.
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