Title: The Grand Budapest Hotel

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Wes Anderson

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Adrien Brody

Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

What Is It: When an old writer (Tom Wilkinson) tells the story of a concierge at the formerly luxurious Grand Budapest Hotel by the name of Monsieur Gustave H. (Fiennes) he begins by telling of how he had hear it. He heard the story from an aging Mr. Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham) a former Lobby Boy at the same hotel. It’s a story of love, greed, and well any other emotion you can think of. You see that story revolves around the mysterious death of Madame D (Tilda Swinton), and what will happen to her wealth and fortune. Between her degenerate son Dimitri (Adrien Brody) and his hired henceman (Willem Dafoe) the yintend to get all the luxuries of Madame D’s will. However it is Monsieur Gustave who recieves something for his years of “service” to Madame D but will it all go to her ungrateful children. And just HOW does Dimitri plan to get back the fortune including a priceless painting? Why that parts both the mystery and the fun of it!

What We Think: It’s the quirky in that awesome Wes Anderson way. Featuring his usual cast of recurring actors (Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson) and introducing a plethora of others into the Andersphere. It’s got great humor and there are many moments that will catch you off guard. It’s one of Wes Anderson’s most ambitious pieces, and it also may perhaps be his best. Taking all the paramount traits which he’s built a career on. This film makes great use of it’s actors even in small roles like that of Bill Murray’s Monsieur Ivan or Jude Law as the young writer who collects the story from the elderly Zero.

Our Grade: A, It’s not perfect, but it is truly a fun film that held my attention throughout its runtime. Which I may add was perfect. At only 100 mins its felt like a brisk watch and never sagged. One thing Anderson has steadily improved is his ability to pace a film. Something like Bottle Rocket has its point where it just sags slightly, The Royal Tenenbaums less so, and so on and so forth. Watch the darn film it is far better then it’s 56 million dollar box office.