by Graham Osborne
The life of a high-class hotelier is a hard one. After all, you’ve got to make sure that all the needs of the guests are catered for, the hotel itself is spotless and you’re occasionally accused of murder after gaining an inheritance from one of your wealthy guests.
What do you mean that last one isn’t a common occurrence?
The life of a high-class hotelier is a hard one. After all, you’ve got to make sure that all the needs of the guests are catered for, the hotel itself is spotless and you’re occasionally accused of murder after gaining an inheritance from one of your wealthy guests.
What do you mean that last one isn’t a common occurrence?
The Grand Budapest Hotel follows the adventures of legendary concierge Monsieur Gustave H and his Lobby Boy Zero Moustafa. After one of Gustave’s most treasured guests, one who happens to be a dowager and one of his many lovers, dies in mysterious circumstances, he is accused of murder and flees after stealing a priceless painting left to him by the wealthy lady. What follows is a chase across a fictional European country involving jail-breaks, high speed chases and a war.
The film itself is told in the style of a story within a story within a story. From a student reading a book by an author who was told the story by Mr Moustafa, owner of the eponymous hotel, GBH (now there is an unfortunate acronym) carries all the calling cards of a Wes Anderson film, from the appearances of various collaborators such as Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, to unique costumes all filmed with a filter that seems stuck on the nostalgia setting.
The film itself is told in the style of a story within a story within a story. From a student reading a book by an author who was told the story by Mr Moustafa, owner of the eponymous hotel, GBH (now there is an unfortunate acronym) carries all the calling cards of a Wes Anderson film, from the appearances of various collaborators such as Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, to unique costumes all filmed with a filter that seems stuck on the nostalgia setting.
Ralph Fiennes plays Gustave H with a flair and panache that really steals the film, his over-the-top antics delivered in fine, upper-class British tones will make you chuckle. He is the very archetype of the stiff upper lip. Playing alongside him is Tony Revolori as Lobby Boy Zero and the narrator of the main tale. His straight man act as Fiennes’ confidante in all matters is beautifully performed, as is Saoirse Ronan as his fiancée Agatha.
The rest of the cast also features many other big names, but to single each out for their contribution to the film would take up the rest of this article and more besides. Suffice to say they each bring their own to the roles.
The film, overall, is fantastic,with many moments to make you chuckle. The ending starts to get a little contrived, but you’ll be too caught up in the chase to worry about it until after the film has ended. Anderson’s style may not be for everyone, but his films are always worth a watch.
The rest of the cast also features many other big names, but to single each out for their contribution to the film would take up the rest of this article and more besides. Suffice to say they each bring their own to the roles.
The film, overall, is fantastic,with many moments to make you chuckle. The ending starts to get a little contrived, but you’ll be too caught up in the chase to worry about it until after the film has ended. Anderson’s style may not be for everyone, but his films are always worth a watch.
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