It is all contrived and utterly sterile.

Rating: 5/10 (7 April 2016)

For many film buffs, Wes Anderson is a brilliant director who can do no wrong.
For me, his films may be full of technical marvels and are very clever, but for all that, they leave me cold. For many, his films are hilarious. For me, some of his so-called comedic episodes may raise the odd smile but for the most part, his attempts at humour are too calculated and come across as completely lacking spontaneity – the very antithesis of how comedy should appear to be. For many, his films are a rich and rewarding experiences. For me, they lack emotion and passion, and any real drama. One cares not one iota about the fate of the principal players and one sheds not a tear when things go bad.
It is all contrived and utterly sterile.
I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel. Maybe I am just too old to appreciate this apparent genius of 21st-century cinema, whose latest flick has so far garnered 4 Golden Globe nominations, (best film, best director, best actor, best screenplay), and 10 BAFTA nominations, (best film, best actor, best screenplay, best cinematography and many more).
Indeed, I had to trawl through many pages of ten-star user reviews before I found one that said the film 'lacks substance and interesting characters' and another, which was entitled: "Can I have my money back?"
Well, I really wouldn't go that far – not that I pay for my movies anyway.
The story is about a concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars that is crumbling and has seen better days, and a lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The theft and recovery of a priceless painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune are at the heart of the action
To be fair, it was a vaguely amusing movie – very quirky and visually provocative – which sort of held my interest, without in any way drawing me in or making me thirst for more.
The two lead actors: Ralph Fiennes as the concierge and Tony Revolori as the lobby boy do more than justice to their roles, as do all the large number of 'name' actors who take on cameo roles – not that I recognised most of them
But the film is a piece of fluff and for some reason it brings to mind that other piece of highly over-rated mediocrity, "Lost in translation" which garnered a feast of awards a decade ago.
I'm sorry – I get Mike Lee, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Spike lee, Ethan Cohen, Quentin Tarantino and a whole gamut of quirky, off the wall directors, but I really don't get Wes Anderson.
Maybe it's just me.
So in the interests of fairness, let me conclude this review by reprinting the closing paragraph of the Guardian's review:
"What slices the surface is the rapier- sharp wit, with Fiennes on point at all times, a dashing foil for his director's comedic cut and thrust."
There now you know.