The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Rating: 9/10 (29 January 2020)

Directed by Wes Anderson. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldbum, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Mathieu Amalric, Harvey Keitel, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton. (R)
A writer recounts his visit to the Grand Budapest Hotel, where the owner (Abraham) describes past events that focus on the friendship between lobby boy Revolori and concierge Fiennes as they get involved in a dangerous inheritance game and the outbreak of war. Presented by writer/director Anderson in his trademark style of artfully-staged whimsy and symmetrical elegance, with greater emphasis on sophistication while being even more meticulously artificial than ever before--many filmmakers borrow, honor or parody his furbelowed trappings, but no one does it quite like him. The cast is over-loaded with talent, including bit parts for several members of Anderson's recurring troupe (Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Bob Balaban, etc.), led by Fiennes in a fabulously droll performance as the dryly-witted and mirthfully-profane M. Gustave. Those who find Anderson's work too twee and precious for their tastes aren't likely to be converted, but it's as cozy as a peapod for anyone else, with eye-popping visual delights and the sort of heartstring tugs he found with "Moonrise Kingdom" that had often been absent in his earlier pictures. Oscar winner for Production Design, Original Score, Costume Design and Makeup & Hairstyling.
87/100