"The Grand Budapest Hotel" Movie Review

Rating: 8/10 (1 March 2017)

Before watching "The Grand Budapest Hotel", I have never seen a movie that combined a love story, ridiculous moments, dark humor, and colorful characters, especially shown in breathtakingly beautiful scenes. Although there is so much to love, I personally think the characters, the cinematography, and the dynamic story are what make it Wes Anderson's best film. From young Zero, all the way to Gustave's fellow inmates in prison, the characters each have a unique flair about them. And of course, if you are familiar with Anderson's work, he has filled this movie to brim with visual beauty. I feel like I'm walking through a painting each time I watch it. Also, Anderson managed to incorporate so much different themes, details, and several story lines that develop within.
Whether he is the character you root for, or the evil one, each of the characters have been made exceptionally. The young hero of our story is Zero. He is the teenaged assistant to the concierge: Gustave. Zero is the small, skinny Indian teen who does exactly as he is told. While Gustave is the boss of the Hotel, keeping it in tip-top shape, taking care of any guest's needs. The movie ultimately revolves around these two and we are able to learn about the deep hidden secrets and mysteries of Gustave. Gustave's intelligent "posh" British humor was outrageously funny. As the audience, we get to see how Zero learns the ins and outs of running a hotel and learning more about people and life through his adventures. And in broad terms, the details of each character's outfit is what truly wowed me. Each time that I have watched this movie, I have noticed a new small detail in someone's costume that shows just a tad more about their identity. Thus, the Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design fortifies the importance of appearance. The attention to detail and the range of characters and what the audience can see about them adds to the greatness.
Even the non artistic viewer can appreciate the undeniable beauty in each scene. In fact, I think it is Anderson's best work because it is the most "Wes Anderson-y". His distinct framing and screenplay is very unique and out of the box for most movies in modern cinema. If you are familiar with his style, you could watch any moment of GBH and know instantly that it's an Anderson flick. But, his individuality and homage to film during the 1930s, roughly the setting of the movie, is what makes the viewer feel a more authentic experience. Anderson plays with different aspect ratios that were most commonly used for the specific decade in which the story is taking place. This is a brilliant touch, and rare in Hollywood movies today. Also, his use of bright, saturated colors and arranging them to complement and contrast are aesthetically pleasing to the viewer. The reoccurring light and happy colors contrast and emphasize the dark themes in the story. What I like the most about the screenplay and cinematography is the symmetry. The way that a majority of the scenes incorporate shapes and all the design elements to work for each other is truly masterful. Personally, my favorite scene is when there is a chain of concierges from different hotels calling each other in order to aid Gustave. The simplicity of shapes and using different colors is pleasing to watch, and really shows off Anderson's art.
The plot of the film was the meatiest of the Anderson movies that I have seen, with lots of different conflicts and excitement. The main story of the movie is Gustave running the hotel between the World Wars in Europe along with the chase for a priceless renaissance painting. Although the action and plot is great to watch unravel, the small themes and little side stories really impress me. We see the coming of age story in Zero. As we watch him learn through experiences that teach him how to run a hotel and eventually become the owner of the GBH. And we see the different ideas of love, coming from young Zero experiencing love for most likely his first time, and eventually marrying the girl despite their young age and short time together. On the other hand, there is Gustave's love life, where he is romantic with many of the old wealthy widowed women who stay in the hotel occasionally, mainly for his love. Perhaps, Anderson is saying about love and relationships with the different types shown in this movie. It could be the spontaneous and brash decision making that you can make when you fall for someone in an instant. Or, possibly the slow, methodical, elderly prize driven lust that some may crave. It's truly up to the individual to decide.
Personally, the main reason I fell in love with "The Grand Budapest Hotel" was for the cinematography and art within, but I couldn't help but enjoy seeing the characters and watching the story. I liked that with all the humor, darkness, and other factors, there was still a lot to think about after watching the film as well. I hope everyone can carve out an hour and half sometime to watch my favorite movie, "The Grand Budapest Hotel."