Director: Wes Anderson
Talent: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Adrian Brody, Jeff Goldblum
Release Date: 7th March
Ralph Fiennes is M. Gustave, dedicated concierge to the hotel that he loves and embodies. Set against the backdrop of an approaching war, The Grand Budapest Hotel plays out the relatively low-key drama of Gustave’s accusal of murder intertwined with his mentoring of young lobby boy Zero.
There is no doubt that this is a Wes Anderson film. Instantly you are whisked away to a highly-stylised land of idiosyncrasies, tableaux and familiar faces. There’s a strong ensemble cast, of course, but this is Fiennes’ movie. Stiff, sharp and magnanimous, he plays the man in love with servitude without ever being excessive, but while also being very funny. As ever, Anderson’s world is vivid and engaging, but at times there’s a facile nature to this piece which undermines some of its bigger ideas. It’s a minor issue and one buried under the director’s usual charm, which matched with well-executed comedy make this his most humorous film yet. – Eoghain Meakin
