“She was dynamite in the sack, by the way.” “She was 84!” “Hmm, I’ve had older.” That’s Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H, a legendary concierge at the famous European hotel The Grand Budapest, talking to his newest lobby boy Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori) about Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), a regular guest at the hotel as they’re on their way to her funeral in the comedy/drama The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Set between two wars, Gustave H has taken young Zero under his wing and intends on mentoring him on how to be an exceptional lobby boy. But when he receives word that Madame D. has died, he takes Zero with him to her funeral to pay his respects. After the funeral it’s revealed that Madame D. left the priceless painting titled “Boy with Apple” to Gustave which upsets her family, especially Dmitri (Adrien Brody) who ends up in a minor altercation with Gustave. Knowing her family will never honor her wishes and fearing Dmitri will tie it up in the courts for years, Gustave and Zero steal her painting on their way out and head back to the train.
Things get even worse for Gustave when the local authorities, led by Henckels (Edward Norton), believe Madame D. was murdered and Gustave becomes their primary suspect. He digs a bigger hole for himself when they ask him about his whereabouts during the time of her murder. He pauses, fails to answer, and then runs away with the cops hot on his tail and Zero chasing the police. Being a gentleman, Gustave is not able to reveal his alibi when Madame D. was murdered and can only trust his protégé and one true friend Zero to help him escape from prison, clear his name by finding the real murderer, and get back to his beloved hotel.
Hilarious and sentimental, The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson’s best film of his career and hands-down one of the funniest films to come along in years. It has an A-list cast led by Ralph Fiennes who gives an extraordinary performance and steals the movie as Gustave H, the gentleman charmer of the best hotel around in Europe before World War II. He delivers his lines with perfect comedic timing and is the emotional center of the film. He also has wonderful chemistry with Tony Revolori as Zero, the loyal and dedicated lobby boy who idolizes his mentor so much he’s willing to do anything to help him – even jeopardize his own life. It’s as much a buddy movie as a dark and zany comedy.
The rest of the supporting cast are wonderful in their roles including Bill Murray, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Jeff Goldblum, and especially Adrien Brody as the greedy, scheming Dmitri and Willem Dafoe as his dedicated henchman, Jopling.
The film’s look, costumes, set designs, and cinematography are breathtaking, bringing back to life an era long since vanquished from the world. The writing, pacing and direction of the film is flawless and is sure to have the audience completely engaged in the comical action up on the big screen.
Charming and hysterical, The Grand Budapest Hotel is sure to have audiences laughing and smiling in their seats. It’s a must-see!
GRADE: A
The Grand Budapest Hotel is rated R for language, some sexual content and violence.
