The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Director: Wes Anderson
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan
Runtime: 99 minutes

Synopsis: A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.

Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Score/Soundtrack: 10/10

Verdict: There's nothing quite like putting on a Wes Anderson flick at the end of a tiring day. They're a genre of their own, marked by their quirkiness, warmth, and pleasing symmetry. They're just a delight to sit through, and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is no exception.

Hailed by many, including the Academy, as being his best work to date, the film predominantly recounts the relationship between a hotel's concierge and his lobby boy during the 1930s in the fictional nation of Zubrowka. Starring a wide array of notable names that includes Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Jeff Goldblum, or even Willem Dafoe, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is easily Anderson's most stylistic project of his career, highlighted by its technical elements that blend together so incredibly well. The score, production design, costumes, framing, color palette, and dialogue all complement one another to make out the lively and eccentric personality of the film, resulting in a very enjoyable and pleasant watch. The aspect ratio switches also add authenticity to a film that jumps between timelines, making the experience even more immersive and amusing.

The one thing that keeps me from calling it Anderson's best work is the lack of depth and purpose to the narrative. Sure, the dynamic between the characters is entertaining to witness, but it didn't ultimately leave a mark on me in the long run. I wouldn't go as far as calling it a "style over substance" picture like many of the filmmaker's critics do, but I also cannot deny that the film's presentation is far more interesting than its content.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" almost feels like an unforgettable theme park ride (which is a compliment in my book, please don't get offended by the term). I had a ton of fun with it, but the thrill I experienced only lasted a few minutes after it ended. It's definitely a film I'll be revisiting multiple times, but not one that affected me on a more emotional level.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10