Writer/Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Adrien Brody and Ralph Fiennes
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors have created movies which excel like Harvey Keitel. Ever since his rise to fame during the 1970’s, Keitel has made many unforgettable movies. Whether it’s despicable bank robbers, criminals facing dangers or bold fixers, Keitel has played many bold characters. Arguably, Keitel’s finest strength as an actor is his ability to steal a show in a supporting role. Keitel has often had flair for stealing the show in supporting roles in movies. Even when he is given limited screen time, Keitel has always left a strong impression. Through an ability to craft strong characters which audiences can easily relate to, Keitel has become a star audiences value. Despite reaching the age of retirement, Keitel has never lost his passion for producing engaging entertainment. Throughout a strong career, Keitel has made many memorable films that are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Keitel and adore all the films that he has made in his career. However, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is my favourite. Ever since its release in 2014, Wes Anderson’s film has stood the test of time as a classic. Packed with breathtaking production design, powerful storytelling and fantastic acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made about hotels. At centre of it all is an incredible performance by Harvey Keitel, who portrayed a prison guard involved in a mysterious murder at a hotel. Ultimately, what makes “The Grand Budapest Hotel” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most Wes Anderson movies that are targeted towards a limited audience, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about social class which everyone will relate to. A riveting masterpiece about hotels which are frightening, there are several reasons why “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is worth seeing.
Set in the 1930’s, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” tells the story of a hotel manager with a drive to excel. Ralph Fiennes portrays M. Gustave, a dedicated hotel manager with a commitment to caring for his hotel. Gustave is a passionate manager that has often dedicated his time and energy to caring for a precious hotel. Assisted by support of lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori), Gustave seeks to take care of a hotel doomed to face disaster. However, Gustave’s hopes of caring for his hotel are threatened by murder. When his hotel becomes a site of a gruesome murder, Gustave’s hope is destroyed forever. Faced with a dilemma, Gustave questions if it is possible for him to care for a hotel causing trauma. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Gustave questions whether it’s possible for him to manage a painful hotel experiencing disaster.
Wes Anderson is fascinated with the themes of dysfunctional families. A fantastic filmmaker, he has often made engaging movies about the lives of broken families that face danger. His award-winning movie “The Royal Tenebaums” offered a powerful portrait of a dysfunctional American family in tragedy. With “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, however, Anderson created his first period piece. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture tensions experienced by hotel managers during the 20th Century, but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Anderson captures tension faced by hotel managers which face tragedy. Evoking Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, Wes Anderson’s effectively uses confined aspect ratios to capture isolation endured by hotels. Throughout the movie, the film is shot in a confined aspect ratio captures the isolated nature of a hotel. For instance, the confined aspect ratio enhanced the opening scene. During this unforgettable scene, the author introduces audiences to the magical world of the hotel facing tension. Confined spaces are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” suggested, small spaces elevate murder mystery movies. That being said, it works immensely. Through bold visuals, Anderson captures hardships hotel managers go through.
Another extraordinary aspect of “The Grand Boudapest Hotel” that merits appreciation of production. Throughout the movie, Gustave’s costumes showcase his emotional state as a hotel manager facing tension. For instance, the costumes elevate the prison scene. During this unforgettable scene, Gustave meets up with Zero in a prison at a time of depression. Through strong costumes, Anderson crafts a character audiences relate to. Moreover, the musical score is fantatsic. Alexandre Desplat’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden hotel managers. Through production, Anderson captures tensions hotel facing.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a movie about hotels that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses voice over narration to capture the tension that hotel managers in a tense situation are facing. Throughout the film, Anderson uses narration to capture the lives of hotel managers facing tension. For instance, narration elevates the Agatha memory scene. During this unforgettable scene, the author tears up recounting his fond memories meeting Agatha for the first time. Through narration, Anderson captures the lives of hotel managers facing tension that audiences can easily relate to. Narration is a tricky technique to use in films. As Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” suggested, narration elevates crime movies about New York. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through powerful storytelling, Anderson captures the lives of commemorated hotel staff facing tension.
One admired amazing performances.
Harvey Keitel delivers one of his best career performances as Ludwig. Keitel first earned appreciation for playing gangsters in crime dramas. With “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, however, he took on his most eccentric role. It isn’t easy to embody a prison guard seeking to care for a doomed hotel but Keitel succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and funny in his most eccentric role. Keitel often excelled at playing emotional heroes enduring pressure, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” showcases his strength as an actor. It’s an incredible performance from one of the best actors today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Harvey Keitel, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of praise. Adrien Brody is brilliant, capturing the short temper of a hotel manager facing tragedy. Jude Law is brilliant, capturing the tensions that talented con artists are facing. Finally, Jeff Goldblum merits praise. As a scientist seeking to care for a hotel, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “the Grand Budapest Hotel” will the appreciation of everyone for captivating a hotel. Unlike most Wes Anderson movies which are targeted towards everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, social class and privilege. It delivers a meaningful message about hotels which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is one of those rare movies audiences adore.
Fans of Harvey Keiltel will definitely enjoy “the Grand Budapest Hotel” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking film about a grand hotel, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has never lost his abilities to excel making movies casting a magical spell.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 