Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
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Wes Anderson has been the go to guy for quirky off-beat indie flicks for the past 20 years. His latest film The Grand Budapest Hotel brings delectable cast of A-Lister's with the likes of Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Adrian Brody, Willem Defoe, Jude Law, Harvey Kietel, Jeff Goldblum and Edward Norton. So how does Wes Anderson's new flick shape up?

Set in the fictional 1930's, pre-war, European country of Zubrowka. The story follows a young lobby boy named Zero (Tony Revolori) who befriends the concierge, Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), at the hotel he works at (The Grand Budapest). When Gustave is framed for the murder for one of his many wealthy, elderly lovers (played by a virtually unrecognisable Tilda Swinton). He and his new found friend and protégé set out on a mission to clear his name.

Ralph Fiennes puts in a masterful performance as the legendary concierge of The Grand Budapest Hotel with every line delivered with perfect comic timing and buckets of charm "Keep your hands off my lobby boy!" The rest of the cast serve up the classic Wes Anderson dead-pan wit.

Wes's world that he has created is staggeringly detailed, even down to the last tea cosy. It almost makes you feel you as if you are reading through one of the most extravagant pop-up books you have ever laid your eyes on. His perfect use of wide shot's and boxed aspect ratio serve the story so well that it drags you deep into his whimsical world. And Alexandre Desplat's score keeps the movie going at an exhilarating pace.

For me, Wes Anderson's films in the past have been a bit hit and miss as I've felt he's tended to stray too much towards the weird. But weird works with The Grand Budapest Hotel like cookies and cream. If you ever get two hours free time, sit yourself down and lose yourself in the magnificent delight that is The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Rating: ★★★★☆

By Matthew Trick