The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a maelstrom of magnificence. Wes Anderson has created a postcard-perfect, astounding cinematic feat of beauty, wit, charm, extravagance and poetry. Reminiscent of the farce and romance of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, but it goes without saying that this is infinitely superior. Possibly the most accessible of Anderson’s films, this extraordinary picture is a joy to behold.

Uniquely shot in stunning colours, The Grand Budapest Hotel reaches into the soul and tugs at it. Following the intricately interweaved tales of young Zero (the applaudable Tony Revolori) and Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes) with hotel staff, lovers and prisoners, it is sharply funny and with all the potential for fantasy of a great book, without the pages. Flowing from scene to scene, signposted and elaborately decorated, you could almost be reading a gold-leafed chocolate box menu.

Jude Law is charming as the Young Writer in his conversations with the emotional and nostalgic Mr Moustafa (F Murray Abraham), Zero grown up. With settings bang on period and a sophisticated tone, there is a seamlessness to the immersion of the audience in Anderson’s alpine world – whether in the various rooms of the fascinating hotel, the prison or the glorious snowy outdoors. History and European culture are endlessly nodded to; there is a real sense of investment in this film that makes it go the distance.

The stand-out performance comes from the infinitely versatile, unimitable Fiennes; he is superb, with incredible command of comedy and character. The film may be oddly slapstick, but it’s incredibly sincere in its portrayal of themes of love, friendship, corruption and loyalty.

Fast-paced and luxurious, this film is testament to sensational imagination and Anderson’s ability to realise this on the silver screen. Outrageous, show-stopping and with a genius script, this is a true work of craftsmanship. The evocative soundtrack lends a poignancy to The Grand Budapest Hotel that sets it apart from its peers. This is a film of a vanished time, our time and beyond, a sensational collage of panache and perfection.

Georgia Mizen

The Grand Budapest Hotel is released nationwide on 7^th March 2014.

Watch the trailer for The Grand Budapest Hotel here: