The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), R, ★★★★

Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and Zero (Tony Revolori) being alarmed.

Wes Anderson has created some bizarre, but original pieces of work over his career that I have absolutely admired: Rushmore (my personal favorite), Bottle Rocket, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom and The Royal Tenenbaums (which I have finally liked recently, but I do not adore it as much as many people). Sometimes, his camera work and camera angles are equivalent to Martin Scorsese's work from the long takes to the quick zoom-in. But, all of his flair and technique is his own signature. What's great about Anderson's work is that he takes all of his wacky characters and place them into his stories or plots full of humor and/or melancholic consequences.  Moonrise was my personal choice of the best film of 2011; but, this movie may be one of the best movies of 2014. The unfortunate part is that it is March. Let me put it to you this way. If this movie does not turn out to be one of the best movies of 2014, it is going to be a heck of a great year for movies.

This is kind of a difficult movie to review because anything I type I reveal a little portion of a spoiler. But, I need to keep this synopsis as simple and general as possible. The movie starts with the Author (Jude Law), in 1968, where he travels to Zubrowka to see a bitter old man (F. Murray Abraham) in the once-renowned Grand Budapest Hotel. He feels somber after the war has passed. But as a few meetings pass by, the Author begins to listen to the old man's story.

The story begins in 1932, during the final glory years of Zubrowka before the war took over, where Zero (Tony Revolori), a young teenager, begins working under the supervision of the most devoted concierge, M. Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) Everyone is working hard at a rapid pace, while Gustave attends to the aging, blonde women who enjoy his company and service, but he is focused on one elderly dowager countess, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton) Madame D. fears that she may never see him again and both her and Gustave have a candlelight dinner prior to her departure.

Meanwhile, Zero gets an impromptu interview from Gustave questioning him why he wants to be a lobby boy because of his lack of hotel experience and education. Zero replies, "Who wouldn't, at the Grand Budapest Hotel?" Gustave is pleased with his answer and Zero works efficiently as he is looking at every detail to ensure that the guests are pleased of how organized and pleasant the hotel is for their stay. But also, Zero meets a girl who would become the love of his life, Agatha (Saoirse Ronan).

A few days later, (this is not a spoiler, it's in the trailer) Madame D. has died under questionable circumstances. Gustave and Zero get on the train on their way to Madame D's estate. But, they are stopped by soldiers and Inspector Henckels (Edward Norton). After Madame's wake, Kovacs (Jeff Goldblum), acting as the executor of the estate, reads her will as her son Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and his siblings wait to have some inheritance. But, Kovacs reads that she bequeaths Gustave with a painting called "Boy of Apple". Dmitri gets angry and the investigation is still continuing. What will happen to the characters and the hotel itself? What happens to the hotel's reputation?

Inspector Henckels (Edward Norton) searching for clues.

I was skeptical of how this movie will turn out whether Wes Anderson will measure his next project to the levels of his best work. In my opinion, as it turns out, this is one of Anderson's best movies. This is a confident movie, presenting the sumptuous look of the hotel that feels like a delicious palate ready to munch on. The hotel is surrounded by wonderment before war devastates the people and the fictional country of Zubrowka. The lavish and stylistic colors is a metaphor of happiness while the depressing and unfolding state of melancholia especially in the beginning and ending.

However, Anderson is not a political filmmaker but we see how the war really affects places of magnitude and likability and enthusiastic people. Therefore, the beginning of the story foreshadows a character's vulnerability of what will happen to the characters he cared for. So, this movie has a very sad conclusion and it is definitely one of Anderson's complex movies up there with The Royal Tenenbaums. You can compare each vulnerable character's behavior from the two movies and there are similarities and differences as how the character's fate orchestrates the two ensembles. Maybe, with Budapest, it could be two characters. So, that's something to think about after watching the movie.

Ralph Fiennes steals this whole movie as he displays the perfect comic timing with panache and charm. This is one of Anderson's most memorable characters without question and it is definitely one of Fiennes' best performances. Revolori is likable as the young lobby boy as he has presence on-screen. A lot of character-actors did a fine job such as Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Harvey Keitel, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Tom Wilkinson and Anderson's recurring cast members: Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzmann and Owen Wilson.

This movie displays a sense of horror that Anderson wants to interfere that horror with delight, hilarious jokes and some vague obscenity. This is escapist entertainment with comedy and some unexpected action that Anderson does not present on screen too often. I enjoyed this whole thrill-ride a whole lot. Anderson fans will love this movie, as for people who go to this movie with an open mind and not have heard of Anderson's work, I think they will be taken away by the adventure. I would not mind to take another trip to the hotel, as long as it is organized by Gustave. Haha.

****