Month: May 2014

Offbeat, charming, zany, macabre, intriguing, clever, hilarious: these are some words that rush to mind to describe this gem of a movie. This is a story about a complicated slice of twentieth-century European history and culture set in the fictitious and fantasy realm of the Republic of Zubrowka — a geographical reflection of the various Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Soviet sensibilities between the two World Wars — in a hotel that has a personality all its own thanks in large part to its intriguing owner and a charismatic concierge.

The charismatic concierge, M. Gustave, portrayed by the brilliant Ralph Fiennes, is a thoroughly ridiculous man as much as he is “a glimmer of civilization in the barbaric slaughterhouse we know as humanity.” Elegant at all times in the service of his hotel guests be it in the act of arranging for their comfort in their rooms in more ways than one, or in the training of the new Lobby Boy, Fiennes is consummate in his accent and delivery.

There’s also no doubt that this is a quintessential and decidedly black comedy where fingers are severed, cats are tossed out of windows, and prison guards are dispatched with bloody abandon. That all such moments elicit more laughter than horror is a testament to the director, Wes Anderson’s unique style and direction.

“Budapest” is pretty much an old-fashioned screwball comedy dressed up in sophisticated garishness. Thanks to Fiennes, as well as a long list of other fine actors such as Jude Law, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton, and Fiennes’ protégé Zero (Tony Revolori), this is a goofy and eccentric joy-ride dripping with dry wit all along.

If a movie can be elegantly zany, this tale of a concierge, his protégé, and the murder of a countess, is it.

“Everyone has a part of themselves they hide, even from the people they love most.  And you don’t have forever, none of us ever do.” So says Aunt May to Peter Parker, aka, Spider-Man. That, in essence, captures the crux of the story of the superhero who’s always there just in the nick of time, and when late to family events and such, it is only for good reason, and not because he loves them any less. In fact, his great sense of love and loyalty actually compels him to sacrifice his love for the good of others. Now, what’s not to love about a guy like that? But some of his best moments are what he does as Peter Parker outside the suit.

The special effects are phenomenal as usual, which are now almost not quite as awe-inspiring as when the earliest of the modern movie series debuted about a decade ago.

Andrew Garfield dons the Spider-man suit very well, and his chemistry with Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy is not lacking in the least, perhaps in no small measure due to the real-life role of boyfriend that he is to her. Stone is like a porcelain doll, big eyes and all, and despite a somewhat clichéd supporting role that she plays, she only adds to the overall pleasure of the sights and sounds. Jamie Fox’s Electro is our latest villain, and the one other villain-guy looks like the spitting image of Leonardo di Caprio twenty years ago.

Minor gripes aside, this was a thoroughly enjoyable ride. A little too long, yes, but hey, what can you do when the world needs saving?

Summer Movie Season 2014 is off to a great start!