HOTEL BUDAPEST

In the early 20th century at the famed European hotel, The Grand Budapest, legendary concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) trains lobby boy Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori) to provide top-notch service to guests. This training gets interrupted by a murder, a theft, an imprisonment, a rescue, a pastry apprentice, a love affair, and a wild ski chase in this artfully crazy story within a story by Wes Anderson that fully engages the senses (well, perhaps not much common sense).

Fiennes delivers an exceptional performance as the flamboyantly fussy Gustave, a concierge who devotes his life to providing great service – in and out of bed. He sleeps with all his “friends,” many of whom are rich elderly women who visit the hotel especially to see him. His incongruous personality traits (cultured though occasionally crude, controlled though sometimes out of control), and his ambiguous sexuality make him a fascinating onscreen character.

Chaos Reigns at The Grand Budapest Hotel

The hotel routine gets disrupted by the suspicious death of one of Gustave’s elderly bed partners, Madame D (Tilda Swinton in heavy makeup to look like a woman in her eighties). Her greedy family members become enraged when Madame D’s attorney (Jeff Goldblum) announces she bequeathed a priceless Renaissance painting titled “Boy With Apple” to Gustave.

The old lady’s son (Adrien Brody) vows vengeance on the hapless Gustave, and directs the family hit-man (Willem Dafoe) to take care of the matter. From this point on, chaos reigns with police, thugs, monks, prison inmates, and concierges around the country (members of The Society of the Crossed Keys) working to either help or hurt Gustave, who steals his own painting for fear of losing it, but maintains his innocence in the death of Madame D.

A Revolving Door of Movie Stars Movie

stars breezily enter and exit this film almost like they were moving through the revolving front door of a luxury hotel. Although their inclusion is irrelevant to the film as a whole, their appearances (including Bill Murray and Owen Wilson from other Anderson films) help the director mark his uniquely quirky stamp upon the movie.

The madcap storyline, bizarre characters, uncomfortable camera angles, painterly design, and memorable musical score by Alexandre Desplat (who also provided music for Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom) delight the eye and ear. However, like the lovely and fattening confections that appear throughout the movie, the enjoyment of The Grand Budapest Hotel merely leaves a sweet taste in your mouth rather than providing much sustenance.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

A lobby boy becomes the friend and protege of a flamboyant concierge at a European hotel during turbulent times.

Starring Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Wilem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Billy Murray, Edward Norton, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan
Director: Wes Anderson
Writers: Wes Anderson (screenplay and story); Hugo Guinness (story); Stefan Zweig (inspired by the works of)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language, some sexual content and violence)
Leslie Halpern is a movie critic, and author of three nonfiction books about the film and entertainment industry. She wrote “Passionate About Their Work: 151 Celebrities, Artists, and Experts on Creativity” (BearManor Media, 2010), “Reel Romance: The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies” (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2004), and “Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science” (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003). Visit her website: