The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel
This movie recounts the adventures of M. Gustave, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune - all against the backdrop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.
AngusMcNutz reviewedJune 5, 2025
Whenever I approach a Wes Anderson film for the first time, there's usually some lingering feeling of caution or restraint. Something inside me that says "Don't get too excited. Don't let yourself get swept up. Just maintain criticality so you can be objective." After years of seeing this film over and over, I can confirm that all that goes out the window almost immediately, no matter what kind of mood I am in or what mindset I choose to fruitlessly maintain.
This is, by far, one of the truest representations of the magic of cinema. Anderson's other works have their place and their own individual impacts, for sure, but The Grand Budapest Hotel stands boldly and proud as the culmination of meticulous detail and genuinely heart-opening writing. I implore you to delve into cast and crew anecdotes from this production and you'll find a constant throughline of care, craft and sheer adoration for how this film came together.
Themes like nostalgia, loyalty and class are so easy to produce but difficult to truly master, yet this film knows exactly what to do with them and, more importantly, who do execute them with. To say this film is well casted is an extensive minimization and it speaks to Anderson's ability to create comfort within roles that let actors truly engage with the subtlety of their personas.
Do yourself a favor. Watch this movie when you're having a bad day.