I guess I never wound up writing a full-length review of Grand Budapest Hotel, because I did not really like it. I found it too cute, overwrought, tone-deaf as to the accents, and sort of creepy in the way it seems to make even Naziism part of a toyland world. However, it is loved by everybody. I am a big fan of Wes Anderson and expected to like this. I only wrote a short comment in a New York Movie Journal for Feb.-Mar. when I was in the city attending the Rendez-Vous and New Directors series screenings. I see the Metacritic rating has gone up to 88 (Dec. 2014). It's coming up on best lists. http://www.filmleaf.net/showthread.p...1902#post31902THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Wes Anderson 2014). A new Wes Anderson film would deserve a full review. And I hope to give it one. This stylized saga of a "Mitteleuropa" haute bourgeoisie luxury hotel and its lobbyboy and concierge/manager over lifetimes spanning the Thirties to the Eighties is replete with famous actors and elaborate mise-en-scène. But it winds up being relatively uninvolving, especially coming after the lovely and sweet childhood romance of MOONRISE KINGDOM. One of the troubles is Anderson doesn't quite seem to "get" this kind of European snobbism and sophistication; and his heedless use of a mishmash of mostly American actors with totally un-grand-hotel voices and accents can't work well. Ralph Fiennes is fine as the hotel manager in its heyday, and as his lobbyboy Zero Tony Revolori is small and cute -- but there's that American accent again, totally out of place. Tone deaf. But not many care (Metacritic rating: 86.) Opened in NYC Fri. 7 Mar. 2014. At Regal Union Square.
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