“The Grand Budapest Hotel”: Wes Anderson’s newest triumph

Many know him as the man behind “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Moonrise Kingdom.” Others know him as the cinematic king of nostalgia, featuring vintage French pop, record players and Warby Parker glasses frames. Some do not know of him at all. But regardless of your relationship with the producer/writer/director Wes Anderson, his movies have captured moments of our lives (both inside and outside of school) in the most beautifully whimsical way. In his newest movie, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Anderson takes these connections to a new level.“The Grand Budapest Hotel” follows the story of Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Finnes) and his lobby boy, Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), who work at the world-renowned and luxurious Grand Budapest Hotel. After being accused of murder of his romantic partner Madame D (Tilda Swinton), Gustave H goes on an adventure to try and escape the police while saving a painting he has inherited from Madame D’s family.The movie focuses on the themes of love, law and luxury and explores how they are affected during wartime. While the movie is told in the 1960s, the majority of the film takes place in 1932, when the fictional Republic of Zubrowka was on the verge of war. The movie guides us through the history of the the Grand Budapest Hotel and shows us how the establishment changes throughout the ages. It shows the police’s involvement in the war versus their involvement in issues of theft and murder. It displays the romance of Gustave H and Madame D, and the romance between Zero and his baker-wife Agatha (Saoirse Ronan). It exhibits the thrill and danger of escape and puts the shenanigans of Gustave and Zero into perspective with world affairs.Anderson has specific artistic motifs that are littered throughout all of his movies. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel” we see the reappearance of original artwork with the Andersonian painting “Boy with apple,” which is prized and fought over throughout the majority of the movie. We also see the return of Anderson’s infatuation of clubs with the creation of the “Crossed Keys Club” a society of concierges from each of the luxury hotels in the Republic of Zumbrowka. The use of miniature architectural models also appears in “The Grand Budapest Hotel” with intricate handmade models of the hotel itself as well as a model of the movie’s ski/sled chase sequence in which Gustave H and Zero, who are on a sled, chase Jopling, a villain, who is on skis. These artistic motifs all contribute to the movie’s curious sense of whimsy. Anderson does a great job of imagining and creating worlds of his own which are different than any worlds that have been seen before, he uses these artistic motifs to help him portray these worlds to his audiences.In addition to his artistic themes, Anderson’s movies are also feasts for the eyes. Every frame in each of his films is appealing due to his use of symmetry and carefully selected color schemes. The shots in Anderson’s movies tend to be filled with detail, with the subject of the shot on top of multiple elements in the background. Anderson is also a frequent user of the tracking shot, which follows a moving subject within the frame. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel” we see all of these cinematographic effects. Perhaps the best example is a tracking shot from the film’s opening, where we witness Gustave H. at work, attending to his guests’ needs while barking orders to his staff, holding them to the comically high standards he has set for his hotel. Anderson’s creative shots and innovative cinematography add to the film’s aesthetic and make the film seem like more of a work of art.On top of the artistic and visual motifs, Anderson uses recurring dramatic themes such as dysfunctional families and odd romantic pursuits in his films. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” we see a strange romance blossom between Gustave H and 84-year-old Madame D and the relatively-disfunctional family of Madame D with rude sons and daughters who take advantage of their mother’s wealth. Additionally, we see trends of deadpan dialogue and characters that take themselves far too seriously. These dramatic themes aid the film’s plot line by making unique situations and obstacles for the characters to resolve. They separate Anderson’s stories from ones you have heard before.“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is an enchanting movie that will leave you feeling happy, confused, nostalgic and ultimately in awe. Its artistic, dramatic and cinematographic themes will make you think of alternate universes both close to and very far from our own. It will fill you with a sense of adventure and excitement while making you want to relax and enjoy the simple luxuries of life. It is a movie that you should see, and will continue to see again (and again, and again). It’s that good.