'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Throughout a lapse of several different time lines, the Grand Budapest Hotel is shown in its original state, in its prime and on its last leg.

The film opens with a young girl walking through a cemetery lightly covered with a fresh batch of snow. She approaches a memorial tomb covered in keys and letters of the fictitious author of a memoir entitled “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

This writer — played by Tom Wilkinson as an old man and Jude Law as a young man — creates an almost-bibliography of Zero, the lobby boy played by Tony Revolori, and how he happens upon ownership of the hotel.

Viewers might become fond of Zero throughout the film as he pencils on a thin, fake mustache and falls in love with a mysterious baker’s assistant, Agatha, portrayed by Saoirse Ronan.

His mentor and concierge of the hotel, Monsieur Gustave — played by Ralph Fiennes — provides much of the comic relief in the film from his grandeur nature, his drive to be proper with a capital P and his infatuation with wealthy older female guests of the hotel.

After his favorite seasoned lady, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), succumbs to a tragic death, Gustave is accused of murdering her for her fortune.

The bratty gang of Madame D.’s kin is run by Dmitri (Adrien Brody), the eldest son who dons a dictator’s wardrobe and a jaguar’s ferocity.

After Gustave receives a priceless work of art, “Boy with Apple,” from Madame D.’s will, Dmitri demands his imprisonment. With the assistance of Zero, Gustave steals “Boy with Apple” and attempts to evade Dmitri and his posse.

If you’re hoping to find the same aura of cuteness from “Moonrise Kingdom” in this R-rated film, think again.

Though the aloofness of an indie film remains, as does director Wes Anderson’s stamp all over the work, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” pokes fun at darker subjects, such as ridiculous murder scenes, cruelty towards immigrants and homage to World
War II.

These real-life issues translate better to an adult audience, and the use of precise profanity acts as a cherry on top of a grown-up sundae.

Though the story should be entertaining enough for most, the art of Anderson’s cinematography and intricate design of each scene captivate even the novices of indie film. For each wide shot of the hotel, a handcrafted miniature model was used instead of CGI or other effects.

If neither of those elements strike your fancy, the film remains quite fun to watch with IMDb pulled up to see if you can recognize headliner actors playing small parts.
Scenes introducing actors like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Edward Norton in minor roles serve as an inside joke for the audience.

With its quirks and intricacies fashioned into a tale of riches and murder, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” puts on a grand performance and leaves audience members happy they visited.