The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) is a fast-moving, visually sumptuous caper set in the fictional Alpine republic of Zubrowka. Told in nested flashbacks, it follows legendary concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and his loyal lobby boy, Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), as their close friendship propels them into a tangled adventure: the mysterious death of a wealthy dowager, the inheritance of a priceless Renaissance painting ("Boy with Apple"), a courtroom battle with the victim’s ruthless heir, and a comic crime spree involving thefts, prison breaks, and cross-country chases. Along the way the film quietly mourns a changing Europe while delivering sharp farce, elaborate set pieces, and a sly, bittersweet tone. If you watch it, expect impeccably composed, highly stylized visuals and production design, deadpan and rapid-fire dialogue, and a tight blend of screwball comedy and melancholy. The performances — especially Fiennes’s exquisitely comic, oddly tender concierge and the earnest young Zero — drive a story that’s equal parts heist movie and elegy for a vanishing world. It’s witty, brisk, and full of little visual and comedic details that reward attentive viewing.

Actors: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric

Director: Wes Anderson

Runtime: 99 min

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Crime

7.2 /10 88 /100 8.1 /10 8.0 /10