The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson is back with the symmetry of his frames, still camera and arrestingly strange characters. In his latest masterpiece, the story is centered around an old hotel that lingers on in the cloud of its prestigious past or I should say around that of its concierge. The movie starts off as a simple retelling of the legendary concierge's past that soon becomes part murder mystery, part prison break, part thriller and full on fun ride. Manifested with big name actors and actresses playing their bit and lead roles that they only would for Mr. Anderson, you are left marveling at this genius who makes complexity so simple. Or is it the other way around... 

Rating: * * *

Moonrise Kingdom

Like many Wes Anderson films, the premise is simple and set around a quirky family. Sam and Suzy, a couple of introverted teens meet during a church performance and become pen pals. Over the course of their correspondence, they fall in love and decide to run away to together. The setting for their elopement is during a Kakhi scouts camp that Sam is attending. The kids manage to flee but with the Kakhi scouts hot on their heels. What ensues is hilarity with stillness and deadpan seriousness. A film that is hard to describe but completely worth watching.

Rating: * * *

The Limits of Control

A shadowy man (Isaach De Bankolé) wanders around Europe drinking two cups of espresso (not a double) and exchanging match boxes for mysterious reasons. A myriad of interesting characters venture on to the screen in quirky settings, muttering profound dialogs. Unfortunately the purpose of this endeavor is elusive and you are left lamenting the misuse and wastage of the assembled talent.

Rating: *

Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson is at it again and he has made a come back from his lackluster (my opinion) Life Aquatic. A brilliant script backed by some fine acting by Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman. Owen Wilson bumbles along in his usual style. They play three brothers who meet up to make a spiritual journey across North India. The cameos by Irfan Khan, Bill Murray and Natalie Portman were a nice touch too. An orey funny movie in bits and pieces that make a decent whole.

Rating: * * *
PS: Part I of the film was the bit that really hooked me.

Rushmore

It was political reporter K Kuppuswamy who first drew my attention to the movie by recounting a dialgoue by Bill Murray's character: She is my Rushmore, in order to explain something from his past.

Rushmore is a funny movie, in which Jason Schwartzman makes his (rather, impressive) debut as Max Fischer, a talented rebellious student of Rushmore Academy. Things get a bit messy, when his best friend, a rich business man (played by Bill Murray), meets the subject of Max's student fantasy: his high school teacher.

The movie was apparently a turning point in Bill Murray's acting career: and I suppose provided the inspiration to specialise in portaying a man's tragic midlife existence. Wes Anderson and Bill Murray owe one each to the other and thats why I suppose they still link up. Neat soundtrack, as it pretty much does in a Wes Anderson movie. A simple movie, yet feels nicely complete.

Rating: * * *

Coffee and Cigarettes

There are some directors/actors I am biased towards - not without reason though I assure you - but the truth is I know there is a good movie out there, the moment I learn that its one of them in it. Like Jim Jarmusch for instance and his 2003 movie 'Coffee and Cigarettes'. Shot in B&W, features a wide range of talented artists in a series of 11 chapters - each of which has couple of people meeting over coffee & cigarettes and discussing stuff. In some cases, its tea - for the sake of variety I presume. Some of the conversations are inane, a few I found funny and then there are some that brings attention to some varied pieces of information. But there seems to be a thread running through it - like for example, the two people are related to each other, that coffee before going to sleep is like racing an Indy 500 race and that ciggys + coffee do not make a healthy lunch. I liked it - but its one of those that I would not recommend to anyone. An amusing flick, especially with a fat rolled one in hand.

On a connected note, heres a link to an amusing email exchange between 2 protagonists in the movie - Jack White and Stephen Coogan - brought to you by the Guardian.

Rating: * * *

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Tres brilliant = Bill Murray as an eccentric Steve Zissou, as only Bill Murray can do it. A very stylish comedy about a oceangographer who goes in search for the mythical killer Jaguar Shark that killed his closest buddy. His team consists of various characters that one would expect Steve Zissou put together: a likely illegitimate son, a preganant reporter, a Sardar cameraman, a nutcase German right-hand man, a part ex-wife, a guitar strumming brazilian henchman and ofcourse, weed smoking Steve Zissou amongst others. Enjoyed it, but as I figured not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. So Beware. Good soundtrack as well.

Rating: * * *

Mad Dog and Glory

A Martin Scorsese produced movie staring two of the prime artists of our time and a beauty. The tagline of the movie describes it best:

A cop who'd rather be an artist. A mobster who'd rather be a comic. And a woman who'd rather be anywhere but between them.

Witty clever interplay between 2 characters who are accidentally brought together. The friendship is cut-short on an inevitable face-off over a woman. Quite funny and amusing.

David Caruso appears in a bit role. A pity that we havent seen more of the fellow.

Rating: * * +

Broken Flowers

Its one of those that can possibly allow for a lot of thinking / discussion - if you are the sort i.e. Esp if you love contemplating past loves.

There are long periods of stillness in terms of action, dialogue and camera movement, possibly attempting to replicate the brain speed of the main character. Urged by his stoner neighbour, Bill Murray heads out to find something, which he eventually _______.. ??

The reason for the rating below := the cast (Chloe Sevigny, Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Julie Delpy, Jeffrey Wright) put together for this rather thin story + the outstanding soundtrack + stoic performance by Bill Murray. Another cool flick by Jim Jarmusch.

Rating : * * *