Jack Goes Confidential: Like A Fine Wine—‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’

Seems like every year a certain little film comes along that’s being carefully nurtured by its distributor and eventually turns into a hit—right along with the major studio releases…

A good example would be last year’s THE WAY, WAY BACK.

This year’s candidate is the charming and melancholy melodrama interestingly titled THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

The film opened in limited runs on both coasts a couple of weeks ago.

Runs were expanded last week and the reception the film has received to date has been magnificent.

Translation: great reviews from the critics and some of the biggest ticket sales for an independently produced motion picture in ages.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL was written, co-produced and directed by current cult filmmaker Wes Anderson. And just in case you can’t immediately place him, here’s a refresher of his filmography:

BOTTLE ROCKET, RUSHMORE, THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS, FANTASTIC MR. FOX and MOONRISE KINGDOM.

Now Anderson serves up a idiosyncratic comedic adventure set in a once famous eastern European hotel during the period between wars.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts its legendary concierge Gustave H.’s unusual behavior and happenings throughout the hotel, its bedrooms, the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and his most trusted associate, the lobby boy.

Gustave H. is played to perfection by Ralph Fiennes.

It’s all set against the backdrop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.

The movie is definitely not for everyone. It’s humorous, heartfelt and deliciously satisfying cinema for adult moviegoers. You know who you are….

For his latest outing Anderson has landed a supporting cast that read like a who’s who.

Including, F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem DaFoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, an almost unrecognizeable Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkerson, Owen Wilson and Ralph Fiennes as hotel scoundrel Gustave H.

Me? I had a smile on my face throughout the film’s entire 100 minute running time.

It ‘platforms’ into Kansas City today as a limited three theater engagement and will most likely expand to additional theaters in coming weeks.

A trip back to a golden age of a bygone era with Wes Anderson’s THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL where fascism meets communism while you’ll be captivated by the humerous goings on of this grand caper.

This one reaches BEYOND Anderson’s fan base and scores a solid A-.

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ FM & AM.