New Wes Anderson movie performs beyond expectations

With a cult following rivaling that of almost any other director, Wes Anderson has has a guaranteed audience no matter what he directs, and with good reason too. In “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” he creates one of the most original, witty and whimsical movies of 2014.

The Grand Budapest Hotel chronicles the adventures of Gustave, an overly devoted hotel concierge, and is told through the eyes of his assistant Zero Mustafa, with the words of an author staying in the hotel, and from the point of view of a little girl in a cemetery reading the author’s book (the movie is a little complicated).

The movie takes place in the 1930s and details Gustave’s adventures with Zero after inheriting an enormously valuable painting from a lover of his. The lover’s children, however, are also extremely wealthy and hell-bent on getting revenge with Gustave for allegedly killing her.

While the unique and funny plot is absolutely fantastic, what really makes the movie a Wes Anderson classic and an exceptional film are the visuals. Following Anderson’s style, the movie is visually pleasing with its constant symmetry, beautifully vibrant color palette and his signature tracking and motion shots.

These elements all work together to create a world that looks like a playset, even while exploring darker topics such as family feuds, inheritance rights and war. The tracking shots so often used in the movie keep a sense of motion and a energy in the movie that keeps the viewer constantly interested and awake, despite the movie actually being slightly longer than most of the rest of Anderson’s movies.

Overall, the stunning visuals and engrossing story make for a movie experience that is only rivalled by other Anderson movies. The unique feel and zest of this movie make it a must-see.