Taking place in the fictional Central European state of Zubrowka, we follow Tony Revolori as Zero Moustapha, the new lobby boy at the eponymous hotel where he is taken under the wing of the legendary M. Gustave, the hotel's flamboyant concierge played spectacularly by Ralph Fiennes. After the sudden death of one of Gustave's wealthy "clients", Gustave inherits a valuable painting but is later implicated in her death, and must team up with Zero to prove his innocence.
I really enjoy the ensemble cast the film has, including Jeff Goldblum, Adrian Brody, Willem Dafoe, and many of Wes Anderson's regulars. They're all suitably quirky, but it's Ralph Fiennes who steals the show as Gustave. His dialogue can range from poetic and flowery to crude and foul-mouthed. As a writer, I understand that profanity loses its impact if used liberally, but Gustave is an example of someone who uses it well, especially as it contrasts his normal persona.
The story itself is rife with twists and turns, but I don't want to give away too much here. Not to mention that it can get pretty dark at times. This is supposed to be a comedy, right?
Granted, the characters are really over-the-top, but I think that works to the film's advantage. It's one I fully recommend.
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