Tag Archives: bill murray
Jennie’s Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel
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Letter Grade:
B+ |
The Good: All of the Artistic Aspects The Bad: The R Rating Limits It |
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Cast & Crew: Directed By: Wes Anderson Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence |
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The story opens with an author (Tom Wilkinson) revisiting how his younger self (Jude Law) came about the story of The Grand Budapest Hotel and its current owner (F. Murray Abraham)/ former lobby boy (Tony Revolori) Zero Moustafa. It is sort of a story within a story within a story. Luckily the main focus of the film resides with the early 1930’s storyline. The main story is set in a fictionalized European styled location called Republic of Zubrowka. In an also fictionalized history that somewhat mimics the years leading up to World War II. So much so, that there is an occupation of the hotel towards the end of the movie by the ZZ (seemingly replacing the Nazi SS). This movie, like all Wes Anderson movies, is quirky and strange throughout. This one however is not so far over the edge that is distractingly so. With many of his films, about 1/3 of the way through you’re thinking “No one is actually like this” and start just focusing on the absurdities. Not that this one isn’t absurd in many ways, but something about it already being set in a fictional place in an alternate history makes this OK. (more…)
New Trailer: The Monuments Men
Art is a very important part of my life and all aspects of art history fascinate me. When I heard about the plans for The Monuments Men, I was beyond excited. There is a wonderful documentary written by the same man (Robert M. Edsel) who wrote the book this movie is based on. The documentary (which is also based on a book) is called The Rape of Europa and if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. I will probably watch it again before seeing this film
This trailer is a lot funnier than I expected. It’s leaning more towards an Oceans movie than I would have thought. The screenplay was written by George Clooney & Grant Heslov, who are good team (The Ides of March & Good Night, and Good Luck). They are also the producers and have both had pretty good luck with that recently too, Argo in particular.
With this cast, the potentially wonderful writing, and the story, this is looking like a movie that should not be missed.
*Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Publicity
Summer Movie Preview: June
It’s time for the next installment of our summer movie preview, this time we look all the way into June, 2013. “Zombies”, and Monsters, and Shakespeare, oh my!
The Internship
Release Date: June 7th
Synopsis: Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson get laid off and enter an internship program at Google where they must compete with younger, smarter interns for a job with the search giant. Also features Rose Byrne, B.J. Novak, Josh Gad, and Aasif Mandvi. Directed by Shawn Levy (Real Steel, Date Night, and the Night at the Museum franchise).
Our Thoughts:
Rob: I have a feeling that, for better or worse, you’re going to get exactly what you expect out of this one.
Jennie: I hope this movie is funnier than the trailer suggests. Also, am I the only one who thinks it’s strange that the old guy in the wheelchair knows who Charles Xavier is but they don’t have any clue?
Dave: I got to imagine if you’re an old, bald, professor in a wheelchair, you hear the reference from time to time.
Dave: I think the trailer looks funny enough. I generally enjoy the combination of Vaughn and Wilson, but I foresee waiting to see this one on on DVD. Looks like it may be the type of movie that shows you the funniest stuff in the trailer…but i guess you never know.
Nicki: I love this team. They could read the phone book and make me laugh. Just the scene of “What? What?!” alone, makes me want to see it.
