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Wide ScreenThe 6 Most Wes Anderson-y things about the ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ trailer
The first trailer for Wes Anderson's latest quirky hipster fantasy film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” recently hit the web, and it looks to be the director's most distinctive effort to date. In fact, the trailer for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" contains so many of the director's trademarks that the movie might as well just be called "Wes Anderson Movie"! Check out six of the most Wes Anderson-y things about "The Grand Budapest Hotel" trailer:
A familiar cast
It wouldn’t be a Wes Anderson movie without a recognizable cavalcade of actors. While “The Grand Budapest Hotel” may star Ralph Fiennes and newcomer Tony Revolori, all of the usual Anderson suspects are present. From longtime collaborators like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson, to more recent faves like Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton and even Bob Balaban. Say what you will about Anderson’s films, but they must be pretty fun to make if he can keep getting all these folks on board.
Changing aspect ratios
One of the first things that jumps out about the “Grand Budapest Hotel” trailer is the movie’s unique aspect ratio. Most moviegoers are used to widescreen formats, as those have been the standard in Hollywood for more than 50 years, but Anderson chose to shoot much of his latest movie in the classic “Academy Ratio” – a square format that closely resembles the dimensions of an old 4:3 standard definition TV picture. As “The Grand Budapest Hotel” takes place in three different time periods, Anderson reportedly shot the film in three different aspect ratios (1.33, 1.85, and 2.35:1, to be precise) to help viewers determine which period they are watching.
The teenage protagonist
Anderson's films usually tend to concern kids who are wise beyond their years or adults who act like immature, overgrown children. (Sometimes it's both!) Continuing the thread he started with "Rushmore" and continued with "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Grand Budapest Hotel" centres on Zero (played by newcomer Tony Revolori), a young man who starts work as a lobby boy at prestigious hotel and is shown the ropes by the hotel's oddball concierge (Ralph Fiennes). Anderson's movies always deal with strange subject matter, and kids usually make the most honest and entertaining protagonists in such situation.
Framing, colour, and the little details
You can usually spot a Wes Anderson movie a mile away based on three things: How the shots are framed, how colourful the sets and props are, and how much detail is put into the smallest things. With its colourful backdrops, exquisitely composed symmetrical shots, and minutiae-filled scenes, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” exemplifies all of these Andersonian tendencies. Every shot is a joy to look at!
Overhead shots and dramatic zooms
Like his actors, Anderson is very fond of certain cinematic techniques. Two of the director’s favourite camera tricks are the overhead close-up shot and the snap zoom. Some reviewers have criticized Anderson for his reliance on these techniques, but others recognize them a stylistic flourishes the director has made his own. You can find overhead shots and zooms scattered throughout Anderson’s filmography, and there are even a few examples in the “Grand Budapest Hotel” trailer. Sadly there is no instance in the trailer where of a group of people walk towards the camera in slow-motion – another Wes Anderson trope.
Indeterminate time period and pseudo-European setting
Are you able to tell when or even where “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is supposed to be set? Is it Hungary? While Anderson’s movies may ostensibly take place in a specific time period (like the 1960s in “Moonrise Kingdom”), his films always have a timeless quality to them, thanks to the director's love of nostalgia and kitsch. The filmmaker’s time in Europe is also rubbing off on his cinematic efforts, as the Houston, Texas native spends a great deal of time in Paris, France. The French influence is easy to spot in movies like “The Life Aquatic,” “The Darjeeling Limited,” and now “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Is “The Grand Budapest Hotel” the culmination of all of Wes Anderson’s work to date? It certainly seems that way. Fans of the eccentric director will find out when the movie is released on March 7, 2014.
