Gimme a Paternity Test and a Salmon Steak
Title: The Life Acquatic with Steve Zissou
Year: 2004
Writers: Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach
Director: Wes Anderson
My Take: I've been a fan of Wes Anderson since the guy who turned me from movie buff to cinephile handed me Bottle Rocket and said, "Enjoy." The quirky characters, witty banter, and zany stories have made for hours of entertainment. His follow-up films Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and now Life Aquatic have all followed the same pattern with seemingly ever-increasing quirk, wit, and zane. I would usually attempt to summarize the story in a few words, but this film really denies a brief explanation. It's about a nearly washed up undersea documentarian searching for the shark that ate his best friend. But it's not. It's about that same documentarian coming to grips with his long lost son. But it's not. It's about that same documentarian's failing marriage. But it's not. Ultimately, the film is about life and living with our experiences, which is probably why the film manages to connect on some level despite being bizarre in so many ways.
Bill Murray nails another drama-comedy role on the heels of Lost in Translation. Owen Wilson plays country hick pilot as the long lost son. Angelica Houston is the aging and very wealthy wife. Willem Dafoe appears in an unexpectly comic turn as a 2nd mate who has always longed for the captain's attention. Cate Blanchett is a reporter profiling the documentarian. Jeff Goldblum is one nemesis (the shark is the other). And a quick shout out to Bud Cort who plays a watchdog for the bond company that funds the expedition. For those of you who may not have seen it or don't remember, Bud Cort was Harold in the truly brilliant Harold & Maude.
The Verdict: While I love Wes Anderson and enjoyed this film, I didn't feel as though it were a step forward. The richly dysfunctional Tenenbaum family was perhaps something I could relate to on some level. A boat full of quirky characters was not. That's not to say I wouldn't recommend the film, I would. It's still better than 75% of movies I saw in 2004. But if you're a Wes Anderson afficionado, don't expect progression.
Year: 2004
Writers: Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach
Director: Wes Anderson
My Take: I've been a fan of Wes Anderson since the guy who turned me from movie buff to cinephile handed me Bottle Rocket and said, "Enjoy." The quirky characters, witty banter, and zany stories have made for hours of entertainment. His follow-up films Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and now Life Aquatic have all followed the same pattern with seemingly ever-increasing quirk, wit, and zane. I would usually attempt to summarize the story in a few words, but this film really denies a brief explanation. It's about a nearly washed up undersea documentarian searching for the shark that ate his best friend. But it's not. It's about that same documentarian coming to grips with his long lost son. But it's not. It's about that same documentarian's failing marriage. But it's not. Ultimately, the film is about life and living with our experiences, which is probably why the film manages to connect on some level despite being bizarre in so many ways.
Bill Murray nails another drama-comedy role on the heels of Lost in Translation. Owen Wilson plays country hick pilot as the long lost son. Angelica Houston is the aging and very wealthy wife. Willem Dafoe appears in an unexpectly comic turn as a 2nd mate who has always longed for the captain's attention. Cate Blanchett is a reporter profiling the documentarian. Jeff Goldblum is one nemesis (the shark is the other). And a quick shout out to Bud Cort who plays a watchdog for the bond company that funds the expedition. For those of you who may not have seen it or don't remember, Bud Cort was Harold in the truly brilliant Harold & Maude.
The Verdict: While I love Wes Anderson and enjoyed this film, I didn't feel as though it were a step forward. The richly dysfunctional Tenenbaum family was perhaps something I could relate to on some level. A boat full of quirky characters was not. That's not to say I wouldn't recommend the film, I would. It's still better than 75% of movies I saw in 2004. But if you're a Wes Anderson afficionado, don't expect progression.
posted by Hairy Lime at 8:27 PM
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