THE LIFE AQUATIC with STEVE ZISSOU
Cast: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett...
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach
Review Date: 12/30/04
Written By: suj
Rating: 9.5/10
THE PLOT:
A formerly famous oceanographer fallen on hard times, Steve Zissou has hit rock bottom. Sensing revenge on a mysterious shark that took the life of his best friend will redeem his soul, Steve and Team Zissou hit the seas (on his ship, “The Belafonte”), with a reporter tagging along, a rival around every corner, and a man named Ned who may or may not be Steve’s long lost son.
THE REVIEW:
I just watched this flick (twice) recently and the aftermath of its first viewing I was both impressed and awed by this jumbled adventure Wes Anderson had put together, but I still felt it wasn't his best work in fact I believe my exact words were "its the worst of 'his' films". Now that I’ve watched it for a second time I was able to gather my thoughts and simply take a gander into its nucleus and with its intriguing outer-shell I must retract my statement and now declare this film better than "Tenebaums" as good as "Bottle Rocket", but still nowhere near "Rushmore."
Wes Anderson is one of my favorite film-makers and I could even go has far as saying (at this moment in time) his name is etched in at the one spot in my big book of all-time favorite film makers. Anderson's films have become known as commodity to movie astute patrons like me; it’s that kind of commodity that sticks out like a beautiful rose in batch of dandelions. “Life Aquatic”, like Anderson's previous works, retains the unforgettable vision of this viciously talented, stylish, and original filmmaker.
“Life Aquatic” being Wes Anderson’s fourth film shows the skills at the craft and is a potent reminder just how imaginative and striking an artist he really is. What makes “Aquatic” stand out is its epic scale, working with his biggest budget to date; Anderson has become very ambitious with his ideas this time around. Even with a big budget and critical praise it hasn't phased Anderson one bit has he still clutches with a GI Joe Kung Fu-like grip on his established idiosyncratic material. Also Anderson's attention to detail remains in full force for the picture, as its gorgeously photographed, and stunning in its art direction (See: interior look into the Belafonte as if it were a gigantic ant farm that Team Zissou has burrowed into).
Nothing seems to upset the film’s flow, which is filled with pirate invasions, crew bickering, loving affairs, cut limbs, David Bowie, and whole bag of quirky. It was like being taken into the galaxy of the wildly unexpected. Even with all these strange tangents, the main journey of a weathered Steve chasing glory again is never too far out of reach to blur focus, and neither does Anderson nor co-writer Baumbach pass up any type of uproarious joke involving jealous German shipmate Klaus.
Bill Murray is the Fucking Man! And plays the emotional anchor for this particular tale and Anderson asks to see the rainbow inside him. We get the whole range of Murray here, including priceless Murray-perfect sarcasm toward the hapless interns on the Belafonte.
Also worth noting is the film's vital score by Mark Mothersbaugh. His score soaks the scenes with just the right documentary film thrust and by films end you won't be able to get that techno sounding beat off of the ping island invasion out of your head. Now couple that with Anderson’s flare for old school needle drops like the Zombies and this flicks particular fetish for David Bowie and you got one of the most kick-ass soundtracks since, well, Tarantino's 'Kill Bill'.
Wes Anderson's latest effort is dazzling, exquisite in every corner, and captures the very essence of high seas adventure while still holding on to that Andersonesque eccentricity. Now, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it.
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach
Review Date: 12/30/04
Written By: suj
Rating: 9.5/10
THE PLOT:
A formerly famous oceanographer fallen on hard times, Steve Zissou has hit rock bottom. Sensing revenge on a mysterious shark that took the life of his best friend will redeem his soul, Steve and Team Zissou hit the seas (on his ship, “The Belafonte”), with a reporter tagging along, a rival around every corner, and a man named Ned who may or may not be Steve’s long lost son.
THE REVIEW:
I just watched this flick (twice) recently and the aftermath of its first viewing I was both impressed and awed by this jumbled adventure Wes Anderson had put together, but I still felt it wasn't his best work in fact I believe my exact words were "its the worst of 'his' films". Now that I’ve watched it for a second time I was able to gather my thoughts and simply take a gander into its nucleus and with its intriguing outer-shell I must retract my statement and now declare this film better than "Tenebaums" as good as "Bottle Rocket", but still nowhere near "Rushmore."
Wes Anderson is one of my favorite film-makers and I could even go has far as saying (at this moment in time) his name is etched in at the one spot in my big book of all-time favorite film makers. Anderson's films have become known as commodity to movie astute patrons like me; it’s that kind of commodity that sticks out like a beautiful rose in batch of dandelions. “Life Aquatic”, like Anderson's previous works, retains the unforgettable vision of this viciously talented, stylish, and original filmmaker.
“Life Aquatic” being Wes Anderson’s fourth film shows the skills at the craft and is a potent reminder just how imaginative and striking an artist he really is. What makes “Aquatic” stand out is its epic scale, working with his biggest budget to date; Anderson has become very ambitious with his ideas this time around. Even with a big budget and critical praise it hasn't phased Anderson one bit has he still clutches with a GI Joe Kung Fu-like grip on his established idiosyncratic material. Also Anderson's attention to detail remains in full force for the picture, as its gorgeously photographed, and stunning in its art direction (See: interior look into the Belafonte as if it were a gigantic ant farm that Team Zissou has burrowed into).
Nothing seems to upset the film’s flow, which is filled with pirate invasions, crew bickering, loving affairs, cut limbs, David Bowie, and whole bag of quirky. It was like being taken into the galaxy of the wildly unexpected. Even with all these strange tangents, the main journey of a weathered Steve chasing glory again is never too far out of reach to blur focus, and neither does Anderson nor co-writer Baumbach pass up any type of uproarious joke involving jealous German shipmate Klaus.
Bill Murray is the Fucking Man! And plays the emotional anchor for this particular tale and Anderson asks to see the rainbow inside him. We get the whole range of Murray here, including priceless Murray-perfect sarcasm toward the hapless interns on the Belafonte.
Also worth noting is the film's vital score by Mark Mothersbaugh. His score soaks the scenes with just the right documentary film thrust and by films end you won't be able to get that techno sounding beat off of the ping island invasion out of your head. Now couple that with Anderson’s flare for old school needle drops like the Zombies and this flicks particular fetish for David Bowie and you got one of the most kick-ass soundtracks since, well, Tarantino's 'Kill Bill'.
Wes Anderson's latest effort is dazzling, exquisite in every corner, and captures the very essence of high seas adventure while still holding on to that Andersonesque eccentricity. Now, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it.
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