and -- wait... a Best Picture nominee that was released in the spring!? And with a year-high

total of nine nominations... is such a thing even possible? The $30 million dollar picture

also did very well financially, taking home $175 million in ticket sales - making it Anderson's

most successful picture yet. The 100-minute story follows the misadventures of a legendary

concierge at a prestigious hotel, alongside his trusted lobby boy. The R-rated plot has

dozens of twists, turns, and surprises, involving murder, conspiracy, prison breaks, art theft,

and surviving both world wars. Ralph Fiennes leads the massive and hugely talented supporting

cast which includes... deep breath... F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Bob Balaban, Adrien

Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton,

Jason Schwartzman, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson and Tony Revolori.

They're all fantastic, but it's Fiennes who turns in the most surprising performance:

exhibiting comedic timing and playfulness we've never before. Hard to believe this is

the same guy who played a hard-ass Nazi in "Schindler's List" twenty years ago. Anderson's

direction is, as always, vibrant and unique - adopting different aspect ratios to delineate

three parallel narratives. He also makes ample use of locked down wide shots that make quick

90-degree pans around the decorative and colorful sets. The quick-witted dialogue is peppered

with vulgar language, and lots of deadpan punch lines. Making great use of the titular

hotel's large ornate lobby, a scene where Fiennes suddenly decides to flee from inquisitive

police is followed by a brilliant beat before the pursuit begins. The entire script is littered

with these fun little moments, with the picture bookended by Wilkinson providing some introductory

narration remarking, "The incidents that follow were described to me exactly as I present

them here, and in a wholly unexpected way." The light and whimsical score from Alexandre

Desplat is a perfect fit for the zany, somewhat unbelievable events that unfold onscreen - even

incorporating the rare balalaika instrument during a tense ski slope sequence. I often

use the word "formulaic" as a criticism of modern cinema, but perhaps the highest compliment

I give this picture is how truly original and unformulaic everything feels. Repeat viewings

are almost required to catch all of the many intricacies and cross-references in a story

that flies by too fast to really soak it all in. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is a goofy

time with layers of personality. Here's what you had to say about it.

Awarding this the top score, you especially loved the writing and ensemble cast. There

was a certain intangible depth missing from this picture that's making me hold back, so

I'll give this a NINE out of ten.