THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014)

It's a given that a Wed Anderson film is going to bowl you over visually (this one's no exception), but the story of legendary concierge Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), as recounted in present day by the hotel's current owner (F. Murray Abraham) to a traveling journalist (Jude Law), is just as outrageous, daring, funny, captivating, and beautifully rendered as the film itself.  Told through the eyes of Gustave and the new lobby boy (Tony Revolori, who virtually outshines all his A-list co-stars) he's taken under his wing at the hotel, their adventures involving a stolen painting and a sadistic wealthy family complete with murderous henchman (Willem Dafoe), make Indiana Jones' exploits look tame by comparison.  Set during the period of unrest that pervaded Europe between the world wars, and told with such love for the spirit of adventure of those times, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a fresh yet nostalgic, funny yet romanticized nod to the kind of films Hollywood simply doesn't make anymore. (rated R)  *****

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL trailer