directed by Wes Anderson
starring Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe, Seu Jorge, and Bud Cort as Bill Ubell
the problem with being the writer/director of Rushmore is your work will always be compared to Rushmore.
The Life Aquatic is a perfectly good movie if you forget everything about any of Mr. Anderson’s other movies. If you cant forget about his other films this one will seem somewhat dull and tame, which is why it’s getting mixed reviews.
Bill Murray plays a deadpan character like he played in the award-winning Life in Translation. Nothing will make this man excited. Everything is met with a line of unblinking sarcasm.
Because of this Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe come across damn-near comedic.
The brilliance of this film, and there are bouts of brilliance, is in the art direction. This is one of the few examples of a movie without huge explosions or special effects that is worth watching on a big screen.
Stefano Maria Ortolani, you made my $11 worthwhile.
He and the brazillian man (Seu Jorge) who sang all those david bowie songs in portugese on an acoustic guitar.
Once again the Wes Anderson soundtrack is brilliant. Second only to Cameron Crowe. Kudos to devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh.
The villan of the show was Mr. Owen Wilson, who for some reason thought he needed to affect a southern-gentleman accent. but then half the time forgets that he is supposed to have an accent. not only is it distracting but his “acting” skillz are terribly questionable in this role. but he does fit the johnny bravo suit which is apparently the only prerequisite these days.
out of four stars, because i cant shake Rushmore out of my head, i give The Life Aquatic two and a half stars even though its better than half the crap that you’ll see out there. even though thats no way to judge things.
next time lets hope that Wes can get a real love story going cuz without one he doesnt have much happening.