Ahoy, squirts. Quint here... I feel like Mel Brooks in SPACEBALLS when he discovers how big his ass really is due to a transporter malfunction. After reading those reviews Mori posted yesterday from the film I was like, "Why didn't anybody tell me this film was about Bill Murray hunting a shark!!!" I'll be damned if this hasn't turned into one of my most anticipated movies of the year... of course, I guess it was already an anticipated flick, but now that I know it has Bill Murray hunting a shark it just makes the slow passage of time more painful! Here's another glowing review to add to yesterday's!!!
Last night I was lucky enough to catch a screening of Wes Andersons "The Life Aquatic" at the Archlight Theater in Hollywood. I appeared to be a pretty close to final cut of the film. Some elements seem clearly to be rough. Some of the music was probably temporary. Namely Radiohead and Sigur Rós, were uncharacteristic of the film and Wes' style and likely will be swapped for some sweet brit rock.
I walked out of the theater completely contented. This is Wes Anderson at his absolute best. It's very apparent that he and the rest of the cast had a good time filming the movie. I completely laughed my head off. Just as I was about to conclude that Bill Murray was heading towards the sunset of his career (Garfield: It's all about meow), I witnessed his performance in this. He make being washed-up a comedic art form. His character is more or less, for reference, a fusion of Max Fischer and Royal Tenenbaum. He plays Steve Zizzou, a Jacques Couteau-ish type of character. He leads a crew of fellow adventurers/filmmakers around the seas making campy sea life films. His crew consists of Owen Wilson as Ned (Steve's son possibly), Eleanor (Steve's wife and the brains of the outfit), Klaus (Willem Dafoe's character), Jane (A reporter cast by Cate Blanchett in total suntanned pregnant hotness) and various and sundry others, none being unimportant.
I have no interest in spoiling the movie for anyone, because there are parts that are to classic and it would be a pity if these scenes were ruined by over expectation. Some highlights though: Willem Dafoe was so damn funny in this movie that I was crying nearly half the time that he was exposed to the camera. Bill Murray is without a doubt in his prime. There are some great action scenes reminiscent of the cold-storage heist in 'Bottle Rocket'. The set design and Art direction deserve extra special attention. Steve Zizzous boat, the Bellefonte, is a masterpiece. I honestly went to bed imagining myself on the ship with my own cabin. Henry Selicks work on the sea life was cool. It added a deeper level of beauty to the whole visual style of the movie. From The first scene to the last, this film is beautiful.
By the way Wes Anderson was kickin it in the hallway after the flick. He wasn't swarmed by adoring admirers like I'd expect so I swooped in for an autograph which he gladly gave. I meant to tell him that his movie was incredible but star struck fans in the presence of greatness aren't as eloquent as they would like to be.
I am sure many will give better reports, but for my part I only want to say that 'the Life Aquatic' is completely fulfilling, and has bowled me over in ways that I never could have even hoped.
I am Winnie the Shite
