It’s a sad week for many fans Wes Anderson.
While New Yorkers and Californians merrily tweet and blog reviews of “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, the rest of us have a few more weeks before the nationwide release. Instead of filling time by sending death wishes to our coastal neighbors, let’s indulge in a few goodies.
If you haven’t had the pleasure, head over to the The Grand Budapest Hotel’s website. It has all the quirky detail and charm the Criterion Collection lavishes on its re-releases of Anderson’s films. Once enrolled in Akademie Zubrowska, be prepared to wait through lots of load screens. The reward is worth it: school lessons are filled with enticing clues and trinkets from the film. Upon lesson completion, access to the Zubrowska Film Commission Tumblr is available and character details are revealed every few days.
From there, proceed to NPR’s interview with Wes Anderson and Ralph Fiennes to discover insights into the Wes Anderson process. After years of working with stars, for example, Anderson deploys a little psychological trick to lure them in. Each time he sends a script to a potential cast member, rather than assigning a role, the director asks the actor who he or she would like to play. In Ralph Fiennes’ case, the choice was obvious.
Fiennes: I thought Gustave was a great part.Gustave is witty and he’s profane and he’s possibly a part-time gigolo. He’s fastidious, he’s very delicately, sexily ambivalent in a way that’s not specified — which I think is great. Although he might seem rather precious and vain, he actually is revealed to have a big and brave heart.
Be sure to get your hands on the Criterion Collection’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, released this February. Besides the gorgeous packaging that Criterion excels at, there are additional DVDs filled with interviews and extras.
And before you go to the movie, print out the revised edition of Slate’s Wes Anderson Bingo. It can also be played during any of his movies or trailers.
