The Grand Budapest Hotel

Love him or hate him, it won't escape you that Texan king of quirk Wes Anderson is just about to release a new film. Grand Budapest Hotel is the newest creation of the Oscar nominated director, who gave the world The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Grand Budapest Hotel is classic Anderson fare; the plot is whimsical, the cinematography immaculate, it's funny, technically outstanding, and it features the usual posse: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton. The eccentric hotel of the title is a grand, interwar Eastern Europe affair, and our protagonist is the concierge, Gustave H.
The formula may be familiar, the cinematography may drip with Andersonian flourishes; but there's plenty here to surprise loyal Wes fans. Sex, for instance, plays a much more prominent part than in most of his films. Violence, also, plays a much stronger role, the central focus of the plot being the murder of an old lady – an old lady, in fact that the lead character, played by Ralph Fiennes , has been having an affair with.
That's not to say though that this film in anyway marks a drastic change of style for Wes Anderson, it's just that those who think his films verge a little on the twee side will find Grand Budapest Hotel a bit more gutsy. 
Some accuse Anderson of favouring style over substance; but when the style is this addictive, all should be forgiven. It was adored at the Berlinale, where it premiered and won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. Don't miss one of the most hotly anticipated films of the season. 
Underground phenomenon and clandestine film club Secret Cinema have announced they will be showing Grand Budapest Hotel from Feb 27-March 30. Get your tickets here.