Review of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
October 19th 2006 04:15
The Aquatic Life for Me
It took me a while to know what to think about ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. It’s the kind of movie that actors long to be in because of the emotional journey of the role or some such rot. The characters here certainly aren’t stereotypes, but flawed individuals, their failures as defining as their successes. The plot is strange, flowing between random scenes designed to show us the “quirky” side of life and the truly heartbreaking. It certainly doesn’t have a Hollywood ending. In short, it’s exactly the kind of movie you’d expect from Writer/Director Wes Anderson, of ‘The Royal Tenebaums’ and ‘Rushmore’ fame.
As with Anderson’s other films the action revolves around one central character (in this case Bill Murray in the films title role), but encompasses an ensemble of others, each with their own pratfalls and motivations.
In Zissou, that lead is a dried up, alcoholic, formerly award-winning documentary film-maker, who, with his crew of misfits, circumnavigates the globe in their unique but decrepit ship which doubles as houseboat, recording studio and private sauna. The action picks up with the presentation of Steve’s latest film, a cursory piece destined to flop which tells us the story of the death of Steve’s best friend and business partner and sets up the films’ flimsy premise of hunting down the “leopard” shark with killed him (not that the film suffers from a lack of plot - it’s the characters journey that interests us). Add Owen Wilson, as Zissou’s possible long lost son, Anjelica Houston as his long-suffering wife, and Cate Blanchett as a lonely, pregnant reporter, stir and bake for the twenty minutes or so it takes for them to actually set out and serve with a reasonable dash of whimsy.
After leaving port (Micheal Gambon is involved in some reasonably abstract way), the storyline seesaws as the crew encounter disaster after disaster, each sequence seemingly linked by dark hints about Steve’s past and what made it all go wrong.
As a film, there’s not really anything to fault it on, it’s well made, well acted (Willem Dafoe is particularly hysterical) and well directed (as Anderson’s films tend to be), but there are times when the slow pace and the lack of any discernable direction become irritating and override the actual joy of seeing gifted performers tell a carefully crafted story.
I liked it. The friends I saw it with were more divided, some falling asleep while others burst shamelessly into tears. I think if Anderson does it for you generally then you’ll like this. If not, well, go watch Superman.
8/10.
It took me a while to know what to think about ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. It’s the kind of movie that actors long to be in because of the emotional journey of the role or some such rot. The characters here certainly aren’t stereotypes, but flawed individuals, their failures as defining as their successes. The plot is strange, flowing between random scenes designed to show us the “quirky” side of life and the truly heartbreaking. It certainly doesn’t have a Hollywood ending. In short, it’s exactly the kind of movie you’d expect from Writer/Director Wes Anderson, of ‘The Royal Tenebaums’ and ‘Rushmore’ fame.
As with Anderson’s other films the action revolves around one central character (in this case Bill Murray in the films title role), but encompasses an ensemble of others, each with their own pratfalls and motivations.
In Zissou, that lead is a dried up, alcoholic, formerly award-winning documentary film-maker, who, with his crew of misfits, circumnavigates the globe in their unique but decrepit ship which doubles as houseboat, recording studio and private sauna. The action picks up with the presentation of Steve’s latest film, a cursory piece destined to flop which tells us the story of the death of Steve’s best friend and business partner and sets up the films’ flimsy premise of hunting down the “leopard” shark with killed him (not that the film suffers from a lack of plot - it’s the characters journey that interests us). Add Owen Wilson, as Zissou’s possible long lost son, Anjelica Houston as his long-suffering wife, and Cate Blanchett as a lonely, pregnant reporter, stir and bake for the twenty minutes or so it takes for them to actually set out and serve with a reasonable dash of whimsy.
After leaving port (Micheal Gambon is involved in some reasonably abstract way), the storyline seesaws as the crew encounter disaster after disaster, each sequence seemingly linked by dark hints about Steve’s past and what made it all go wrong.
As a film, there’s not really anything to fault it on, it’s well made, well acted (Willem Dafoe is particularly hysterical) and well directed (as Anderson’s films tend to be), but there are times when the slow pace and the lack of any discernable direction become irritating and override the actual joy of seeing gifted performers tell a carefully crafted story.
I liked it. The friends I saw it with were more divided, some falling asleep while others burst shamelessly into tears. I think if Anderson does it for you generally then you’ll like this. If not, well, go watch Superman.
8/10.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The colourful cinematography and eccentric performances keep my undivided attention and Willem Da Foe is at his quirky best.
Uunique comedy that is theatrical and does not cater to all tastes.
Not as skillful or amusing as Wes Andersons earlier works (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and Royal Tenanbaums,) but still worthy of repeat screenings.
Comment by Georgie
Oz Movies
It occupies the warm heart of my DVD collection shared with Monsters Inc. and The Lion In Winter. (my middle name is ecclectic)