Review of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) by El A — 03 Aug 2011

There's something just so masterful and wondrous about this movie. It's not really anything out of the ordinary for Wes Anderson, but I would definitely consider it one of his best films that I've seen so far.

The absurd and off-center comedy is just played so perfectly in this and the characters are just so nutty and interesting. The script is also just so perfectly absurd and smart, it really calls for the best and the brightest in deadpan performances, which is exactly what it gets.

Bill Murray pretty much owns this movie as it's confident eccentric protagonist. He gets the chance to do and say the most ridiculous things and does it like no one else could. Owen Wilson is also a major part of this and plays a different, but equally amazing character from his standard persona.

In all honesty this is really an ensemble cast and literally everyone is terrific in this. I can't really help but mention Willem Dafoe as a crazy German first mate and great sporadic appearances from a routinely non-chalant Jeff Goldblum.

Plus, you got some solid performances from Cate Blanchett and Anjelica Huston. It seems like there was really no way for this cast to not be spectacular. Also, some of the coolest, most beautiful visuals to exist in a Wes Anderson movie are showcased.

From the extravagant and multi-layered sets to the bonkers stop-motion sea creatures, they are by far some of the most awe-inspiring things to ever see in an Anderson movie. Plus, the soundtrack is literally just a compilation of great David Bowie songs, in Portuguese and some of the original versions, and wacky electronica.

It's probably the partial embodiment of what a hipster would call a masterpice, but frankly I have no problem admitting that I love it. There is one detail of the story that I was kinda disappointed about, but I can't ruin it here.

Other than that, this is probably one of the best movies of its kind and deserves some serious recognition.