Review of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) by Harold S — 13 Feb 2015

At one point, Cate Blanchett's character remarks that, '... it's too goddamn weird', and that aptly sums up the film, but from Wes Anderson, I'd expect nothing less. 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' is indeed 'weird' but it also many other things and has quite a lot going on in its genre bending story. Most of the usuals return with a few new faces, some of which become new usuals, and they all give excellent, all-in performances and they really make this work. Bill Murray was excellent and anchored (no pun intended) the film nicely, he really got into the role and he had over 40 hours of diving logged; he worked very naturally with Owen Wilson and they shared a very well written relationship. Cate Blanchett, who had a great reveal that even the actors didn't know about, even though I'm sure they knew something was going to happen because I'm guessing it was in the script, was reliably excellent also, the way she looked in this film reminded me of Tilda Swinton at some points and maybe they initially wanted her? Although I haven't read anything saying otherwise. Blanchett was pregnant at the time and Wes Anderson joked about taking method acting too far and I thought that was funny. Willem Dafoe was pretty entertaining but I would have liked to have seen more of him, as well as Jeff Goldblum. Michael Gambon was a nice addition as he always does great work and Seu Jorge's rendition of the Bowie songs was excellent and he was another nice, welcome addition.

The characters in this film really are well written and are great and each one of them is memorable, most of this film is just them talking and after a while I really got sucked into its world and felt at home on that boat with Team Zissou. At first everyone was so deadpan and they spoke very quietly and while that didn't change, and I know what to expect from an Anderson film, after about 15 minutes, I got used to it, as well as the story. The story in the film goes any which way except forward but again, after 15 minutes, I got used to it and it was a very enjoyable and a surprisingly emotional journey but as usual for Anderson, it creeps up on you. Like I said before, it's genre bending, one minute you'll be laughing, the next it turns into an action film and the next you'll be really sad but the best thing is that it never felt like a tonal shift, and it never loses its sense of humor and it is all weaved together to tell a great tale. The ending, while I won't spoil it of course, really got to me and I felt very sad after it was all said and done. The film has moments like this sprinkled throughout that really get to you, some of them really do surprise and shock and others are built up very subtly but the ending in particular is very well done. The film overall has been compared to other literary and film works and while it was inspired by some, the film stands on its own. The film has beautiful and excellent cinematography, and a very unique soundtrack that I liked very much, it also has a song that was used previously in another one of Anderson's films but this time was played backwards. The film is also very smartly edited and the scenes all transition into the next one very smoothly, the end credits are especially well done and very unique and touching but he left his award on the stairs!

My only major complaint is nitpick to be honest, there is a part near the start of the film where they show the whole boat and all of its rooms and near the end of the film they use this exact same location again but the characters are actually in it and besides the fluidity of it all, it just took me out of the experience and reminded me that I was watching a film but that's really stretching it. I didn't really understand the design of the sea life either, while imaginative and beautiful to look at, it felt odd and while I have an idea of what they mean, I'm not so sure. Also, if people on a documentary film ended up shooting other people, whether they are a pirate or not, wouldn't they face legal repercussions? But perhaps I'm over thinking it, but any other complaint I had worked itself out in the end. I think if the film was shorter like some of Anderson's other works, perhaps this would have had higher reviews because, curiously, it's his only rotten rated film at the time of this review. I can see where they are coming from but that doesn't really matter to me because I liked it. I called it 'The Aquatic Life of Steve Zissou' by accident once and I think that sounds more natural but the title it has is certainly more fitting to its quirky nature. It's just a really enjoyable, warm fantasy film that goes at a nice pace with a group of likeable people that go on an adventure that is very creative and it even has some deeper meanings to it all if you're willing to look for them and some have theorised what they think it all means and it's fun to discuss. While I don't think it accomplishes everything it set out to do, as well as his style getting the better of him at times, it is certainly a very enjoyable oddball film. That's what I love about Wes Anderson, he's always doing something different and he is a very unique filmmaker. I've wanted to watch this for a while now and I'm glad that I finally have and it is a lot different than I thought, now I can see what inspired that Simpsons episode! Richard Schickel said, 'If you go with it, you'll love the film', and of course not everyone is going to like a film, clearly, but I agree with it to some degree and I certainly do think that audiences will at least like the journey and be wrapped up in it, even if it is only ends up being somewhat. I think this is probably one of his most oddball films, which is really saying something if you think about it.