Hollywood, in love with itself. Again.

[fiona_grady]

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a perfect expression of Hollywood: it's lavishly made, it employs many very famous actors both in principal roles and in cameo appearances; it pays homage to several great films, and it thinks that it's art. It is, however, only a very expensive private joke, mildly funny.

The only truly wonderful thing about it is seeing so many people having such a great time on screen. However, considering the sinister subject matter and, especially, the reference to Stefan Zweig, I do not find all this exuberance of fun entirely appropriate.