Review: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

[Little Tony DeFranco]

Review: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php





Wes Anderson's 4th film, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is his biggest effort in quirky storytelling to date and it is a comedy with no real big laughs but a lot of smiles and chuckles. Better than "Tennenbaums" but less than "Rushmore", his best movie was his first called "Bottle Rocket". Still have to say that he does good things with star Bill Murray (sinfully wasted in Tennenbaums) in the title role of famed oceanographer/ film maker/ troublemaker Steve Zissou. It is one of Murray's best roles as an actor (sublime performance) with help from an ensemble troupe, Owen Wilson (Anderson's fave actor), Cate Blanchett (preggers with a bun in the oven), Willem Dafoe (as Klaus), and Jeff Goldblum (finally in a funny role).



The story is about a "Jacques Cousteau" wannabe who is not nearly as popular as he was in his younger days. He is set to embark on his latest adventure to kill a rare shark for revenge of eating his partner Estaban. He brings with him his bastard son Ned Plimpton (Owen Wilson is good here) along with his ragtag crew. Wife Eleanor is pretty tired of shelling out her family fortune to back Steve. A lovely journalist named Jane (Blanchett) is along to do a hard line piece on the Zissou team. This ends up Steve's greatest adventure of all!



The movie is not a serious piece, more like a pop-up book look crossed with a cheesy pirate adventure (like one of those piss poor Roger Corman Pilipino chain gang flix) with weird animation by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas). All this is soundtracked to acoustic Bowie tunes in Portuguese! Aint that something? It is an original movie with some pathos. For fans of Anderson's past work, and it is likeable. The best role goes to Bud Cort as an insurance co. flunky with feelings. Yer Call!


Heartbeat is a Love Beat

[LordJezo]

This movie made me happy.

That's good enough for me.

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[canofsoup15]

This movie was great. It's odd in that it's very dry, its one of the most emotionless films I've ever seen. Great characters (the guitar playing guy, and Klaus especially) and good humour.

I give it two thumbs up!

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This message was edited by canofsoup15 on 1-2-05 @ 4:44 PM

[TheMojoPin]

I love Wes Anderson films. I can watch them over and over again, and they always make me feel good.

Every time I watch "Rushmore" and it comes to the last scene, where everything goes into slow motion and the music takes over, I ALWAYS get a lump in my throat. Not that I'm sad...almost like I'm on the verge of a "happy cry," maybe? It's weird.

Tony, how was Murray underused in TRT? He played a very minor supporting role, and the only other one he could have possibly taken that was bigger was the Hackman role, and I'm sorry, but Hackman OWNED that performance. Nobody could have done it better.

The use of muisc in the Anderson films is phenomenal. I've seen griping online over the use of a beautiful Sigur Ros song at the film's climax with the shark, as opposed to the usual "classic"-tyle rock they use, but I thought it was spot-on. The scene was meant to be the big emotional release, and the music completely sold that on so many levels.

I like how all the action scenes seemed like they were just big set pieces staged by the Max Fischer Players in "Rushmore."

Great, great film.

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[JohnnyCash]

I thought it was good. I was expecting more. But overall I liked it.

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[canofsoup15]

The use of muisc in the Anderson films is phenomenal. I've seen griping online over the use of a beautiful Sigur Ros song at the film's climax with the shark, as opposed to the usual "classic"-tyle rock they use, but I thought it was spot-on. The scene was meant to be the big emotional release, and the music completely sold that on so many levels.


So that's the song. I agree it was perfect for the scene, really good music overall.

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I got the glass, I got the steel. I got the love to hate.
</font><font color=red> All I need is your head on stake.</font></marquee><Font Color = White>

[TheMojoPin]

Specifically, it's the song "Staralfur" off of the album "Agaetis Byrjun." (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005IC2H/qid=1104713273/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-5670615-4542569)

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1979 << I love my drug buddy... >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[Freakshow]

I saw this over the weekend. It was no Rushmore, but what is?

The more I think about it, the more I liked it.

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This message was edited by Freakshow on 1-3-05 @ 10:19 AM

[curtoid]

I saw it as my annual New Years Day double feature, right after "Lemony Snicket," right after an I-Hop brunch.

Both movies had big yellow snakes, and both had "Klaus" and "Sonny/Sunny" jokes that made us laugh.

[Tall_James]

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"I directed the film and it is EXXXXCELLENT!"

The Cheese-Eating Bird (http://cheeseeatingbird.blogspot.com)

[DESERTEAGLE.50]

I, for one, loved the film. It was a quirly, silly, wild romp.

FINGA FONGA FINGA FONGA MOTHER FAH
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[Reephdweller]

I've been watching little flick on Starz tonight, I love it. I wanted to see it when it came out and backed off when I saw critics trashing it. Fucking critics.

[FUNKMAN]

enjoyed the movie a bunch... the 'William Dafoe crossing the line' scene was a favorite

[Sheeplovr]

we have to go back for cody<br />

[WhistlePig]

I loved the Queen Bitch song at the end. Perfect music selection as usual.

[Reephdweller]

I snatched up a copy of this little gem today at Best Buy, $16 for a Criterion Collection movie, not bad at all.

[AKA]

Very odd this topic resurfaced - I was looking at the DVD box in my collection this morning thinking I hadn't seen it in awhile. Last week I picked up BOTTLE ROCKET for only $5.00, so now I feel like a completest! Yay!

[Reephdweller]

<p>I picked up BOTTLE ROCKET for only $5.00, so now I feel like a completest! Yay! </p><p>Where did you see Bottle Rocket for $5? I've been waiting for it to come down in price for a while now.</p>

[AKA]

<strong>Reefdweller</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Where did you see Bottle Rocket for $5? I've been waiting for it to come down in price for a while now.</p><p>Previously viewed at a little CD/DVD seller here in Arlington. I'll keep my eyes open if any more come in. </p>

[patsopinion]

<p>excellently dry</p><p>i love murray in more goofey roles but i guess
those days are gone and well have to settle for slightly creepy old
dude from now on.</p><p>did anyone else see broken flowers.&nbsp; man murray is getting creepy.&nbsp; That movie was bad.&nbsp;</p>