How To Steal Like Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2020
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This video essay examines how The Grand Budapest Hotel has one of Wes Anderson's most complete and extended references to another director's work -his recreation of a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's Torn Curtain. I show these scenes side-by-side, and talk about what makes something an artistic homage instead of a lazy rip-off.
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Films Referenced:
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Silence
The 400 Blows
Torn Curtain
The Mortal Storm
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
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#ThomasFlight #Movies - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I'm getting antsy for The French Dispatch, so I've been re-watching The Grand Budapest Hotel to hold me over. By the way if you want to hear the director's commentary I mention in the video it's available on The Grand Budapest Hotel Criterion Blu-Ray: amzn.to/33clmRt
Jopling... willem dafoe character NOT Serge x
Great video tho
you mean your stoked for the new all major roles are white people and all supporting roles are people of color the movie? btw its the 6th movie in this series.....
Excuse me, but did you just called Germany an "eastern European country"? I understand that Torn Curtain took place in East Berlin, but it still pretty much and literally central Europe.
Thanks; the best news I had all day. 😉💕
@@quinnking8405 the main character in The Grand Budapest hotel is a man of color what are you talking about? Also also, let's not make everything about race because it's getting stale. Let's leave politics where they are and let's leave art where it is.
I’m convinced Wes Anderson walks exclusively in perpendicular direction never turning his head.
He's like a rook on a chess board. He can only walk directly forwards, backwards, or sideways like a crab.
Perpendicular? Perpendicular to what?
@@pseudonymousbeing987 perpendicular to the other direction he can walk in
@@pseudonymousbeing987 perpendicular to deez nuts
@@pseudonymousbeing987 Perpindicular to life..
Just like what Quentin Tarantino said once in an interview you don't become a good filmmaker unless you know how to adapt other films into your production in a artistic sense. Wes Anderson is a master of that concept
Let's Say tarantino Copy others and calls It "image".
I came across this youtube channel called "cearl at midknight" the channel has a video titled "When Does Borrowing Become Stealing? | Movies That Lift From Other Movies" it talks about a film called Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation its actually really good. @@kinggeedorah8303
You mean homage?
@@kinggeedorah8303
@@kinggeedorah8303 Haters gonna hate
I'd argue that its even more than a homage - it feels like a gag directly based on the Hitchcock scene. Savvy viewer recognises the scene and expects Mr Goldblum to escape, but THIS TIME the bad guy is smart and takes off his shoes, almost like he learned from the other guy's mistake. Its directly poking fun.
@SisiaVogel not really
You argue nothing, that's what the videos says, smh
@SisiaVogel thank you. Was hoping this response was here
That’s literally what this video is about, how do you have so many likes?
It's not more than a homage, its just a homage. A homage can poke fun.
Yay another Wes Anderson analysis. He's one of my favourite directors. His films are always fun to analyze and you'll notice something new with every watch. I also love the pacing and timing of his cuts, he has a great sense of rhythm.
One of my favorites as well!
This is why I used to rewatch Fantastic Mr Fox sooo much when it first came out. Each time I saw something new, or finally got a joke I didn't the first time around
KatIn TheHat
If what I think is happening, is happening, it better not be.
@@ruly8153 This is one of my favourite lines from the movie. It's vague yet simultaneously to the point. It's threatening yet whimsical. It's elegant yet simple.
@TrashPanda Raccoon
Temembaums is mediocre imo
I think fantastic mr Fox is when his style became what it is and the films after that were all perfect for his style
Serge X was not the person following Deputy Kovacs, but Jopling. Great analasys though!
Yep I'm terrible with character names sorry! 😩
He's a psychopathic maniac
*Throws Deputy Kovacs cat out the window*
Um Bongo he’s flown the coop.
Was about to say this too. But in Wes Anderson movies the cast is always so star studded that I never remember the characters names either. Like, that’s Jeff goldblum and willem dafoe pretending to be someone. Im glad he found a relatively unknown actor to play zero as he’s the main character and we need to connect with him
I love homage in films because it creates a historical through-line that connects films in style and reference. It creates a web of influences and context for film history as a whole. Homage in film seems to have veered toward fanservice and inside jokes in the past decade or so, which can create cynicism about homage -- that it's stealing, lazy, repetitive, etc. But always really satisfying to watch a film that feels anchored by it's references -- the "portrait shot" in The Lighthouse comes to mind -- but invigorates older styles with new technique or approach. Super enjoyed this episode!
Homage really is stealing, lazy and repetitive.
Pop culture references are better especially as an inside joke because that actually shows how that older movie influenced our lives.
@@oldtimebooks5378 No. A homage can create interconnected meanings otherwise not possible. Ulysses is in a way a homage (greatly oversimplified) to The Odyssey for example.
great video, señor flight. had no idea about this homage and remix.
So informative. Seeing the two movies side by side makes it clearer Anderson's use of symmetry and pacing to add to his comedic tone, whereas Hitchcocks angled compositions and slower pacing with more cuts creates dramatic tension.
This is the highest level of analysis I've seen anywhere about The Grand Budapest Hotel, so much so I never even knew Anderson took from Alfred freaking hitchcock.
The level of respect that I have for Anderson just reached new heights!
I thought the "abruptly running away" shot was borrowed from Princess Brides' Count Rugen who adopts a proper fencing stance, turns and runs like Hell.
It could just as easily be anyone running - hardly a "stolen" idea. But yeah, it looks more like Count Rugen to me too.
if you run the two scenes side by side, it looks like the exact same pose amd running style
@@Bannerninja Which two? Who are you agreeing with?
@@jonbly that this looks much closer to Princess Bride - in fact I see little resemblance to the other movie
If you see a scene where someone does something unsuccesful, think about how it couldve succeeded. Anderson does this in such a straight forward, yet creative way its almost silly. "Well what if he just took off his shoes" lmao
Great video, as usual! One small thing: at 4:00, you say 'Serge X on his motorcycle'. If I'm not mistaken, that's Jopling (Willem Dafoe) on the motorcycle, and not Serge X.
Oops! You're right. I'm terrible with character names 😩
Yeah I was going to say the same thing
Came here to say this. Amazing upload nonetheless.
Was going to say this. Serge X is the butler.
Spot-on analysis! Bless your calm manner of speaking, it makes it so easy and enjoyable to appreciate the beauty of the scenes you highlight.
“Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” -Picasso
Here he borrows, to steal we should forget Hitchcock
I always thought this scene felt Hitchcockian... now I know why! Time to go watch Torn Curtain.
2:54 - I never knew the ski chase was referencing a James Bond film until just now. You are a good man, thank you.
He must love The 400 Blows. I think he also references it in Life Aquatic with how the lights on the boat are constantly going out, something that happens a lot to Antoine when he is taking out the trash.
He said Moonrise Kingdom was also inspired from 400 Blows, though I don't see much connection outside of the main character being a 14 years old kid.
And he's also homaged Truffaut's other classic Day For Night by making a patiche of it as an add for American Express and using the Georges Delerue's theme of the film as part of the soundtrack of Fantastic Mr Fox.
Ive watched this video a few times and I love the way you dissect everything, I was unaware about a few of the homage's paid to other classic films. But instantly I knew about the "Torn Curtain" one as that was one of my dad's favorite films and he always kinda had it idly playing along with a buncha other films from his era but that scene always felt transe like to me how it was so continous almost as one shot, as a kid it just totally tripped me out and I had never seen anything like it and on my first watch of the Grand Budapest I instantly noticed the connection and I almost about passed out from disbelief cuz I thought I was in some fever dream and I had to look it up and I found your video lol.
such a well done analysis! i love wes' films and had no idea about the homage - the tension/expectation it creates is genius 🙌🏼
Great video, I love Wes Anderson and this video perfectly shows the love he has for films and paying homage to other directors and their work with his personal touch.
This video fills the void the Every Frame a Painting left. Good stuff dude- instantly subbed
I loved the video! I didn't know about the references of The Grand Budapest Hotel.💖
This video essay was just a delight to watch! Absolutely loving your content! Enjoyed myself just like when watching a Wes film.
This was incredibly thorough, informative and entertaining.
Thank you so much
This is excellent and explains a bit more about the secret sauce of why his movies are so magical. Thanks for sharing this.
The ending about what makes a good video essay resonates so much
This is such a great video! First of yours I've seen and I love it!
My favorite bit about The Grand Budapest is how when Deputy Kovacs is going in to the museum the sign says "Closing in 15 minutes" and the guard is checking his watch. A few cuts/seconds later Serge X enters and the sign has been changed to 14 minutes and the guard is back to his own business at his desk. (See it at 3:15 )
I recently saw The 400 Blows and Amarcord. There are so many elements in both, especially in Amarcord, that I immediately recognized from W. Anderson's movies.
I love this vid!
What an excellent and insightful analysis. As Wes Anderson and Hitchcock fan, I enjoyed it thoroughly and learned something new!
Alot to consider in just a few minutes. Really interesting. Worth watching again to see what ideas it can spark. I like that he talks about playing with expectation and the video ends up being about adaptation rather than theft. Noticed that shot from the back of the bus really looks like a projector slide.
6:34
"Am I adding to a broader conversation, or am I merely mimicking in the hopes of achieving the same thing the original artist was?"
That's a good question. Where is the line between homage and theft? Wes Anderson walks that line gracefully and I feel with aplomb.
I think you make a great point about how Anderson uses previously established elements but tweaks them so they feel unique enough to be more coherent with his vision. Art influences other art, but Wes makes it his own. Which is the sign of a true artist.
Great examination.
Thank you very much! I have seen the film of Wes Anderson and the one from Bergman, and love both the directors, yet I didn’t see the link between these movies until you pointed it out.
Such a great movie. Your explanation is gonna make me watch it again but with different eyes. Thanks.
You have an incredible ability to analyse man, top stuff
Even though I'm aware of the connection between the two movies, it's cool to see both scenes play out side by side like that!
I’ve never seen torn curtain and now really want to. I’ve been wanting to also show my fiancé Grand Budapest! Fantastic video thank you!
You just spoiled Torn Curtain for me.
Then again, I probably would have never heard of it without you!
Thanks
This is quite literally my favourite movie. Thanks for the analysis :)
Brilliant - this homage also works because Anderson is not borrowing the same tone at all. He is adding his own sense of humor and whimsy to previous work that was anything but.
OMG!! YES!! A WES ANDERSON ANALYSIS!!
I like that the bike matches Jeff goldblum’s glasses.
I thought it was a rather funny scene, in a dark fashion of course, Deputy Kovaks was just a few feet from safety just to be later brutally murdered by Willem Dafoe's psychotic Jopling.
I really enjoyed this video! Well done!
The elevator operator's face at 0:55 just has something to it . I don't know what but it certain does have a unique touch of wes anderson in it .
5:20 In No country for old men, Anton chigurh also takes off his shoes when he was about to kill someone. I think this is also a reference.
Great essay! Another Hitchcock, The Man Who Knew Too Much (uk version) had to have been referenced here and there. The ski section comes to mind.
Wes’s films have this child- like innocence to it. Yet so appealing about it. There is comedy but there is also drama and emotion. The world is colourful yet the things happening around it are dark. The use of camera is always according to the actor’s blocking mostly . The characters are always quirky and weird and yet feels so real, human and not superficial. Undoubtedly Wes is one of my favourite directors. A beautiful Auteur director. Whose style is unparalleled. Only Wes can do what he does. ❤❤❤❤
So cool! Great essay sir.
I haven't seen Hitchcock's film and yup I fully expected that character to die there too, this way of crafting a plot twist is really neat.
What a great video, analysis. Subscribed.
Great analysis!! My senior theory paper in film school was on this very effect and how it could be used to enhance the viewing experience of people in-the-know. I called it “Intertextual Nuggetism” ; )
That’s great :) love the name!
gret observation and great video..keep it up buddy
Merci ma poule mais je suis déjà abonné à mubi, que de travail et de talent pour montrer et expliquer quelque chose qui pourrait être ennuyeux de manière intéressante, well done sir 👍
Wow, great catch with the recreation of the Torn Curtain museum sequence. I've seen it so long ago, had forgotten that part. Same with The Silence. I've also heard Anderson say The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp was an influence on this but I haven't seen it. Budapest is my favorite Wes Anderson movie by a longshot. The other director who is pretty open about "stealing" elements of other movies is Tarantino, who has said in lots of interviews, something like, "I'm going to use that, but I'm going to do it MY way." If a director has enough of their own style, stealing an element and filtering it through their own style is going to make it their own.
Yeah all great artists steal and put their spin on it
“good artists copy, great artists steal” allegedly said by Picasso.
Anderson referenced a master filmmaker that most of his viewers probably haven't or won't see. He made the shots into his own and stole elements.
Years ago, a indie filmmaker sued Beyonce for using similar visual elements in her Lemonade video. Though the case was dismissed, we don't want people trying to discredit our work
Thank you! Very insightful!
that movie conversation part made me think about when I played Final Fantasy 7 remake and the changes they've made to the original game, in which some of them actually enhances the text of the original game and its compilation. It made me want to look after them after I played.
This video is quality work and well done. Though, all I can think about is the moment Jeff Goldblum loses four fingers and a perfect muffled scream is cut short. It makes my sides hurt from laughing and then Jopling takes his fingers and walks away in his socks. One of my favorite movies.
i love all of his movies because he brought me back in time
I remember when I watched GBH for the first time, I connected that chase scene with Hitchcock but not Torn Curtain specifically. While it may mimic that particular scene, I think it broadly references Hitchock's visual language of pursuit: the symphony scene in The Man Who Knew Too Much (second version), Stewart following Novak in Vertigo, even the beginning of the iconic airplane scene in North by Northwest, quite a bit of The 39 Steps. Those are just the ones that come to mind first.
I have to admit that I didn't love GBH, but I likewise have to give credit where credit is due - which I think this video does succinctly - Anderson is a great director because he both understands and uses the history of cinema deftly while creating something that always has his fingerprints on it. Scorsese, Tarantino, Lynch, etc., whatever you think of these directors, they are auteurs because of these two basic facts. Even Tarantino, who many would call derivative, doesn't merely copy and paste.
correction: Willem Dafoe's character isn't Serge X (that's Mathieu Amalric), it's Jopling.
As a filmmaker myself, i usually use the subjective part of film to steal certain ideas, not to just copy paste them but to try and mix what was shown and how the feeling i had in reaction to try and use my feeling as the feeling trying to project to the audience.
Awesome video. Thank you
Amazing content thank uu
Could you possibly do more analyse of Torn Curtain, as there is little to no analysis online?
This is because, despite it being a less critically acclaimed Hitchcock film, I enjoyed it after being inspired to watch it after watching this video, so I think it is worthy of more analysis!
we should just call these references samples, cuz that's basically what they are
Wonderful illustration of the difference between hommage and rip-off.
The original shot of the museum of Berlin is more Wes Anderson than Wes Anderson
i wonder how he did it. Museum Island was basicly part of the boder. if he had changed perspectiv in any direction just by a few degrees he would have filmed the wall.
@@motionpictures6629 "Museum Island was basicly part of the boder." That's not true though. You can easily look at a map and see that especially that part of the island was one of areas of Mitte not super close to the Wall.
Amazing! More Wes Anderson content pls...
Love this analysis
great video!
Great video!!
Fantastic, thank you
Amazing video
I didn't know that TGBH was inspired by so many other films.
I'm a sucker for Hitchcock. But Wes Anderson's scenes look really great too. I like his use of lights. Hitchcock was amazing. What he was able to do was so ahead of his time. Cheers to both these directors!
Great essay! Super random but thinking about Wes Anderson‘s “chase” sequences I am particularly fond of the one from Bottle Rocket
Great Work 👍👍
Buen trabajo señor light
thank you! great observations:)
I KNEW i'd seen that museum chase sequence somewhere before
Love the vid! Dafoe’s character is Jopling. Serge X was the butler who witnessed the murder of Madame D.
What is that door made off? it cut clean four finger of goldblum hand.
Razor Blades
It's made of Comedium, a rare element that causes anything made of it do whatever is funniest.
It's 'butcher block', Clara. Usually harmless but known to take fingers in X scenarios.
The funny thing is, I just had the opposite experience, where I saw Torn Curtain after Grand Budapest, and found the similarities a delightful surprise. I also expected Paul Newman's character to get caught at the end, so for me, it was subverted backwards? Unrelated, but I also love the edit in Torn Curtain where it goes from a long, extreme wide shot of him walking through the farm to an extreme close up of the man he meets & talks to.
Could you do please a video about Mario Bava? many people does not know his importance for directors like Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino and the special effects in cinema. I would like to hear moreover a your opinion about the movies of the Venice film festival of this year!
However thank you so much for your work, and great video as always!
I love this channel.
Great to see you featured by Film School Rejects!!
Thanks for making this one was very keen to know what his influences are ...
This is brilliant.
Awesome video
Brilliant video as always.
Not seeing a heart button though?
Will check again in a day or so, but thought you should know.
It’s not on mobile. That might be why? See if it shows up on desktop.
reminds me of hip-hop. emcees (or mcs, or rappers) often quote lines from artists they like and then put their own twist on the lyrics in order to fit them better into their own style, the rhymes they are using in that particular verse, etc. in this vein, Elzhi actually made an entire album called Elmatic in 2011 that is a tribute to Nas' 1994 classic Illmatic. each song on Elmatic is a reference to each of the songs on Illmatic and all of them contain dozens of lyrical references to Nas' rhymes. Elmatic is one of the best albums of the 2010s. go check it out of you like really dense lyrics and complex rhyme schemes. and if you haven't listened to Illmatic yet, change that.
same thing with sampling - they'll take a great chord or line from another song (or radio show, movie, anything with audio really) and loop it to make a beat or a chorus or whatever. sometimes it'll be done to recreate the same themes, and sometimes it will be taken out of context in order to create something new. the only example I can think of off the top of my head is one that is a) kinda bad and b) in fucking poor taste: Kanye West took the chorus from Lady Gaga's Poker Face and turned it into Poke Her Face (ie referencing blowjobs) in a below-average song called Make Her Say by Kid Cudi - thankfully the album it's on is otherwise pretty good.
Like what Quentin Tarantino said, "A good artist copy, a great one steals."
Tarantino stole that quote from Picasso (who may have stolen it from someone else himself...)
thats picasso
It's Picasso's quote, Steve Jobs and Tarantino just quoted it..
Andrei Tarkovsky does not approve that quote 😂
this is magnificent
love these movies
The Grand Budapest is a great movie
i fcking love wes anderson and im so glad i found your channel. great vid!
I am completely, and utterly fine with this. I would add if not arrogantly, and without evidence that the generational use of film is a created art-form unto itself. Being in enough time, and collections increasing, film; and pictures of motion have long become a palate to work from. Their use much like any material dimensionally represented as an established medium to work with. Amazing how each scene can be influenced by memory. Much like a picture represents an infinitesimal dimension of influence, and thought. Excellent how Wes has used this, or brought to light what everyone before him has done since the dawn of the Sapiens, perhaps over the Cromagnon. ( Those of which I believe there are still many descendants walking and breeding among us. :)
Silence is a truly great movie and I was lucky enough to watch it in a theater
Very interesting and entertaining. My one complaint is at 5:18. Willhem Dafoe is not playing the character of Serge X; he is playing Jopling
Yep