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By
DEBORAH NICOL
Wes Anderson must have had
the best tree house. Unlike most kids' vague ideas
of tricked-out game rooms with machines that spit
out endless supplies of Fruit Roll-ups, Anderson
surely had very detailed blue prints complete with
footnotes and 3-D models. Present-day director
Anderson is far too clever to leave out any minute
factor, examining all aspects of costume, music
and script, so that his personal stamp is
carefully pressed upon the entire cinematic
experience of "The Life Aquatic with Steve
Zissou."
Anderson even went to the effort to create a
life-size cutaway of the Belafonte, the sea vessel
of Team Zissou. Much like elaborate illustrations
of the insides of pirate ships and oil rigs in
National Geographic, Anderson shows off this tree
house for grown ups. From sauna to finely crafted
kitchen to workspaces for everything documentary,
the ship displays the busy ant farm that is the
Zissou experience. But as fantastic as the
environment is, it is the dramatic heart of
Anderson's fairy tale that ties the magic
together.
Anderson worked with Noah Baumbach ("Kicking and
Screaming") on the script, and played his usual
triple duty (also producing) on the film. Though
Baumbach replaces Owen Wilson as co-writing
sidekick, the story maintains Anderson's signature
richness, and Wilson takes a prominent role as a
main character in the film. Many other roles were
also designed with specific actors in mind,
including Anderson all-star Bill Murray, and
Angelica Houston and Bud Cort ("Harold and
Maude").
Anderson has allowed Murray to shine yet again, in
a character derived from a combination of Jacques
Cousteau's legacy and Murray's natural energy.
Although Murray has an obvious desire to
entertain, his dramatic efforts of recent years
have been brilliant (see his award-winning turn in
"Lost in Translation"). As this film's title role
he does not fall short. Zissou is the adventurer
all children hoped to be someday, who now
discovers how difficult it is to maintain that
image to a world of skeptical grown-ups. Murray
does not overshadow the rest of the cast, but
rather allows his character to maintain distinct
relationships with every other character.
Estranged wife Eleanor is portrayed by Houston
with grace and intelligent control, and Wilson
deftly portrays the Southern gentleman that may be
Zissou's son. Cate Blanchett boards the ship as
the pregnant reporter who holds the possibility of
Zissou's rejuvenated career in her hands.
These are the meaty parts, but no part is too
small or lacks quirkiness in this film. Willem
Dafoe rivals Wilson for paternal attention, and
plays the jealous German man-child role down to
his short pants and pom-pom hat with the zeal
normally reserved for perky pit bulls. Jeff
Goldblum is his usual oddball self as Zissou's
scientific and monetarily more successful
competitor. Cort add color to the bonds man that
must tag along for a long ride, and Michael Gambon
adds class to the whole affair with a wink in his
eye.
Intermixed amongst these shipmates is a motley
crew of put-upon interns and a Brazilian David
Bowie cover artist, useless helper-dolphins and
pirates of the high seas. No stone is left
unturned, and Henry Selick ("Nightmare Before
Christmas," "James and the Giant Peach")
contributes to this fabulous world through
fantastic sea creatures that easily blend into the
deep that Zissou and company explore. No CGI
trickery here, but only the amazing efforts of
stop-motion animation. Much like Anderson's
cutaway ship, the presence of these creatures feel
real and more appropriate to the style of the film
than would overly-smooth digital imagery.
Mark Mothersbaugh returns as Anderson's faithful
composer, tackling the incredible task of
incorporating synthesized music (familiar
territory for this ex-Devo frontman) with
Portuguese Bowie acoustic guitar. Anderson and
Mothersbaugh have always created soundtracks that
are not only incredibly pleasing as stand-alone
compilations, but that apply beautifully to the
film's themes.
"The Life Aquatic" is a beautifully rich and
well-woven film. No detail is ignored, and only
the right questions are left unanswered. This is,
after all, an adventure.
For true film lovers, the Criterion Collection is
the greatest thing to happen to DVDs. This
two-disc set is perfectly packed with enough
information to satisfy any Anderson fanatic.
Included on the movie disc is a Starz channel
overview, deleted scenes, a trailer, audio and
subtitle options, and a great commentary track by
Anderson and Baumbach (recorded in the bar where
they wrote the script). The bonus disc includes a
making-of documentary (similar but better than the
Starz overview), an intern video journal, a
slightly painful Italian talk show interview with
the writers (by Antonio Monda, who also acts as
the festival director within the film), an
interesting interview with Mothersbaugh, complete
Bowie performances by Seu Jorge, and photos and
artwork galleries (including the lovely and
ever-present drawings of Anderson's brother,
Eric). This is a fantastic film and collection not
to be missed. |
