Home/Episodes/The Grand Budapest Hotel

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Andy Greenwald

August 13, 2024 · The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) · Comedy · Drama · 2:07:07 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Chris RyanMultiple scenes including Gustav greeting the Dowager Countess ('to fucking Lutz'), Gustav showing Zero the ropes, the Lutz train sequence, Gustav in jail meeting Pinky and Ludwig's gang, the 'not agreed' Kovacs scene and chase sequence, and the prison break▶ 43:52
Sean FennesseyGustav and the Dowager Countess scene, specifically when he says 'this diabolical varnish' about her nail polish▶ 44:40

Great Shot Gordo Award

Andy GreenwaldAlpine chase sequence▶ 54:35
Chris RyanLobby boy training sequence - introducing zero to the world▶ 54:17
Sean FennesseyPrefers smaller sequences like the first conversation between Zero and Gustav, and Harvey Keitel's prison break explanation scene▶ 54:13

Apex Mountain

Andy GreenwaldRalph FiennesArgues this film was reputation reorienting for Ralph Fiennes, showcasing his range beyond his typically brilliant but non-starring roles, and that his career only got better after this▶ 57:20
Chris RyanRalph FiennesDiscusses Fiennes' willingness to take character roles and be versatile throughout his career, but doesn't clearly state if this specific film was his peak▶ 58:13
Sean FennesseyRalph FiennesYes, this was Apex Mountain for Ralph Fiennes - describes it as part of an amazing 10-year window including Harry Potter, Skyfall, Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 58:54

Dion Waiters Award

What's Aged the Best

Andy GreenwaldDiscussion of how Wes Anderson works best with either completely untrained young actors or the best actors in the world - the bell curve theory▶ 1:05:38
Chris RyanTilda Swinton's old age makeup, everyone doing their own accents, and the concept of small frequent meals for stamina▶ 1:07:55
Sean FennesseyTony Revolori's amateur quality being appropriate for his character, and the movie's color palette being influential on graphic design and fashion▶ 1:09:17

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Andy GreenwaldThe Zwinger Museum in Dresden (which doubled for the Kunst Museum in the chase scene) and noted the hotel was actually a converted department store▶ 1:16:32
Chris RyanThe brutalism of the 1960s version of the Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 1:14:25
Sean FennesseyThe Alpine cable cars and the funicular that runs up into the hotel▶ 1:15:20

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Andy GreenwaldMendel's cake (the Courtesan au Chocolat) - the pastry with cookies shaped like hammers▶ 1:18:49
Chris RyanAgrees with Mendel's cake as the best, also mentions two ducks roasted with olives, rabbit, and salad▶ 1:19:04
Sean FennesseyMendel's cake - the pastry inspected by prison guards that's 'too beautiful to destroy'▶ 1:18:42

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Andy GreenwaldAcknowledges the romance could be seen as flimsy but defends it as intentionally idealized like Moonrise Kingdom▶ 1:22:05
Chris RyanSerge X's sister subplot - can skim through that as a weak link▶ 1:21:41
Sean FennesseyThe Serge X plot line and the usage of Matthew Amalric▶ 1:22:35

What's Aged the Worst

Andy GreenwaldThe lingering take that Wes Anderson is just a 'spectrum-y fancy boy playing dress up'; the suggestion in the movie that modern medicine will cure all pandemic type viruses quickly▶ 1:24:15
Chris RyanThe profession of concierges; fascism; Scribes Fever (author's writer's block)▶ 1:24:41

Overacting Award

Andy GreenwaldNotes this is a tough category because people aren't allowed to overact in Wes Anderson movies▶ 1:30:00
Chris RyanWillem DafoeSuggests Willem Dafoe is closest to overacting, acknowledging both Dafoe and Adrien Brody are 'dining out' but notes Dafoe is being directed to do that▶ 1:30:14
Sean FennesseyWillem DafoeWillem Dafoe - overacts in every Wes Anderson movie with mugging despite not speaking much▶ 1:30:03

Is There a Better Title?

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Andy GreenwaldTom Wilkinson should have been recast with a different crusty Englishman like John Hurt, Michael Gambon, or Terence Stamp, and questions whether the author character is actually a good writer▶ 1:33:31
Chris RyanDimitri was right about Gustav being a con artist who preys on old ladies▶ 1:36:08
Sean FennesseyOwen Wilson could be the lead in every Wes Anderson movie and make them better, except for The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 1:32:34

Half-Assed Internet Research

Andy GreenwaldHarvey Keitel slapped Tony Revolori 42 times for the 'good luck, kid' scene - the one time Wes Anderson went 'full Fincher'▶ 1:47:49
Chris RyanMultiple facts: painting replacing Boy with Apple is called 'Two Lesbians Masturbating'; Ralph Fiennes improvised Gustav's life story; Jeff Goldblum stayed for most of the shoot despite finishing in a week; crew lived together in Berlin hotel with shared chef dinners▶ 1:46:52

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Andy GreenwaldBoy with Apple, are we sure it's good?▶ 1:53:39
Chris RyanWhat's more valuable today, two lesbians masturbating or Boy with Apple?▶ 1:53:14

Is This Movie Better With

Andy GreenwaldRichard JenkinsSuggests a connection between 'Henkels' and 'Jenkins', implying Jenkins would be a good addition.▶ 1:55:57
Chris RyanWayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Byron Mayer, Harling Mayer, Evil Laughing, Ramon Raymond, Philip Raker Hall, Bill Paxton▶ 1:55:12
Sean FennesseyByron Mayer wanting a ménage with Madame D▶ 1:56:02

Just One Oscar

Best Double Feature

Chris RyanThe SilenceIngmar Bergman's The Silence or Hail Caesar▶ 1:59:09
Sean FennesseyThe Lady VanishesThe Lady Vanishes, The Earrings of Madame D'Eau (Max Ophüls), and Grand Hotel (1932)▶ 1:59:17

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Chris RyanThe cheaper cuts are the most flavorful▶ 2:02:37

Who Won the Movie

Andy GreenwaldWes AndersonWes Anderson - his style of storytelling matters because it pursues something deeper beyond just aesthetic choices▶ 2:03:15
Chris RyanWes AndersonWes Anderson - for the totality of his vision on screen and translating what he saw in his head entirely to film▶ 2:02:54
Sean FennesseyWes AndersonWes Anderson wins the movie, even though Ralph Fiennes deserves the Oscar▶ 2:02:40

Movies Referenced (46)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)IMDb ↗Lb ↗9Sean Fennessey, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan▶ 6:44
Asteroid City (2023)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:44
Hulk (2003)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:15
Rushmore (1998)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 5:17
Hugo (2011)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald▶ 2:06:24
I See You (2019)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:28
Spider-Man (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:50:16
Brazil (1985)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald▶ 28:11
Deadpool (2016)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Andy Greenwald▶ 21:11
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 1:38:38
Good Time (2017)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Andy Greenwald▶ 2:42
Halloween (1978)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 14:00

Directors Referenced (14)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Wes AndersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗79Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald, Sean FennesseyThe Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs▶ 1:47
Woody AllenIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldAnnie Hall▶ 33:57
Alfred HitchcockIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldPsycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest▶ 32:13
Howard HawksIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald▶ 23:20
Ernst LubitschIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyTo Be or Not to Be, The Shop Around the Corner▶ 31:53
Billy WilderIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Apartment, Some Like It Hot▶ 31:54
Ingmar BergmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanThe Seventh Seal▶ 1:59:09
Iyi TubiIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanEx Machina, World War Z▶ 1:49:58
John FordIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 23:14
Paul FeigIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Andy Greenwald▶ 1:10:06
Paul Thomas AndersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyPunch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 1:59:28
Ridley ScottIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanThe Martian, Blade Runner▶ 58:17

Actors Referenced (66)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Ralph FiennesIMDb ↗Lb ↗17Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyThe Constant Gardener, Schindler's List, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 16:36
Jeff GoldblumIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldJurassic Park, The Fly, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 40:46
Edward NortonIMDb ↗Lb ↗12Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Andy GreenwaldFight Club, American History X, Primal Fear▶ 25:34
Luke WilsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldOld School, The Royal Tenenbaums▶ 13:11
Harvey KeitelIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldReservoir Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 53:28
Owen WilsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Andy GreenwaldThe Royal Tenenbaums, Wedding Crashers▶ 13:07
Tom WilkinsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldMichael Clayton, The Full Monty▶ 26:40
Jude LawIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldThe Talented Mr. Ripley, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 26:35
Willem DafoeIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Andy GreenwaldSpider-Man▶ 11:41
Bill MurrayIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyLost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom▶ 19:57
F. Murray AbrahamIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Andy Greenwald, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanAmadeus, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 19:54
Mo Brings PlentyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey▶ 1:28:02

Writers Referenced (10)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Stefan ZweigIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyThe Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 27:55
Hugo GuinnessIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Andy GreenwaldThe Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch▶ 2:06:24
James L. BrooksIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyBroadcast News, As Good as It Gets, Terms of Endearment▶ 13:02
David HareIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanThe Reader▶ 59:49
JD VanceIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Andy Greenwald▶ 1:35:20
Tony GilroyIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Andy GreenwaldMichael Clayton, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story▶ 1:15:48
Akira KurosawaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 23:14
Doris Kearns GoodwinIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Andy GreenwaldLincoln▶ 2:55
Roald DahlIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Andy GreenwaldYou Only Live Twice▶ 11:02
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 38:35

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Andy GreenwaldThe Other Guys▶ 1:23:26
Tommy ShacklesIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Andy GreenwaldThe Batman▶ 1:52:04