Speaking of directors with unconventional movies, several names come to mind, Coen brothers, Quentin Tarantino (whose movies I never really got and did not like), Paul Thomas Anderson, David Russel, Wong Kar-wai. Wes Anderson movies have this combination of factors: eccentric characters, strange circumstances, the plot usually has death, loss and grief, black humor, cinematography is usually stunning with the colors so vivid that it looked as if they were straight out of an oil painting, and each film has its custom -made music, which is lovely and has its own characters. The same group of actors are always in his movies, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, William Defoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Kietel, E. Murray Abraham, Tom Wilkinson. All these factors create a very special type of movie, the Wes Anderson brand.
The movie dealt with an oceanographer and documentarian Steve Zissou, who started to have doubt about himself and his ability to create. The movie was set around his determination to destroy the so-called “Jaguar shark”, which ate his longtime partner while they worked together at sea. It also involved his relationship with his possible son, Ned, a pilot from Kentucky, who sought Steve out after his mother was dead. It was a moving development. A pregnant reporter was also on board, played by the ever graceful Cate Blanchett. Life aquatic started very strong, the opening several minutes made me feel that this is going to be a treat. It somehow got a bit tangled and not quite pulled together in the middle, however, the ending was great and it really saved the film from being a mediocre one. After all the chaos, the tears, the blood,the final shots of the crew crammed in the submarine boat, watching the sea creatures swam by, and finally the shark in the scene, it is just an amazing experience.
I also watched part of the feature on the DVD, the complete performance of Seu Jorge's Portuguese cover of David Bowie songs. The music sets the tone, and in the end, the movie worked for me.
ps, just found this song - the way I try to feel inside by the zombies
http://music.163.com/#/song?id=4351857
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