Hotel Chevalier

I think this film shows the inherent flaws with most of Wes Anderson's films. This is a short film about a small reunion between a former couple who relate over their past and talk about their changes. Anderson understands that short films need to imply the theme instead of define them. He does this when the couple go over their feelings and the talk begins to become questions about themselves and their past.

If Anderson was going to honor the relationship between the two sincerely, I would have recommended the movie. I just don't believe his interest is in them. The actors have lines and dialogue, but the camera work shows the real interest. Anderson shoots the actors, but has a style that is too driven by the flow of the music and too interested in the details behind them. It allows for badly timed pans and slow motion sequences to be everywhere. Anderson always makes blue prints of how to shoot his film beyond his actors because he believes the details behind them make up who they are.

Natalie Portman scanning over the different trinkets Schwartzman has collected is her seeing what he's been about since they were together. The fact that Anderson uses mis en scene to relate to the characters isn't bad, but he does it to such a posh and artificial stylization. People don't dress and talk like the ones who do in Hotel Chevalier. The whole short film is a dress up of an idea of cool. Anderson's version does come with some idea of self defeat, but it's a fashion version of humanity nonetheless. Hotel Chevalier is about the past and the purpose of experience when dealing with an old flame, but there is little to relate to. I believe most fans of Wes Anderson admire his films because they aren't accounts of their pain and personality, but nice done up versions of it that look good for public display.

A lot of what Anderson does isn't new or innovative in any sense. It goes back to methods of other filmmakers, but his work is innovative in the sense that he does represent whatever look or motif is considered cutting edge. It's all a fashion statement that has a short shelf life.