Episode 15 - The Grand Budapest Hotel

  Wes Anderson is at it again.  Not even two years shy of "Moonrise Kingdom", the meticulous auteur has released his latest film.  "GBH" is a madcap farce unlike anything we've seen from Mr. Anderson.  As Andrew observes in this latest podcast, this is possibly the first Wes Anderson film that is plot-driven as opposed to propelled by the characters.  And characters there are many.  Anderson juggles a huge cast of talented, heavyweight actors.  Were their talents squandered?  Probably.  The film is more designed than directed, observes Phil, who says the film is a collection of moments with no emotional core.  Phil and Andrew pull no punches on Wes Anderson films, partly because they remember a time when "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" were the best movies around.  Sure, there are good things about "The Grand Budapest Hotel", but it seems so easy to see past the artifice at...what? A hugely fertile imagination and controlling hand, crafting a film so mannered it is nearly his second animated film. You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on the hypertext link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player located below:If you cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file here <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~