The Life Aquatic

Directors are a varied bunch. Some just like to tell the story, some try to throw in all sorts of artistic shots and angles, others have distinctive styles that are easily recognizable regardless of the story they are telling. Wes Anderson fits definitively into that third category as one of the true auteurs working today. Starting with his debut film, Bottle Rocket, and working all the way up to last year's Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson has continued to hone a unique and inimitable method of storytelling all his own. My favorite example of Mr. Anderson's work is the charming 2004 movie, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

The Life Aquatic, spoofing famous French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, follows a group of documentary filmmakers who create art house pictures on exotic marine wildlife. They are led by the depressed and washed up Steve Zissou, fabulously underplayed by Bill Murray. While on a voyage, Steve's best friend Esteban is killed by a large and mysterious shark. Determined to avenge his fallen comrade, Steve takes of on a revenge crusade in a way only Wes Anderson could visualize.

One of the most memorable and original parts of the film is the marine wildlife. Anderson, working with Henry Selick, the man behind the animation in The Nightmare Before Christmas, decided to use relatively low-tech stop-motion animation. The result is never distracting and at times almost magical. A soundtrack overflowing with David Bowie and Bowie covers on acoustic guitar and in Portuguese only add to the atmosphere.

The dialogue and camera work are overflowing with quirk and sarcasm, yet the script, co-written by Noah Baumbach, still manages to engineer moments of true emotional authenticity between its numerous characters. This helped by a spectacular ensemble cast including, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Angelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum, and Cate Blanchett. All are terrific, with special praise reserved for Wilson and Dafoe, but it is clearly Bill Murray's show and the movie lives or dies with him.

I like to think that Mr. Murray found a bit of himself in Steve Zissou. Though infamously difficult to work with in real life (Zissou is no peach either), Murray has always been able to collaborate successfully with Anderson. The Life Aquatic was their third movie together, and they have gone on to make two more. While all of their efforts are entertaining, none reach the level of sweetness, humor, tragedy, and whimsy that The Life Aquatic achieves.

27/30