The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
2004
With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou (Murray) rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife (Huston), a journalist (Blanchett), and a man who may or may not be his son (Wilson). Read more
| Starring | Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston |
|---|---|
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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How you react to The Life Aquatic will depend on what you thought of director Wes Anderson's other films. He certainly hasn't learned any new tricks — this odd drama exists in the same strange, whimsical world as Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums. It's centred on famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray and obviously inspired by marine pioneer Jacques Cousteau), who embarks on a Moby Dick-style quest to hunt and kill the mysterious sea creature that ate his best friend. Sadly, Murray doesn't have the same edgy energy as Gene Hackman, who played the irresponsible father in Tenenbaums; indeed he's so laid-back he sometimes seems to be asleep. But there's great support from Owen Wilson as Zissou's (apparently) long-lost son and Jeff Goldblum as a richer, better-equipped rival oceanographer. For some, Anderson's world is too hermetically sealed and downright strange to be affecting; for others, there's an irresistible charm to his eccentric characters. Whatever your conclusions, if you think you might enjoy David Bowie songs performed in Portuguese, this film is for you.
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Curious disjointed comedy that rambles from one setpiece to another without anything particular in mind; incidents come and go in such a desultory manner that it is as if the cast made it up as they went along.
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The most peculiar entry, or perhaps just the laziest, in David Thomsons New Biographical Dictionary of Film... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
51 out of 61 people found this review helpful
Weird is the word
As you might expect from Wes Anderson, this film is a weird, whimsical offering which doesn't fit into any categories. It veers between farce, tragedy and satire on reality TV.
One of the oddest things is the musical soundtrack, featuring folk-style versions of David Bowie songs translated into Portuguese.
Bill Murray plays another man in a mid-life crisis - the captain of a rusting submarine. Zissou is a washed-up film-maker who has devoted his life to studying marine life, but now wants to destroy a piece of it - by killing the mysterious jaguar shark which killed his friend.
Owen Wilson plays Steve's long-lost son, Ned, with Cate Blanchett as a haughty journalist boasting an impossibly posh accent.
The whole movie is visually stunning and unlike anything else you've ever seen - I enjoyed it, but can see it's a film which won't be to everyone's taste. -
26 out of 34 people found this review helpful
Magnificent
I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson and my biggest concern about this film was that the weight of my expectation would be too much. Thankfully I was wrong. I loved The Life Aquatic I was mesmerized by the stop motion creatures and the set designs were spectacular. Anderson creates complete worlds for his dramas to play out and his films are the richer for it. The costumes are at times odd (with the exception of Angelica Huston who looks incredible throughout) but that is part of the charm.
At the heart of this film is Bill Murray, who manages to have the audience forgive his callous disregard for others because of a seemingly insurmountable melancholy. Anderson and Baumbach have crafted a script in which they have characters say the things usually left unsaid but which also embraces the silences that are part of conversation. This is shown at its best in the conversations early in the film between Zizzou and Owen Wilson’s character Ned Plimpton. Wilson is better than I think he has ever been, making Ned vunerable and grieving. The burgeoning romance between him and Jane Winslett – Richardson (Cate Blanchett) is genuinely touching. Willem Defoe and Anjelica Huston provide excellent support,I could go on and mention everyone in this, there are no dud performances but for brevity’s sake I will stop.
The Life Aquatic manages to be heartfelt and moving. I cannot recommend strongly enough that you go see this film. -
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful
Classic Bill Murray
This is a terrific film: vividly imagined with some brilliantly delivered witticisms and great psychedelic imagery. Just what you might expect from Anderson and Murray. If you liked their other films you will love this one. Oh and the cast is awesome too.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
long winded
visually quite good. I was very bored
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Wacky!
With Bill Murry and Owen Wilson, couldn't really expect anything else! the film was mad! all about Zisso, who is a failing documentarian... it was dry humour, bhut it was good.
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51 out of 61 people found this review helpful
Weird is the word
As you might expect from Wes Anderson, this film is a weird, whimsical offering which doesn't fit into any categories. It veers between farce, tragedy and satire on reality TV.
One of the oddest things is the musical soundtrack, featuring folk-style versions of David Bowie songs translated into Portuguese.
Bill Murray plays another man in a mid-life crisis - the captain of a rusting submarine. Zissou is a washed-up film-maker who has devoted his life to studying marine life, but now wants to destroy a piece of it - by killing the mysterious jaguar shark which killed his friend.
Owen Wilson plays Steve's long-lost son, Ned, with Cate Blanchett as a haughty journalist boasting an impossibly posh accent.
The whole movie is visually stunning and unlike anything else you've ever seen - I enjoyed it, but can see it's a film which won't be to everyone's taste. -
26 out of 34 people found this review helpful
Magnificent
I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson and my biggest concern about this film was that the weight of my expectation would be too much. Thankfully I was wrong. I loved The Life Aquatic I was mesmerized by the stop motion creatures and the set designs were spectacular. Anderson creates complete worlds for his dramas to play out and his films are the richer for it. The costumes are at times odd (with the exception of Angelica Huston who looks incredible throughout) but that is part of the charm.
At the heart of this film is Bill Murray, who manages to have the audience forgive his callous disregard for others because of a seemingly insurmountable melancholy. Anderson and Baumbach have crafted a script in which they have characters say the things usually left unsaid but which also embraces the silences that are part of conversation. This is shown at its best in the conversations early in the film between Zizzou and Owen Wilson’s character Ned Plimpton. Wilson is better than I think he has ever been, making Ned vunerable and grieving. The burgeoning romance between him and Jane Winslett – Richardson (Cate Blanchett) is genuinely touching. Willem Defoe and Anjelica Huston provide excellent support,I could go on and mention everyone in this, there are no dud performances but for brevity’s sake I will stop.
The Life Aquatic manages to be heartfelt and moving. I cannot recommend strongly enough that you go see this film. -
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful
Classic Bill Murray
This is a terrific film: vividly imagined with some brilliantly delivered witticisms and great psychedelic imagery. Just what you might expect from Anderson and Murray. If you liked their other films you will love this one. Oh and the cast is awesome too.
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24 out of 36 people found this review helpful
I just didn't get it
I rented this on the basis that it was Bill Murray, and the reviews said it was hilarious. Bill Murray was in it, so one out of two aint bad.
My wife fell asleep, and when she did, I turned it off and watched the news. Which was funnier. -
25 out of 45 people found this review helpful
you have to love this film
It is extremely difficult to describe this movie because it is so different from anything else you are likely to see these days (thank god!) but that really is one of its best features. I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson so I fully expected to love this film and I was not dissapointed. I was however dissapointed that while watching this at the cinema 4 seperate groups of people walked out loudly stating that the film wasn't funny at all. Well I dare say if you are so mentally retarded that you can only laugh at really obvious humour then you wouldn't find it funny but that really is no reason to ruin it for the rest of us. I imagine that this movie will receive lots of bad comments which is a crying shame. Please, before you rent this, realise that this is not comedy in the same style of dumb and dumber or any other mindless drivel so if that is all your limited mind can cope with just don't rent it, so we don't have to see reviews like 'oh my god this was, like, SO not funny'
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15 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Gentle, lovely film
Despite the lure of a dream cast of Angelica Houston, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and Owen Wilson (who is actually wonderful in this) I feared this would be a film captivated with its own quirkiness and hence a recipe for arse-clenching pretentiousness. I sat down to watch it prepared to give up after half an hour. To my astonishment, I became utterly absorbed. This is simply a lovely film. It is gentle, funny (at times laugh out loud so), magical but also genuinely moving. The story ostensibly follows the self obsessed, narcissistic underwater explorer and film maker Bill Murray as he attempts to track down and kill the rare 'jaguar shark' that killed his best friend. But it's in his burgeoning relationships that the story really lies: with his bonkers team (clad in matching speedos and red hats); his rival and nemesis Jeff Goldblum, and his charming estranged son Ned (Owen Wilson) who we watch slowly falling in love with reporter Cate Blanchett. As a result, while there is an ever-present undercurrent of magical surrealism this is a deeply convincing, moving and human film. Unexpectedly wonderful.
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12 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Like non-Hollywood cult films with great soundtracks? Me too: avoid this film
This is below average cinema that sets its sights squarely on becoming a cult film (and I like cult films)- if your definition of cult film is: 'offbeat, not very funny, achingly slow, with a great cast not stretched by their roles, featuring a deeply average script' then maybe this film's for you. Yes, it's not very hollywood (5 stars for that alone), it looks great, and the soundtrack's acoustic brazilian bowie covers are superb, but this is a dull film which, because of its director and cast, is a classic case of the emperor's new clothes: it will get great reviews from the sort of people who buy (and never read) prize-winning books to impress their friends. Cate Blanchett's accent is not only unique, but I defy anyone to watch this film in its entirety and not want to strangle her by the end (and I am a fan). Angelica Houston is the only member of the cast whose reputation can be said to be enhanced by the time the credits roll. Very, very disappointing, though may be of benefit to insomniacs.
My advice is leave well alone, but make a point of hearing the soundtrack. -
10 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Better than Tenenbaums
A very pleasant surprise after the self-indulgent disappointment of the Royal Tenenbaums - one of those films whose stunning cast and promising concept just never came together.
As you'd expect if you know his others films, Life Aquatic has its classic Wes Anderson elements - from the Adidas fixation to the chorus of loyal, idiosyncratic Team Zissou members led by a superb Willem Dafoe. But more than that it's a charmingly eccentric story which never lapses into the narrative black hole that Tenenbaums regularly plunged into.
The usual suspects, Bill Murray, Angelica Huston and Owen Wilson don't let you down and Cate Blanchett is a revelation as a feature writer who falls in love with Ned.
This film wasn't as commercially successful as Tenenbaums, which is a shame as it's far more memorable and rewarding. I guess you've worked out by now that I loved it! -
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful
What a disappointment
I had to watch this movie twice - after the first time I felt that, given the cast & director, I must have missed something fundamental whilst watching.
After watching for the second time did I realise that I hadn't missed anything and that is truly a dreadful movie.
I did laugh once but it was so memorable, I can't remember which bit.
I know that this is a take off of Cousteau and that genre but even Murray/Goldblum couldn't rescue this - dreadful script, unappealing storyline.
Perhaps I expected too much given the cast & director but I didn’t expect this. -
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Only true plebs would hate this
My god, what kind of imbeciles write reviews on here? Some people are such utter idiots it is hard to believe. This is a great film, by American standards at least. To anyone with at least a modicum of sense of humour, this film would be hilarious. But then, we do live in a country where people find 'Big Brother' entertaining.
Watch this.
Critics' reviews (4)
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How you react to The Life Aquatic will depend on what you thought of director Wes Anderson's other films. He certainly hasn't learned any new tricks — this odd drama exists in the same strange, whimsical world as Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums. It's centred on famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray and obviously inspired by marine pioneer Jacques Cousteau), who embarks on a Moby Dick-style quest to hunt and kill the mysterious sea creature that ate his best friend. Sadly, Murray doesn't have the same edgy energy as Gene Hackman, who played the irresponsible father in Tenenbaums; indeed he's so laid-back he sometimes seems to be asleep. But there's great support from Owen Wilson as Zissou's (apparently) long-lost son and Jeff Goldblum as a richer, better-equipped rival oceanographer. For some, Anderson's world is too hermetically sealed and downright strange to be affecting; for others, there's an irresistible charm to his eccentric characters. Whatever your conclusions, if you think you might enjoy David Bowie songs performed in Portuguese, this film is for you.
-
Curious disjointed comedy that rambles from one setpiece to another without anything particular in mind; incidents come and go in such a desultory manner that it is as if the cast made it up as they went along.
-
The most peculiar entry, or perhaps just the laziest, in David Thomsons New Biographical Dictionary of Film... read more on Time Out
-
Delightfully eccentric comedy
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With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou (Murray) rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife (Huston), a journalist (Blanchett), and a ... -
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