If we don’t handle this right, we’re all gonna get murdered… including her unborn British child.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

 

Hearing me talk about The Life Aquatic with Steven Zissou is like hearing a person on acid talk about it like she’s seen the movie on acid.

“It’s about a documentarist who goes on a voyage with his estranged son to look for the Leopard shark that killed his best friend. It has animations.”Festival Director: That’s an endangered species at most. What would be the scientific purpose of killing it? Steve Zissou: Revenge.

Steve Zissou: Are you sure?
Klaus Daimler: Yes, I am.
Steve Zissou: I don’t understand. Why?
Klaus Daimler: What do you mean?… Wait a second. What are we doing? You said cross the line if.
Steve Zissou: Cross the line if you’re going to quit.
Klaus Daimler: Oh… Do it again. I misunderstood.

Actually, it isn’t. That’s just how the movie goes. And said person saw the movie while nursing a hangover, so that’s why said person probably thought the movie IS on acid.

Being only my second Wes Anderson movie, Rushmore, being my first (I saw it over the summer of my sophomore year in high school. “I saw Rushmore over the summer. What have you done?”), I must admit that I have no solid opinion of this movie aside from (a) it’s pretty; (b) is that Cate Blanchett? (it is); (c) does anyone know where I can get that red beanie that the Zissou team wore?; and (e) the pirates are Filinos. ROFLZ.

But it’s one of those movies that leaves you thinking after you’ve seen it. Steve Zissou’s voyage seems outlandish and quixotic at first, but just like any hero’s journey, triumph comes in the end, as seen when Zissou is sitting on the steps of the theater house, obviously holding an award.