Grand Hotel

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Abraham L Apr 16, 2019 Another movie which highlights how far the film industry has come, Grand Hotel takes places almost entirely within the confines of a single building, albeit in a series of opulently decorated rooms. I had a hard time determining what overall plot the film had, and eventually concluded that there really wasn't one. It's more like a series of overextended conversations where characters from each one occasionally cross over into another. There's one about a fading ballerina, one about a German businessman trying to close a deal, one about an ailing accountant trying to enjoy his final days, one about a Baron in dire financial straits, one about a stenographer who aspires to be an actress. The whole thing is a mess, a cocktail with too many ingredients thrown in with little effort made to balance them out. The film amounts to little more than a glossy, star-studded talkfest. It's hard to care about any of the characters, since the focus so frequently shifts between them, and the ending, which is meant to be shocking, feels more deflating than anything else. A character is killed, after which another proclaims: ï¿ 1/2 1/2~People come, people go, nothing ever happens.' Well, aside from the man getting bludgeoned to death and the business magnate being taken to jail for his murder. It might hold a nostalgic appeal for some, but it's a film I'd have no problem never seeing again. See more

Han R Mar 4, 2019 A cornucopia of stars from this era come together in this ensemble film that chronicles a couple of days inside the Grand Hotel. Similar to the holiday movies of recent, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and New Year's Day, we watch multiple individuals go through their lives seemingly independent of one another but are actually intermingled in the end. The central character Baron von Gaigern, played to perfection by John Barrymore (Drew Barrymore's father), welds this cast together as he wheels, deals and steals the hearts and pearls of his co-stars. This film is amazing as it briskly goes through a mere couple of days, showcasing several diverse characters as they go through heartbreak, disaster, love, lust, poverty, success and ultimately murder. This film is a must watch for aficionados and Barrymore completists. See more

Hermione R Feb 2, 2019 It won best picture and had some memorable elements.

Abraham W Jan 1, 2019 Like all the best ensemble films, this one utilizes its star studded cast perfectly. Crawford and Lionel Barrymore in particular give strong and often quite moving performances. See more

Luke G Nov 25, 2018 Grand Hotel is a juxtaposition of life and death in its uncertainty, for no matter how brief the period is, one lives. Grand Hotel Goulding's romance of the tale is between the ingenuity of the essential points and the reach for the characters through it. It is a very well originally written tale whose adaptation might not be gripping but its layered thought provoking tale is too good to reminisce about the loopholes. And mind you, there are no such inedible clause in the original play by Drake but it's the execution that falls short handed in here. It is calculative and frequently aware of the trajectory in each frame. But neither the makers nor the actors are enjoying it. The high pitched dramatic sequences to which the movie relies upon, even those aren't glorified properly. They are good at doing their homework, but it shouldn't feel like a homework in the first place. Considering the intensity of the concept, the sloppy writing that focuses on lightening the mood, often shucks away the integrity. Nevertheless with such sharp abhorrent depiction of the society, fame and ignorance, the feature not only soars but lifts up the audience to its higher concept. The performance is decently acted out by the cast if not excellent, since it lacks the spark that should boost us and the storyline forward. Especially the first time, when both the lead characters comes on screen together. The first act of the storyline actually builds up to that moment. And it is on that moment, where the Barrymore and Garbo were supposed to portray the kissing-the-ring infatuation that they feel for each other and instead misses a golden opportunity. The supporting characters are more illuminating in here than the lead ones, they possess the cutthroat politics, morale conflicts and depiction of both the sides of the coin that rattles and calms the nature of a human. Grand Hotel is a juxtaposition of life and death in its uncertainty, for no matter how brief the period is, one lives. See more

Han M Aug 26, 2018 There's a sense of people-watching on the well-performed juggling, interweaving characterization in one setting brings a casual social storytelling formed by the agreeable "nothing ever happens" bookends. (B+) (Full review TBD) See more

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Grand Hotel

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