The Life Aquatic is this particular director's third film, I'm sorry for the laziness but I cannot be bothered to look up his name, can someone let me know? His other efforts were Rushmoor, The Royal Tenumbaums (sp?) and now The Life Aquatic. You cannot talk about this new movie without referencing his earlier work. In short, if you 'get' the other two you'll 'get' this one. The film is populated by some great characters, full of hinted-at back stories, fasinating personalities and strange motivations. I won't try to describe the plot, as this is a minor factor in the film overall and accounts for the major flaw in the film. The production design is amazing, with everything looking as if it has either come straight out of a 1970s French documentary or an experimental stop-motion animation film.
Despite really wanting to love this film, in the same way that I think the Royal Tenumbaums is one of the warmest, most touching films I've ever seen, I did not quite connect with The Life Aquatic. Whilst having the same characters and feel to the previous work, The Life Aquatic's plot lets it down. You just don't experience the same journey as you do with The Royals, you just don't care as much about Steve Zissou as you did with that strange family living in the New York Brownstone.
The BFG still gives it a thumbs up though!
The director is Wes Anderson, and The Life Aquatic is actually his fourth film. I forgot the little known 'Bottle Rocket' which I have not seen.
Posted by: simon | July 12, 2005 at 04:55 PM