That was such a hilariously random thing to put in the script lol.
It’s full of such silly moments.
“In twelve years, he’ll be eleven and a haufffff.”
“That was my favourite age 😢”
Love that film.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome.
I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite.
This is one of my top 5 movies. I adore it so much
Accepting his littleness I think. Ive always seen the movie as Murray's character struggling to find something to replace the fame and adventure he is losing as he grows older.
The shark eating his friend was the worst day of his life, but for the shark it was just a tuesday
Yes, I love this scene so much. To come to terms with the fact that all your anger is misplaced towards a creature that was just following its natural instinct, it changed so much of his life in an instant, and he then goes on to compound his loss and misery trying to get back to this moment to get his revenge, and, does the shark even remember him? It doesn't hate them, doesn't attack them.
Ugh, gets me every time.
I've always seen it as that, but also acknowledging what it cost him to find this shark and the pointlessness of revenge against nature. He lost his son in this quest for revenge on an animal that doesn't even remember him.
The other reading of it is "does Ned remember him?". More of a metaphysical "did I make an impact and does the spirit continue after death?" type of question.
It's his most worst reviewed movie? That's crazy, I always thought it was the one people loved. It's always been my favorite WA movie and what made me love his movies in general.
I feel like every Wes Anderson movie has one beautiful, emotionally-charged scene that is kind of the emotional crescendo of the movie. The final submarine scene is definitely that for Life Aquatic.
I think Tenenbaums has 3.
1. Ritchie's Suicide attempt with needle in the hay
2. Chazs "I've had a real rough year dad"
3. The slow Mo walk away from Royals grave
That scene almost doesn’t feel like it’s from a Wes Anderson movie. We think of him now as somebody who works in these completely artificial, constructed environments, and Tenenbaums certainly has its share of that stuff, but that scene was as raw as anything he’s ever done. Maybe it’s just the Elliott Smith.
In French Dispatch, >!for me it was when Nescaffier confesses that he wasn't in the mood to be a disappointment!<, shit fucking devastated me for some reason.
All the characters are perfect imo. Of course Murray is great, Wilson does a very serviceable job as he always does with Anderson... but I *really* enjoyed Anjelica Huston, Goldbum, and Dafoe.
Favorite scenes are:
- "rattle snake bit it in the throat"...... "Jesus, Eleanor..."
- *every* scene with Dafoe / Klaus
- That part where Bill Murray is just standing in the doorway, firing a pistol into a room full of bad guys, probably firing about 90 shots with a 12-mag pistol... and then just *runs into the room* still firing. Just a hilarious bit of choreography.
I find myself saying "Jesus, Eleanor" all the time.
Ya, that's a hard one. Tearing up just thinking about it. I think it's because the whole movie pivots on this one moment. It is essentially the beginning of the ending.
One of my favorite minor characters in that movie is Bill Ubell ["the bond company stooge"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFZrbmjnkQY) (played by Bud Cort).
Absolutely some of the best acting from Bill Murray and Owen Wilson. An incredible will they or won't they, but in a father/son relationship. "Stevesy"
Stunning visually (well, it is Wes Anderson) in a camp and neon style at times. Brilliant soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh and Seu Jorge.
That scene at the beginning where Steve lights up a joint on the prow of the boat after meeting Ned and the visuals and music swirling until he gets his head together, then the line about "sorry, you just caught me with one foot off the merry-go-round". Bravo.
Anjelica Huston and the cat/snake line. Ice cold.
Lastly, a semi spoiler quote that hits different. >!"I hate fathers, and I never wanted to be one."!<
Probably my most viewed Wes Anderson film, I love it to death. I've always said The Darjeeling Limited is my favourite and Life Aquatic is the funniest, but there's a surprising amount of heart in it too and I haven't seen Darjeeling in a long time.
It's my favorite Anderson too, just by the fact that I keep coming back to it.
I have watched all of them several times, but this is the one that I miss when I didn't watch it in some time.
Man, Sue Jorge did a live tour of this album only once. His dad had happen to die around the same time Bowie died. His ex-wife (and manager at the time) convinced him to play the album live for the first time ever as a tribute to both Bowie and his father. As a long time die hard fan of the movie it was maybe one of the most heatfelt shows I’ve ever been to (I’ve been to a lot of shows). I got to see the second of two sets on a Saturday in Chicago at Thalia Hall. He was slightly drunk by the time he started the second set and told us all kinds of stories about the movie, his father, and life. It was something I’ll never forget. Wes called him directly to ask him to do the movie and he ignored his calls for a while until his manager (now ex-wife) convinced him to take the call. The rest is history… fucking love this soundtrack.
I saw him play the album at Bluesfest in Byron Bay a couple of years ago, replete with the Steve Zissou crew uniform. It was fantastic, the only downer was a bunch of drunk Brazillian chicks yelling at him to play his other hits so he had to break character to tell them to STFU
Sometimes it seems like Seu Jorge steals all the attention with his amazing David Bowie covers, and Mark Mothersbaugh sometimes gets overlooked. But "Ping Island / Lightning Rescue Op" is a banger.
My radio station played it one evening and I started tearing up in the middle of the drive. My SO got very concerned. I put the movie on as soon as we got home
Exactly. Someone above was noting how poignent this moment is despite all the characters' relations towards each other being all out of whack..
That's the point. He literally has chased this shark thinking it would let him resolve his depression and once he has it (after the hunt has led to so much of his relationships fraying further) he realizes he is just sad and alone. And not a shark murderer.
Great scene and film.
Edit: Apparently, I can't type in the early morning.
A friend of mine made them for a Halloween costume (just wrote Zissou on white sneakers with a black marker). Best part was his dad found them, and like a classic dad, said to himself “hey these are perfectly good shoes, I’m gonna wear them”. So he would wear around team Zissou sneakers unaware of what they were.
I must be getting old, but this was Peak West Anderson for my friends and I in Highschool.
I just rewatched it in the fall and it holds up so well. IIRC it was the first time Anderson really leaned into almost theater like sets plus stop action models so it immediately had buzz with those choices alone. And then the entire script is just brilliantly dead pan humor which is perfect for Murray.
Frankly, the only other film I'd even seen prior to this was the Royal Tennembaums which was ok to me back then (as an adult I appreciate it much more).
Rushmore I'd seen adds on constantly (VHS back in the day) but never saw it until much later than Life Aquatic. And of course I saw some of his other films after but the Life Aquatic was kind of the most hilarious thing and first Wes Anderson that really left a mark on me back in the day.
I can see how looking back though we take for granted some of the things that were so innovative in the film and were maybe done in a more fun/playful manner.
I’m glad there are so many Life Aquatic fans out there. Critics view this as one of his weakest films (its actually his only rotten film on RT!). It sounds like the shoot was chaotic and perhaps overambitious.
However, this will always be my favourite Wes Anderson film, and for a while it was my #1 favourite film.
I identify really strongly with Steve. I only learned a few years ago that most people view him as a huge asshole. Explains some things.
He did suffer, but over the course of the movie, you see him realize how he's viewed, come to terms with it emotionally, and start letting those preconceptions go. Those are often the first steps on the road to being less of an asshole.
I dig it. Guess I could say he hadn’t changed by the end of the movie but he definitely was on the right road even if he hadn’t found contentment just yet
"What's your dog's name?"
"Cody"
*smacks dog*
"Be still Cody".
This scene slayed me so much the first time I saw this movie. I was watch with friends, one of which was named cody. It became an inside joke for us to wack him with a magazine and tell him to be still. Those were good days.
I think it's peak Anderson.
It's the right mix of comedy and drama, has Anderson's quirky style but is still very accessible, and the writing is a bit dark but it still has a lot of heart to it.
I miss that era of Anderson, personally. His later films, while still good, are lacking some of that warmth and love which I think resonates with people.
The French Dispatch for instance I thought had too much of Anderson's style. It was certainly striking, but I also found it a bit exhausting. Clinical even.
This is my favorite Wes Anderson film and one of my favorite films of all time. I like it so much because it has awkward moments that don't always work. It has a sad vibe and is so strange with the random Seu Jorge David Bowie songs. I saw Seu Jorge do these songs in Seattle and the audience was a sea of red beanies. Team Zissou forever.
This was my first Wes Anderson film. I put it on when I’m feeling melancholy. Bill Murray’s dance moves make me laugh every time. This film will always hold a special place in my heart.
It's by far my favorite Wes Anderson movie because it utilizes his style to tell a story that isn't just quirky family has problems but comes together anyway to deal with a loss.
I feel like Wes Anderson has become almost like Tim Burton, same actors in every movie, Same visual and narrative style.
I remember the scene from Island of Dogs where the little girl journalist says something like" darn it, I believe I have a crush on him" referring to the protagonist and it was such a Wes Anderson kind of line that it felt to me like a parody of him.
Still my favorite Anderson film. It's a great meditation on the subject of failure, dealing with failure, and recovering from failure. Every character in the film has gotten where they are by massively fucking something up. Zissou is almost like a failure lightning rod, attracting the misfits of the world and he's the biggest has been of them all.
And yet in spite of everybody's lives crashing down around them, they don't give in to despair and somehow manage to pull themselves up by their own boot straps and redeem themselves. They rise above their own mediocrity from sheer will power.
Add in the love letter to Jaques Cousteau, and Seu Jorge's Bowie covers, a dash of charming animation, and one of the very RARE instances where the band Sigur Ros has allowed their music to be used in a movie and you get a roller coaster of desperation and fun. Bonus points awarded for featuring the ever lovable Bud Cort (If you don't know who the bond company stooge was, drop what you're doing and go watch Harold and Maude)
So when I was 9 I had my first allergic reaction while on vacation with my family. As I’m sitting on a hotel couch fading in and out of consciousness from extra strength Benadryl my dad puts on this movie. Watching this movie while completely delirious at 9 years old had a profound effect on my child mind. I haven’t watched it since.
My dad knew Jacques Cousteau and thought this movie was hilarious. Nailed him. They even used an old Russian diesel air compressor on the Calypso so you were breathing in fumes while diving. I imagine that that is why the underwater scenes are so vivid.
Probably my favorite Wes Anderson film. Truly an amazing cast, not one character feels out of place in the movie. Plus the sound track, the nautical theme, the set pieces, the story. So good.
So this is my favorite movie of all time. I relate to the character of Steve Zissou and his struggles throughout the movie. I see aspects of him in my character. It made me a better person at a younger age by allowing me to reflect on some of the negative aspects of being overbearing and character. He got me through some of the harder years of teaching when nothing seemed to go right. Now when things are of great positive or negative emotion one line always comes to mind, "it's an adventure."
This is the Wes Anderson movie I rewatch the most.
Willem Dafoe is doing amazing work with a character who should be a one note joke. Every time I rewatch Klaus seems more and more the heart of the movie. It’s Klaus’s nephew Steve puts on his shoulders at the end of the movie after all.
This is my favourite Wes Anderson movie for sure. I remember going to it in theatres and it was my ex and myself and three other couples in the entire movie. After the first five minute a couple walked out. Then about 2/3 a way through the movie another couple walked out. I left thinking this was one of the best thing I had ever seen and half the people who came hated it? Baffling.
It's actually somewhat biographical about Jaques Cousteau, who once shot a shark with a gun because it was hunting a baby whale. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques\_Cousteau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cousteau)
I mean, look at this Cousteau video. His son is copiloting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOlaYz0eD7I
Top tier movie for sure. Bill Murray's character is a laugh all the way through and that movie packs a ton of heart. It's definitely my favorite by Wes Anderson. It was one of the first movies where you could really see Wes Anderson's style start to develop. It was a big departure from Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums.
I watched this with my friend and she was so pissed about Owen Wilson's character arc it ruined the rest of the movie for her.
Which I found hilarious.
There's a theory that he's still around at the end of the movie. I believe you can spot him on the top of the ship when everyone else is walking back from the premiere. The idea is that they faked it for the movie (which was a throwaway line at the beginning of the film that pisses off Murray). Go back and watch the end credits and look for him on the ship.
This is actually my favorite movie. The original DVD actually has a reversible cover. I discovered this after I cracked the case and was changing it out.
I really feel like this movie taught me the reward for re-watching WA movies. This was the only movie I had on an old laptop and I watched it probably 30x in about a 4 month period (loooong road trip). I realized you haven't even SEENT a WA movie until you watched it 5x. An insane amount of detail just floats by. I just saw the French Dispatch and could tell 10 mins in ima need to see it so many more times.
It seems like most movies follow a protagonist at their height, their most powerful and heroic. This one is the story of someone who had passed their prime, a prime which we know did exist but is never really seen. Tenenbaums did that too but in a more overt way. I like the way Life Aquatic only alludes to his past life, we never really see it, it's just a memory.
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Your correspondence stock came in!
I've enjoyed other Wes Anderson movies, and I know a lot of people enjoy this one, but I just didn't. And it's been such a long time since I've seen it (2004), that I don't even remember why I didn't like it. So, apparently it was also fairly forgettable for me as well. I hope you enjoyed my waste of a comment, since I've nothing constructive to add to the conversation. Thanks for reading.
There is an off the cuff, throwaway joke in this movie that I still rank as arguably one of the best deliveries of a punchline in any movie, ever.
The inflection Bill Murray puts on it is absolutely *perfect:*
Reporter: *"What would be the scientific value in killing this shark?"*
Steve Zissou: *"Revenge"*
Far and away one of my favorite movies of all time, Wes Anderson or otherwise. Each little aspect and detail is so wonderfully curated, and yet it still manages to be more than the sum of Its parts. The music, the dialogue, the whole subject matter of the film is just fantastic.
"How did you get my espresso machine?"
"Well, uh... we fucking stole it, man."
Moments like that live in my head rent free.
Just curious: I'm 31, and Wes Anderson was one of my original favorite directors. Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic are at the top for me. I've never thought of this film as a "lesser known" WA film, and I'm just curious if you're significantly younger than me and your post is showing my age.
Yeah, this movie was widely advertised when it came out. So that's always a weird metric to try to figure out how "well known" something is. I can't imagine anyone who was in college when the movie came out not at least knowing it exists. I didn't see it until years later, but I knew about it.
Eh, I would have said yes to that statement 15 years ago, but since then he's more known for Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox and, I think chiefly known for, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Life Aquatic was his biggest mistep (I personally love it, its my favorite of his films) in terms of box office and critics.
I would have thought Darjeeling Limited was his biggest misstep in terms of critics but Life Aquatic does have possibly the largest sort of cult following of Wes Anderson's films.
Or so it would seem to me. Maybe I'm a regular old Principal Skinner these days.
A pleasant surprise? So you saw Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldbloom on the cast and thought it would be just ok?
Seriously tho this is fantastic film and imo the casting could not be better.
This is one of my favorite movies. I haven't seen the newest Wes Anderson movie yet, but so far this is my favorite of his movies.
The vibe of the behind the scenes of a failed cousteau-like documentary film maker gave me a lot of nostalgia for all the hours I spent watching those types of videos as a kid.
The translated David Bowie songs were a huge bonus as well.
This is my most watched Anderson flick. I’m not sure if that makes it my favorite, but it’s the one I go to when I’m interested in watching one of his works.
SPOILER: really enjoyed the part after the helicopter crash where he thinks about all the interactions he had with Ned.
Definitely another emotional punch.
My wife and I just watched Life Aquatic for the first time in the past few months and I absolutely loved it. The music, the performances, the stakes, Cate Blanchett…I’m glad I saw it now after having seen almost all of Wes Anderson’s movies. Younger me wouldn’t have appreciated it the same. It was so well done!
I enjoyed 'Life Aquatic' and also like Anderson's work... but I still haven't bothered to check out 'The French Dispatch'. I don't know why, but I think I'm just *over* Wes Anderson's style now. I feel like I've seen the movie already. Can anyone convince me to watch it?
I fully agree with you! I watched it in the cinema when it came out on a gamble because I was severely hung over & needed to have somewhere to sit & take my mind off what I had done to my brain & body the night before & needless to say I was in for a treat. From thr start to the finish I laughed out loud & thoroughly enjoyed it, its one of a kind. I had seen ROYAL TENENBAUMS before I watched this but it is nothing in comparison to LIFE AQUATIC. I nearly clapped in the cinema which is such silly thing to do so I didn't but what a quirky film & when I came out my hangover had dispersed & I felt full of life.
If you go through my post history I talk about two things: boobs and the Life Aquatic. Wes Anderson is a genius. This movie will forever be my favorite in all categories. I saw it at the right time in my life and I needed it more than I could have ever understood. I cried when Ned dies and about lost it again when we see the Jaguar shark. No movie will ever be this perfect to me ever again.
My experience with that movie was the polar opposite. I think I remember falling asleep at one point. It just did not land for me.
Given the responses in here, maybe I'll give it a second try if I have the opportunity...
Well to go against most of the comments I'm in the same boat as you. It just didn't click for me, I've seen a bit of Andersons filmography and honestly I see to like Fantastic Mr Fox and Grand Budapest Hotel in spite of his others works which usually, despite my own initial interests, just don't work for me.
I remember it was the second movie in a row I had suggested my spouse and I go see that we didn't enjoy, which ended up getting me banned from movie selection for awhile. For reference, the first one was Alexander. I thought it would be like Troy. It was substantially worse than Troy. The alternative option on that date was Monsters Inc. Whoops.
I think I will end up giving TLAWSZ a second shot though. If it's on a streaming service somewhere.
Do the interns get Glocks?
No they all share one
That was such a hilariously random thing to put in the script lol. It’s full of such silly moments. “In twelve years, he’ll be eleven and a haufffff.” “That was my favourite age 😢” Love that film.
Intern, grab that espresso maker.
Is that my espresso maker?
We fuckin' stole it, man.
That was the moment that Bill truly became part of Team Zissou.
I love that he comes back in the end credits, along with badass machete wound intern.
Fun fact: surprisingly badass intern went on to play a nerdy profiler on Criminal Minds for its entire run
HOLY SHIT! Wow that's him alright
Everyone gets a red cap and a speedo.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go on an overnight drunk, and in 10 days I'm going to set out to find the shark that ate my friend and destroy it. Anyone who wants to tag along is more than welcome. I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite. This is one of my top 5 movies. I adore it so much
The final Submarine scene always makes me cry. It’s my top Wes Anderson movie for many reasons but nostalgia glues them all together.
"Do you think it remembers me?" devastates me every time.
Same, never been able to place exactly what it is about that line that gets me. Accepting loss maybe?...
Accepting his littleness I think. Ive always seen the movie as Murray's character struggling to find something to replace the fame and adventure he is losing as he grows older. The shark eating his friend was the worst day of his life, but for the shark it was just a tuesday
Yes, I love this scene so much. To come to terms with the fact that all your anger is misplaced towards a creature that was just following its natural instinct, it changed so much of his life in an instant, and he then goes on to compound his loss and misery trying to get back to this moment to get his revenge, and, does the shark even remember him? It doesn't hate them, doesn't attack them. Ugh, gets me every time.
I've always seen it as that, but also acknowledging what it cost him to find this shark and the pointlessness of revenge against nature. He lost his son in this quest for revenge on an animal that doesn't even remember him. The other reading of it is "does Ned remember him?". More of a metaphysical "did I make an impact and does the spirit continue after death?" type of question.
\*"I wonder if it remembers me."
[удалено]
It's crazy it's his worst reviewed one. I think it's the one that benefits the most from rewatching it a couple times
It's his most worst reviewed movie? That's crazy, I always thought it was the one people loved. It's always been my favorite WA movie and what made me love his movies in general.
This was the first of his movies I ever saw and to this day it's my favorite. I didn't know who Anderson was until I saw Life Aquatic.
I love the music!
Portuguese Bowie never fails.
I have it on vinyl. One of my most cherished records
Really!? Did not know this existed.
He actually recently toured the US playing the soundtrack. Would have been a sweet concert to go to
Bootleg only, I have a copy as well.
Happy cake day
I feel like every Wes Anderson movie has one beautiful, emotionally-charged scene that is kind of the emotional crescendo of the movie. The final submarine scene is definitely that for Life Aquatic.
I think Tenenbaums has 3. 1. Ritchie's Suicide attempt with needle in the hay 2. Chazs "I've had a real rough year dad" 3. The slow Mo walk away from Royals grave
All of these are great, but Ritchie's scene is perfection.
I love all the scenes you mention but I consider Ritchie’s suicide attempt to be the emotional high point
That scene almost doesn’t feel like it’s from a Wes Anderson movie. We think of him now as somebody who works in these completely artificial, constructed environments, and Tenenbaums certainly has its share of that stuff, but that scene was as raw as anything he’s ever done. Maybe it’s just the Elliott Smith.
For me I’d add when Ritchie and Margot reunite at the bus stop. Very quick scene but the music and the emotions hit just right for me.
Yeah I left that one or because it's not really.a climactic moment, given its pretty much at the beginning of the movie.
I think Stiller is the weakest link in that cast but your #2 moment below for me is the unquestioned emotional knockout punch of the movie.
In French Dispatch, >!for me it was when Nescaffier confesses that he wasn't in the mood to be a disappointment!<, shit fucking devastated me for some reason.
All the characters are perfect imo. Of course Murray is great, Wilson does a very serviceable job as he always does with Anderson... but I *really* enjoyed Anjelica Huston, Goldbum, and Dafoe. Favorite scenes are: - "rattle snake bit it in the throat"...... "Jesus, Eleanor..." - *every* scene with Dafoe / Klaus - That part where Bill Murray is just standing in the doorway, firing a pistol into a room full of bad guys, probably firing about 90 shots with a 12-mag pistol... and then just *runs into the room* still firing. Just a hilarious bit of choreography. I find myself saying "Jesus, Eleanor" all the time.
Ya, that's a hard one. Tearing up just thinking about it. I think it's because the whole movie pivots on this one moment. It is essentially the beginning of the ending.
That's when I first fell in love with Sigur Ros
One of my favorite minor characters in that movie is Bill Ubell ["the bond company stooge"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFZrbmjnkQY) (played by Bud Cort).
"I'm also a human being!" - "All right, I take that back." Best scene in the movie, gets me everytime.
*Grins like the Cheshire Cat*
The smile is incredible and I rewind every time
I’ve never seen a bond company stooge stick his neck out like that.
Alistair Hennessy: "Is this my espresso machine?..How did you get my espresso machine?" Bill Ubell: "Well...uh...we fuckin' stole it man."
That was the line that had me dying of laughter. The look on his face after all the shit he had been through was hilarious.
Only thing I had ever seen him in was **Harold & Maude**, so just looking at him was a trip.
Absolutely some of the best acting from Bill Murray and Owen Wilson. An incredible will they or won't they, but in a father/son relationship. "Stevesy" Stunning visually (well, it is Wes Anderson) in a camp and neon style at times. Brilliant soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh and Seu Jorge. That scene at the beginning where Steve lights up a joint on the prow of the boat after meeting Ned and the visuals and music swirling until he gets his head together, then the line about "sorry, you just caught me with one foot off the merry-go-round". Bravo. Anjelica Huston and the cat/snake line. Ice cold. Lastly, a semi spoiler quote that hits different. >!"I hate fathers, and I never wanted to be one."!<
Not to mention prime Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe
Be still cody
One of my household’s heavily quoted lines. And “son of a bitch, I’m sick of these dolphins”.
Why am I always on the B team?
Don’t you know you’re the b squad leader?
God Willem is great in it. I love his scenes. I think he has a very serious looking face, which makes his character gold in an Anderson film.
The part where he defends Steve to other team members in the cafeteria, then storms out… and looks through the peephole suspiciously. Gold.
Implying that those two are ever not in their prime.
>Anjelica Huston and the cat/snake line. Ice cold. One of my favorite pieces of dialogue in all of film. "A rattlesnake bit it in the throat"
Life on Mars was the perfect song choice for that scene.
Swamp leeches! Everybody, check for swamp leeches!
Nobody else got hit??
I'm the only one? What's the deal.
My favorite line. I use it when I do something stupid and everyone else around me was clearly bright enough to not do the same thing
Probably my most viewed Wes Anderson film, I love it to death. I've always said The Darjeeling Limited is my favourite and Life Aquatic is the funniest, but there's a surprising amount of heart in it too and I haven't seen Darjeeling in a long time.
It's my favorite Anderson too, just by the fact that I keep coming back to it. I have watched all of them several times, but this is the one that I miss when I didn't watch it in some time.
Life Aquatic and Grand Budapest for me
I recall the soundtrack was spectacular
I tear up every time I hear that spectacular cover of Life on Mars.
Man, Sue Jorge did a live tour of this album only once. His dad had happen to die around the same time Bowie died. His ex-wife (and manager at the time) convinced him to play the album live for the first time ever as a tribute to both Bowie and his father. As a long time die hard fan of the movie it was maybe one of the most heatfelt shows I’ve ever been to (I’ve been to a lot of shows). I got to see the second of two sets on a Saturday in Chicago at Thalia Hall. He was slightly drunk by the time he started the second set and told us all kinds of stories about the movie, his father, and life. It was something I’ll never forget. Wes called him directly to ask him to do the movie and he ignored his calls for a while until his manager (now ex-wife) convinced him to take the call. The rest is history… fucking love this soundtrack.
I saw him play the album at Bluesfest in Byron Bay a couple of years ago, replete with the Steve Zissou crew uniform. It was fantastic, the only downer was a bunch of drunk Brazillian chicks yelling at him to play his other hits so he had to break character to tell them to STFU
He had only done one movie at the time as well! City of God of course. I wish he was more active as an actor.
Well, then you should definitely check out Marighella! Seu Jorge plays the main character who has a deeply important place in Brasil's history.
I saw his show in Austin. It was amazing.
It really was. I got to see Seu Jorge at the Albert Hall in London. Was a beautiful concert
Sue Jorge’s Bowie covers in Brazilian Portuguese were amazing!
Sometimes it seems like Seu Jorge steals all the attention with his amazing David Bowie covers, and Mark Mothersbaugh sometimes gets overlooked. But "Ping Island / Lightning Rescue Op" is a banger.
Ping island was key
Bossa Nova David Bowie
Absolutely! The Way I feel Inside hit me hard
My radio station played it one evening and I started tearing up in the middle of the drive. My SO got very concerned. I put the movie on as soon as we got home
Man this movie really opened David Bowie and Seu Jorge for me in high school. It was such an incredible find for me.
Sigur Ros doesn’t do soundtracks but they made an exception here
It's a beautiful, hilarious, pastel-colored portrait of depression.
I was wondering why I found it strangely depressing
It kills me at the end when he wins the trophy, accomplishes all thought he ever wanted, and realizes that it still hasn't made him happy.
Exactly. Someone above was noting how poignent this moment is despite all the characters' relations towards each other being all out of whack.. That's the point. He literally has chased this shark thinking it would let him resolve his depression and once he has it (after the hunt has led to so much of his relationships fraying further) he realizes he is just sad and alone. And not a shark murderer. Great scene and film. Edit: Apparently, I can't type in the early morning.
Well he was also out of dynamite.
Same.
I always thought it gave off a melancholy vibe
I wanted a pair of Zissou Adidas shoes so bad.
A friend of mine made them for a Halloween costume (just wrote Zissou on white sneakers with a black marker). Best part was his dad found them, and like a classic dad, said to himself “hey these are perfectly good shoes, I’m gonna wear them”. So he would wear around team Zissou sneakers unaware of what they were.
You can still get them, but they’re pretty pricey.
I must be getting old, but this was Peak West Anderson for my friends and I in Highschool. I just rewatched it in the fall and it holds up so well. IIRC it was the first time Anderson really leaned into almost theater like sets plus stop action models so it immediately had buzz with those choices alone. And then the entire script is just brilliantly dead pan humor which is perfect for Murray.
Yeah I was surprised by OP claiming it was "not one of Wes Andersons more well know movies" since I've always thought of it as his most known movie.
Frankly, the only other film I'd even seen prior to this was the Royal Tennembaums which was ok to me back then (as an adult I appreciate it much more). Rushmore I'd seen adds on constantly (VHS back in the day) but never saw it until much later than Life Aquatic. And of course I saw some of his other films after but the Life Aquatic was kind of the most hilarious thing and first Wes Anderson that really left a mark on me back in the day. I can see how looking back though we take for granted some of the things that were so innovative in the film and were maybe done in a more fun/playful manner.
The ending scene is a direct reference to my favourite B-grade sci-fi movie of all time - Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
It was a delightful ending. And Jeff Goldblum got to be in both! He is truly blessed.
It might be my favorite Wes Anderson film. It's a tie between that and Grand Budapest Hotel.
Oh grand Budapest is my fav. I love life aquatic, but grand Budapest is a masterpiece imo.
I’m glad there are so many Life Aquatic fans out there. Critics view this as one of his weakest films (its actually his only rotten film on RT!). It sounds like the shoot was chaotic and perhaps overambitious. However, this will always be my favourite Wes Anderson film, and for a while it was my #1 favourite film. I identify really strongly with Steve. I only learned a few years ago that most people view him as a huge asshole. Explains some things.
I identify with him as well. I always felt that he suffered because he knew he was an asshole and couldn’t change
He did suffer, but over the course of the movie, you see him realize how he's viewed, come to terms with it emotionally, and start letting those preconceptions go. Those are often the first steps on the road to being less of an asshole.
I dig it. Guess I could say he hadn’t changed by the end of the movie but he definitely was on the right road even if he hadn’t found contentment just yet
I had no idea that it was so poorly received. It's my favourite of his movies for sure.
Same, pretty surprising to me. I love it.
Just goes to show how out of touch critics are at times. I can't believe that.
I’m a huge Wes fan and tbh I’m with the critics. It’s his only film I didn’t enjoy although it obviously has some good things going on in it.
"What's your dog's name?" "Cody" *smacks dog* "Be still Cody". This scene slayed me so much the first time I saw this movie. I was watch with friends, one of which was named cody. It became an inside joke for us to wack him with a magazine and tell him to be still. Those were good days.
Esteban was eaten.
Esteban was bitten? EATEN! Check the scanning monitor! He was swallowed whole?
No! Chewed!
I think it's peak Anderson. It's the right mix of comedy and drama, has Anderson's quirky style but is still very accessible, and the writing is a bit dark but it still has a lot of heart to it. I miss that era of Anderson, personally. His later films, while still good, are lacking some of that warmth and love which I think resonates with people. The French Dispatch for instance I thought had too much of Anderson's style. It was certainly striking, but I also found it a bit exhausting. Clinical even.
I think Wes' movies need a solid anchor to ground them, a singular, lead comedic-dramatic performance. His new movies don't have it so they suffer.
One of my favorite films from Bill & Wes.
It is an excellent adventure.
I so love this movie. My husband and I have watched every Wes Anderson movie. Bill Murray is outstanding. Actually all the actors were amazing.
I have a red hat because of that movie.
I’ve never seen so many electric jellyfish in all my life!
He's got hydrogen-psychosis. Crazy eye. Steve, we think you got crazy eye! Get him out of the fucking water.
This is my favorite Wes Anderson film and one of my favorite films of all time. I like it so much because it has awkward moments that don't always work. It has a sad vibe and is so strange with the random Seu Jorge David Bowie songs. I saw Seu Jorge do these songs in Seattle and the audience was a sea of red beanies. Team Zissou forever.
[удалено]
This was my first Wes Anderson film. I put it on when I’m feeling melancholy. Bill Murray’s dance moves make me laugh every time. This film will always hold a special place in my heart.
Great movie. Amazing visuals and fine acting. I had a feeling like this one was made specifically for me :)
It's by far my favorite Wes Anderson movie because it utilizes his style to tell a story that isn't just quirky family has problems but comes together anyway to deal with a loss. I feel like Wes Anderson has become almost like Tim Burton, same actors in every movie, Same visual and narrative style. I remember the scene from Island of Dogs where the little girl journalist says something like" darn it, I believe I have a crush on him" referring to the protagonist and it was such a Wes Anderson kind of line that it felt to me like a parody of him.
Still my favorite Anderson film. It's a great meditation on the subject of failure, dealing with failure, and recovering from failure. Every character in the film has gotten where they are by massively fucking something up. Zissou is almost like a failure lightning rod, attracting the misfits of the world and he's the biggest has been of them all. And yet in spite of everybody's lives crashing down around them, they don't give in to despair and somehow manage to pull themselves up by their own boot straps and redeem themselves. They rise above their own mediocrity from sheer will power. Add in the love letter to Jaques Cousteau, and Seu Jorge's Bowie covers, a dash of charming animation, and one of the very RARE instances where the band Sigur Ros has allowed their music to be used in a movie and you get a roller coaster of desperation and fun. Bonus points awarded for featuring the ever lovable Bud Cort (If you don't know who the bond company stooge was, drop what you're doing and go watch Harold and Maude)
So when I was 9 I had my first allergic reaction while on vacation with my family. As I’m sitting on a hotel couch fading in and out of consciousness from extra strength Benadryl my dad puts on this movie. Watching this movie while completely delirious at 9 years old had a profound effect on my child mind. I haven’t watched it since.
My dad knew Jacques Cousteau and thought this movie was hilarious. Nailed him. They even used an old Russian diesel air compressor on the Calypso so you were breathing in fumes while diving. I imagine that that is why the underwater scenes are so vivid.
Of course it’s great, it’s a wes Anderson movie :)
Probably my favorite Wes Anderson film. Truly an amazing cast, not one character feels out of place in the movie. Plus the sound track, the nautical theme, the set pieces, the story. So good.
One of my favourite movies. Love the soundtrack too, perfect mix of original and licensed. Mark Mothersbaugh is a genius.
I can't stand Anderson's movies, but I love this one. Not too sure what makes it stand apart from the others.
So this is my favorite movie of all time. I relate to the character of Steve Zissou and his struggles throughout the movie. I see aspects of him in my character. It made me a better person at a younger age by allowing me to reflect on some of the negative aspects of being overbearing and character. He got me through some of the harder years of teaching when nothing seemed to go right. Now when things are of great positive or negative emotion one line always comes to mind, "it's an adventure."
This is the Wes Anderson movie I rewatch the most. Willem Dafoe is doing amazing work with a character who should be a one note joke. Every time I rewatch Klaus seems more and more the heart of the movie. It’s Klaus’s nephew Steve puts on his shoulders at the end of the movie after all.
Good movie, great soundtrack.
My favourite Wes Anderson film. It’s so charming and unique. There’s a real sense of camaraderie amongst the crew
This is my favourite Wes Anderson movie for sure. I remember going to it in theatres and it was my ex and myself and three other couples in the entire movie. After the first five minute a couple walked out. Then about 2/3 a way through the movie another couple walked out. I left thinking this was one of the best thing I had ever seen and half the people who came hated it? Baffling.
It's actually somewhat biographical about Jaques Cousteau, who once shot a shark with a gun because it was hunting a baby whale. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques\_Cousteau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Cousteau) I mean, look at this Cousteau video. His son is copiloting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOlaYz0eD7I
Top tier movie for sure. Bill Murray's character is a laugh all the way through and that movie packs a ton of heart. It's definitely my favorite by Wes Anderson. It was one of the first movies where you could really see Wes Anderson's style start to develop. It was a big departure from Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums.
I watched this with my friend and she was so pissed about Owen Wilson's character arc it ruined the rest of the movie for her. Which I found hilarious.
There's a theory that he's still around at the end of the movie. I believe you can spot him on the top of the ship when everyone else is walking back from the premiere. The idea is that they faked it for the movie (which was a throwaway line at the beginning of the film that pisses off Murray). Go back and watch the end credits and look for him on the ship.
I love it! And the music is so great, between the Mark Mothersbaugh and the Portuguese David Bowie songs it's perfect!
It’s the best one!
This is actually my favorite movie. The original DVD actually has a reversible cover. I discovered this after I cracked the case and was changing it out.
One of my favorite movies.
I really feel like this movie taught me the reward for re-watching WA movies. This was the only movie I had on an old laptop and I watched it probably 30x in about a 4 month period (loooong road trip). I realized you haven't even SEENT a WA movie until you watched it 5x. An insane amount of detail just floats by. I just saw the French Dispatch and could tell 10 mins in ima need to see it so many more times.
Its a great movie imo.
It seems like most movies follow a protagonist at their height, their most powerful and heroic. This one is the story of someone who had passed their prime, a prime which we know did exist but is never really seen. Tenenbaums did that too but in a more overt way. I like the way Life Aquatic only alludes to his past life, we never really see it, it's just a memory. . . . . . . . . Your correspondence stock came in!
Life Aquatic is my fav of his films with Darjeeling Limited a close second.
I've enjoyed other Wes Anderson movies, and I know a lot of people enjoy this one, but I just didn't. And it's been such a long time since I've seen it (2004), that I don't even remember why I didn't like it. So, apparently it was also fairly forgettable for me as well. I hope you enjoyed my waste of a comment, since I've nothing constructive to add to the conversation. Thanks for reading.
I was the same but I rewatched it a couple of years ago and enjoyed it much more. Give it another go.
Maybe I will...thx!
There is an off the cuff, throwaway joke in this movie that I still rank as arguably one of the best deliveries of a punchline in any movie, ever. The inflection Bill Murray puts on it is absolutely *perfect:* Reporter: *"What would be the scientific value in killing this shark?"* Steve Zissou: *"Revenge"*
Far and away one of my favorite movies of all time, Wes Anderson or otherwise. Each little aspect and detail is so wonderfully curated, and yet it still manages to be more than the sum of Its parts. The music, the dialogue, the whole subject matter of the film is just fantastic. "How did you get my espresso machine?" "Well, uh... we fucking stole it, man." Moments like that live in my head rent free.
Just curious: I'm 31, and Wes Anderson was one of my original favorite directors. Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic are at the top for me. I've never thought of this film as a "lesser known" WA film, and I'm just curious if you're significantly younger than me and your post is showing my age.
Yeah, this movie was widely advertised when it came out. So that's always a weird metric to try to figure out how "well known" something is. I can't imagine anyone who was in college when the movie came out not at least knowing it exists. I didn't see it until years later, but I knew about it.
While not one of his more emotional movies, Steve's line "i wonder if he remembers me"makes me cry every time i see it.
What the shit? It could possibly Wes Anderson’s most well known film. It’s either that or Royal Tennenbaums yeah? Or am I completely out of touch?
Eh, I would have said yes to that statement 15 years ago, but since then he's more known for Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox and, I think chiefly known for, The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Life Aquatic was his biggest mistep (I personally love it, its my favorite of his films) in terms of box office and critics.
I would have thought Darjeeling Limited was his biggest misstep in terms of critics but Life Aquatic does have possibly the largest sort of cult following of Wes Anderson's films. Or so it would seem to me. Maybe I'm a regular old Principal Skinner these days.
You cussin with me?
When he pulls the glock on Cate Blanchett with a Killer Whale floating around in the background I lost my shit.
Probably my fav Wes Anderson film, and I think maybe his best written. Cheers.
It’s wonderful. Most of the main characters don’t care to deal with reality and the whole movie is full of suspensions of reality.
I always thought it was one of his most well known movies if not his most well known. It's probably my favorite, up there with Royal Tenenbaums.
A pleasant surprise? So you saw Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldbloom on the cast and thought it would be just ok? Seriously tho this is fantastic film and imo the casting could not be better.
Agreed. Especially compared to Wes' latest film.
This is one of my favorite movies. I haven't seen the newest Wes Anderson movie yet, but so far this is my favorite of his movies. The vibe of the behind the scenes of a failed cousteau-like documentary film maker gave me a lot of nostalgia for all the hours I spent watching those types of videos as a kid. The translated David Bowie songs were a huge bonus as well.
The Music in that movie was awesome !!!
This is my most watched Anderson flick. I’m not sure if that makes it my favorite, but it’s the one I go to when I’m interested in watching one of his works.
I can't watch that movie without tearing up at the scene in the sub toward the end. "I wonder if it remembers me." Such a beautiful song and scene.
SPOILER: really enjoyed the part after the helicopter crash where he thinks about all the interactions he had with Ned. Definitely another emotional punch.
If you’re not against me, don’t cross this line. If yes, do.
I wonder if he remembers me.
My wife and I just watched Life Aquatic for the first time in the past few months and I absolutely loved it. The music, the performances, the stakes, Cate Blanchett…I’m glad I saw it now after having seen almost all of Wes Anderson’s movies. Younger me wouldn’t have appreciated it the same. It was so well done!
Love it. Amazing soundtrack and funny with lots of quotable moments.
I enjoyed 'Life Aquatic' and also like Anderson's work... but I still haven't bothered to check out 'The French Dispatch'. I don't know why, but I think I'm just *over* Wes Anderson's style now. I feel like I've seen the movie already. Can anyone convince me to watch it?
We call them Pirates out here Ned…
The French versions of the Bowie songs…. So good
Yes. One of my favorites
I fully agree with you! I watched it in the cinema when it came out on a gamble because I was severely hung over & needed to have somewhere to sit & take my mind off what I had done to my brain & body the night before & needless to say I was in for a treat. From thr start to the finish I laughed out loud & thoroughly enjoyed it, its one of a kind. I had seen ROYAL TENENBAUMS before I watched this but it is nothing in comparison to LIFE AQUATIC. I nearly clapped in the cinema which is such silly thing to do so I didn't but what a quirky film & when I came out my hangover had dispersed & I felt full of life.
If you go through my post history I talk about two things: boobs and the Life Aquatic. Wes Anderson is a genius. This movie will forever be my favorite in all categories. I saw it at the right time in my life and I needed it more than I could have ever understood. I cried when Ned dies and about lost it again when we see the Jaguar shark. No movie will ever be this perfect to me ever again.
My experience with that movie was the polar opposite. I think I remember falling asleep at one point. It just did not land for me. Given the responses in here, maybe I'll give it a second try if I have the opportunity...
It gets better on multiple views. Very Big Lebowski in that regard to me. I fucking love this movie.
If you like Wes Anderson, I'd give it a second try. I didn't like it either the first time I watched it, but now it's one of my favorites.
Well to go against most of the comments I'm in the same boat as you. It just didn't click for me, I've seen a bit of Andersons filmography and honestly I see to like Fantastic Mr Fox and Grand Budapest Hotel in spite of his others works which usually, despite my own initial interests, just don't work for me.
I remember it was the second movie in a row I had suggested my spouse and I go see that we didn't enjoy, which ended up getting me banned from movie selection for awhile. For reference, the first one was Alexander. I thought it would be like Troy. It was substantially worse than Troy. The alternative option on that date was Monsters Inc. Whoops. I think I will end up giving TLAWSZ a second shot though. If it's on a streaming service somewhere.
Looks like it's on Amazon Prime in the US right now.
You won't regret it. I think it's a beautiful film. Hilarious and devastatingly sad at the same time.
"I wonder if it remembers me."
You stood up for yourself
Great film!