The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

Review by Clint Morris

Whilst alternating between cheddar and tasty can be a good change, watching a Wes Anderson film is like setting sail on a course as far away from the norm as possible.

Anderson's films - including Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums - are as singular to every other multiplex effort as a country's customary ethics.

They're odd, they're much more understated in their humour, and essentially, they belong in Hollywood about as much as Roman Polanski does.

But verifying the fact that cinemagoers love movie makers to 'shake it up' once in a while, Anderson's films have developed a critical audience following - and so will his latest endeavour.

A comedic tribute to famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, The Life Aquatic is an amusing look into the life an oceanographer, explorer and filmmaker named Steve Zissou (played with relish by Bill Murray), and his inequitable troupe - which now includes newly discovered son, Ned (Owen Wilson) and knocked-up reporter Jane Winslett-Richardson (Cate Blanchett) - as they set sail on the seas to film the second part of their latest documentary.

Along the way they encounter pirates, fight some personal demons, and rescue Zissou's rival, Alistair Hennessey (Jeff Goldblum), now former paramour of his current wife, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston).

Much like a cold sore, there's nothing you can do but let Life Aquatic grow on you. It starts out as off the wall and as avant-garde as Anderson's other films, but by halfway through you'll be truly immersed in its offbeat template.

I, personally, found myself much more engrossed in this little beauty than Anderson's previous films. Tenebaums one could appreciate, Aquatic you could both appreciate and enjoy.

All the stars are aligned for this one - the cast, particularly Murray, is impeccable, the script is appreciably witty and imaginative, the music is a blast (the ship's "safety expert", Pele' dos Santos (played by Seu Jorge), plays 'Bowie' songs, on his guitar) and the characters are rich, detailed and memorable.

Admittedly, there are parts of the film that seem to be a tad contrived - one could probably say this about his other efforts too though - and at times, you do wonder whether you're watching a strange string of vignettes, but they're minor injustices for an otherwise worthwhile film.

If you're dying for a holiday from the mean, book yourself a seat on The Life Aquatic.

3.5 out of 5

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Australian release: Thursday 17th of March, 2005
Cast: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Anjelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor, Bud Cort.
Director: Wes Anderson.
Website: Click here.

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