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Hotel, 2001

Hotel

English, Italian, French

UK, Italy

Rating:4.5
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Profile of Hotel

Hotel can be described as clever, atmospheric, and offbeat. The plot revolves around filmmaking, obsession, and a psychopath. Its comic aspect comes from irreverent humor. In terms of style, Hotel is dogmatic, is experimental, and is surreal. In approach, it is serious and realistic. It is set, at least in part, in a hotel. Hotel is located in Venice and Hollywood. It takes place in contemporary times. It is adapted from a play.

Summary of Hotel

A sinister hotel in Venice forms the backdrop for director Mike Figgis's experimental, stylistically surreal HOTEL. The story centers on director Trent Stoken (Rhys Ifans), who is attempting to film John Webster's play "The Duchess of Malfi" in the style of a Dogme film. He is constantly at loggerheads with his producer, Jonathan Danderfine (David Schwimmer), who eventually takes control of filming when Stoken is shot and falls into a coma. A documentary film crew lead by Charlee Boux (Salma Hayek) simultaneously captures the traumatic events, doting on the personal misfortunes of the cast and crew. As the movie progresses, the sinister, omnipresent hotel staff descend into cannibalism, cooking their guests, and further threatening the production of the film.

HOTEL has many intertwining subplots which Figgis ties together neatly with the "The Duchess of Malfi" theme. He also draws on stylistic effects similar to those used in his previous film, TIMECODE, such as multiscreen techniques and free-form story structures with no real conclusions. Drawing on a variety of sources for inspiration, such as the famous darkly comic cannibalism movie DELICATESSEN, and the films of Jean Luc Goddard; Figgis delivers a compelling film, proving he is a director willing to take risks to deliver his true vision.

Details

Language: English, Italian, French
Country: UK, Italy
Release date: 5 June 2002
Runtime: 114 min

Cast and Crew

Max Beesley as Antonio in Hotel
Max Beesley

as Antonio

Saffron Burrows as Duchess of Malfi in Hotel
Saffron Burrows

as Duchess of Malfi

Critics Reviews

Chicago Tribune
Hotel might be best described as the art-house version of "Cannonball Run."
Salon.com
If you're ready to roll with Hotel and take what it gives you, there's some rich entertainment here.
Likely to see
Not for me

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