Wow, Wes Anderson! Just when I thought the director couldn’t top his last crushingly emotional, wildly dramatic, brutally edgy and inventive film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, he does just that! It’s not often that you have the blessing of sitting down in front of a perfect piece of entertainment, but Give Beautifully is even better than a perfect piece of entertainment! It’s a transcendent descent into a host of earth-shattering themes and unparalleled filmmaking … all completed in the length of an average TV commercial! Wow.
Right from the opening shot, it’s obvious that a master-craftsman is hard at work. We see a crowd at a party, but instead of shaking the camera and tilting it up and down, Wes keeps the shot static, letting the audience fully soak-up the lavish visuals. Only an expert storyteller like Wes Anderson could possibly subvert expectations in such a way, but the maestro is directing this commercial like his very own symphony. Incredible!
We are then introduced to our outstanding cast of characters: the cocky piano player, and more importantly, the introspective party goer. It’s classic Wes Anderson to truly dig deep into a plethora of different players, and he knocks it out of the park once again! The star (get it!) of the short is a woman, mysterious, and subtly attired. She eyes the room with an apprehensive expression on her face. The director, never content to simply tell a story, instead tackles the challenging issue of gender roles with this terrific character. This short film must take place in the 30’s or 40’s, yet Wes makes a woman the focus of this story! Considering the highly male dominated social landscape of the time, it is truly a wonder that Anderson can overthrow these antiquated views of which gender should be the star of the show. Holy mackerel!
The plot of the short is then illuminated superbly by some silky-smooth voice-over. Narration in movies can be a cheap expositional shortcut, but under the always sure and steady hands of the venerable Wes Anderson, it is a groundbreaking technique. We learn that, at the center of the party, there is a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the crowning star is missing from said tree. We are then treated to a rollicking adventure, as a truck carrying Christmas tree stars loses its cargo. There is a classic series of Wes Anderson hijinks as the deliverers scramble to replace the star.
Was that Willam Dafoe as the seasoned and wise brewer? Wow Wes Anderson, great casting - kudos to you!
It is not until the end of this monumental short that Wes pulls everything together in characteristically expert fashion. The deliverers arrive at the party without the all elusive star. In its place, they bring Stella Artois beer. The female party guest, introduced earlier in the short, watches as the tray of beer enters. Her expression, once troubled while she waited for the star to arrive, turns to joy as she sees the beer approaching!
Gee wiz, what a character arc! To go from a timid child, simply waiting for a glass star to arrive - to a confident, poised woman who is happy and ready to get the drinks flowing … wow wee! And on a thematic level, this film is unprecedented. The star that the party is waiting for at the beginning is an empty shell - a symbolic symbol of a life devoid of charity. Had the original star been delivered, it would have simply sat on the tree, not helping anybody. But when the Stella Artois arrives instead, a whole new scenario plays out. The party comes together to share a drink, promoting themes of community and cordiality. The empty glass star has been replaced with a full glass of beer. Magnificent symbolism Wes, attaboy!
Give Beautifully accomplishes more in its few seconds of runtime than most films accomplish in two hours (I’m looking at you, Citizen Kane!). Under a lesser, amateur hour director like Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan, this short film would have crumbled under its own weight. But that is not the case with Wes Anderson, no sir!
Also of special note, this commercial is spectacularly paced. The narrative never lagged or was boring, and I didn’t check my watch once during the film. Stunning Wes Anderson, you’ve done it again!
Like Picasso with his brush, or Mozart with his baton, so too is Wes Anderson with his camera. So do yourself a favor, and give this beautiful (get it!) short a try! Give Beautifully left me in tears, and I haven’t yet recovered. Wow.
Oh, and I give this cinematic marvel a 10 outta 10!