Below are films centered around the theme of hotels, spanning various narratives from heartwarming to horrifying:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”, 2014
Director: Wes Anderson
Directed by Wes Anderson, this film is a visually stunning comedy-drama that revolves around the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft of a priceless painting and the battle for a family fortune, all against the backdrop of a dramatically changing continent.
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Mathieu Amalric, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Tilda Swinton;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: comedy, adventure, detective, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” on the website imdb.com
“Hotel Rwanda”, 2004
Director: Terry George
This historical drama, directed by Terry George, tells the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda. The film is a poignant portrayal of courage and humanity in the face of horrifying brutality.
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Cara Seymour, Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Fana Mokoena, David O'Hara, Tony Kgoroge, Desmond Dube;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Hotel Rwanda” on the website imdb.com
“The Shining”, 1980
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King's novel, this horror film is set in the isolated Overlook Hotel, where Jack Torrance, employed as the off-season caretaker, descends into madness, terrorizing his young son and wife. The hotel itself is as much a character in the movie, with its haunting history and eerie presence.
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson, Philip Stone, Joe Turkel, Anne Jackson, Tony Burton, Lia Beldam;
Production year: 1980;
Genre: thriller, drama, horror, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 144 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
More information about the film “The Shining” on the website imdb.com
“Lost in Translation”, 2003
Director: Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola’s film is a meditative exploration of isolation and connection, set against the backdrop of the Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel. It follows the unlikely friendship between an aging actor, played by Bill Murray, and a neglected young wife, played by Scarlett Johansson, forming a bond over their shared insomnia and alienation in a foreign land.
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris, Akiko Takeshita, Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe, Kazuko Shibata, Take, Ryuichiro Baba, Akira Yamaguchi;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Lost in Translation” on the website imdb.com
“Hotel Transylvania”, 2012
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
This animated comedy, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, flips the script on the horror genre by portraying monsters as the protagonists. Dracula operates Hotel Transylvania, a high-end resort far from the human world, and goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the hotel and falls for the count's teenage daughter.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, CeeLo Green, Jon Lovitz;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: animation, fantasy, comedy, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 91 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
“Psycho”, 1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's landmark thriller is centered on the Bates Motel, where secretary Marion Crane checks in after embezzling money, only to meet a tragic end. The film is famous for its shocking plot twists and the unforgettable character of Norman Bates.
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Vaughn Taylor;
Production year: 1960;
Genre: thriller, horror, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “Psycho” on the website imdb.com
These films, each in their unique way, utilize the setting of a hotel to unfold narratives that engage and often challenge the viewer, showcasing the versatility of this theme in cinema.
Concluding our exploration of films about hotels, it's evident that these settings are more than mere backdrops; they are complex characters in their own right, pivotal to unfolding narratives that capture the breadth of human experience. From the grandiose opulence of The Grand Budapest Hotel to the haunting corridors of The Shining, hotels in cinema serve as crossroads for diverse characters, each bringing their own stories, secrets, and desires. These films encapsulate the transient yet intimate essence of hotel life, echoing themes of escapism, anonymity, luxury, and sometimes, the macabre. As we check out from this cinematic journey, it's clear that hotels will continue to be a cherished motif in filmmaking, offering an intriguing canvas for directors to craft compelling stories that resonate with the universal quest for connection, identity, and a place to call temporarily home.
