The Palace

It is New Year's Eve 1999, at a luxury hotel in Switzerland. A grotesque gallery of the filthy rich gather to see in the new year, with many afraid the Y2K bug is imminently about to destroy western civilization...

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Roman Polanski's latest film flopped at the box office and got awful reviews, but of course that's mostly because of the present political climate and the line the mainstream media have taken to "cancel" its creator. The film IS indubitably erratic, especially early on: full use is not made of the majority of story-lines, and most don't conclude in any satisfactory way. It also feels a little rushed and uncertain and as though several corners (and scenes) were cut. But there are a bunch of funny and ludicrous moments along the way, and the overall freak-show tone of it - the nightmarish way it depicts humanity, especially the very rich - feels much like something out of Gulliver's Travels. It doesn't more than half-succeed at any point, but at least it's reaching for something.

The cast has a variety of slightly over the hill famous faces, like Mickey Rourke, Fanny Ardant, and John Cleese as a nonagenarian oil tycoon celebrating his one year wedding anniversary with his dumpy young bride. But the best performance is probably by Hansueli Kopf, as the hotel director tirelessly trying to please them all and hold the show together.

Polanski has always been terrible at comedy; much too broad and heavy-handed, and it's clear some of the things that make him laugh don't translate into tickling most other people. But the truth is, I definitely enjoyed this one more than any of his other ones, like "The Fearless Vampire Killers", "What?" and "Pirates". I could be wrong, but the impression I get is that he just wanted one time to make a decent comedy before he dies, and if this does turn out to be the last film he ever makes, he really didn't do as bad as we're being told.

A riff on Knife in the water ... though do not compare those two! So no pun intended as always. Polanski has not lost his touch. Whatever one may think of him personally (I won't go into his legal issues, you either know about them, can look for them and/or do not care) ... he is a really good director! The cast he assembled speaks for itself.

The comedy is something you have to like, but the Hotel Manager is absolutely fantastic! Then you have John Cleese who is able to perform ... in many ways! Even without text ... as his comedy tour says (title): watch me before I die - I am paraphrasing here ... but you get the point.

That said, there is a lot of mayhem going on ... and it all has the absolute highlight at the end ... cgi "joke" ... but that should not matter ... had a few laugh out loud moments myself ... you can have quite a lot of fun with it.

Realizing that he himself would soon go into oblivion, he probably said his last word to this rotten and two-faced world, in which not a hint of decency and principles remained.

Almost all the characters and their actions are clear who they represent in the real world, although in some places there is a little fog. Quite a funny, superficial grotesque look at what has happened to the world in the last 30 years.

But Polanski's characteristic subtle style is weakly visible here; rather, this is the work of two other Polish screenwriters, as the main "traction" horses; he was on this list rather as a consultant and architect of the general line; he most likely has not had the strength to create everything himself for a long time . Everything is too rough, especially the ending. It does not shock at all, but rather saddens, recalling Polanski's old works.

The subtle, complex acting and skirmishes that you expect from Polanski's films are practically absent here.

Is it worth watching? Against the backdrop of that endless wave of sludge and bad taste, Hollywood certainly, perhaps his last venture in his life, deserves it. The trouble is that he does not present deep thoughts, everything is too superficial. For the sophisticated public, everything quickly becomes boring, but for the inexperienced it is rather pointless.

The sophisticated public on the planet understands perfectly well what the remnants of the former civilization are moving towards quite quickly, but the unsophisticated public is more and more busy with animal survival and has no time for self-reflection and assessment of the situation in the world.

It is clear that this creation will certainly be hated in the USA (and this is mutual from Polanski personally) and quite strongly in Europe. That is why the rating is intentionally low and there are no large number of ratings. The majority of the population has neither critical thinking nor the self-sufficiency of outlook to independently shape their destiny and evaluate what is really happening around them - they are shaped by it, skillfully forcing them to follow the indicated track leading straight to the abyss, like horses rushing in blinkers...

I went into The Palace somewhat spooked by the negative reviews, and I am happy to report that this is definitely a peak Polanski. It is a wonderful comedy that holds well on repeated viewings. The ending could be stronger, true, but that's the only flaw I can see.

The Palace is Polanski's foray into decidedly Monty Python-esque territory. John Cleese's presence enhances this impression. The performances of all principals are very enjoyable, with Oliver Masucci, Joaquim de Almeida, and Mickey Rourke being particular standouts.

It is currently available on an excellent English-friendly (as far as the main feature is concerned) Italian Blu-ray.

Highly recommended.

The movie was never boring, and i never felt grabing a smartphone.

If the movie is for you, depends on your type of humor - it's just as in the trailers, if you are just happy with this type of simple and stereotypical humor, the movie might very well be worth watching. It's not bad, and its certainly not for feminist's. But if you'd like to take your (old) father to the cinema once more, you'll both be happy.

You can't compare it to a masterpiece like grand hotel budapest.

But if i'd see the movie in free tv somewhere in the future again, i'd certainly watch it.

If you see it as a last movie from polanski, with his high age, it's neither a masterpiece and its certainly not a failure either.

I for myself liked it. See it for yourself, just don't put your expectations too high.