The Palace

I thought that the movie was building up to something good, a lot of characters with different stories and I keep wondering if it was supposed to be funny because nothing made me laugh.

It kept on building nonsense, but I kept hoping for the punch line. You know, Blake Edwards style when all of the sudden everything gets tied up into a slapstick hilarious mess.

More than an hour into the movie I realized that, this was as good as it gets. Not a comedy, not drama... nothing!. But I watched it until the end just curious to know how they would fill the plot holes, and the movie ends just full of plot holes.

A dog fu**** a pinguin on the back... The End.

The media are underplaying the major event of the new Roman Polanski with the categorisation: a bad Polanski, probably his worst. And the scribblers forget one fact: a bad Polanski is largely subject to impossibility. Perhaps the popularly celebrated condemnation is still due to the witch hunt as part of the unspeakable MeToo smear campaign. In "J'Accuse" there was no artistic attack surface whatsoever, but here there is a little more. A light and entertaining film, undoubtedly in the realm of comedy, so intentional, so brought to the screen. The Palace is obviously modelled on the screwball comedies of the pre-50s.

We find ourselves in the millennium night of 1999, a luxury hotel in the Swiss mountains, a meeting place for the formerly beautiful and supposedly rich. A rendezvous of bizarre characters, chaotic events and crazy entanglements unfolds, all madly directed by hotel manager Oliver Mansucci, currently Germany's best acting export. Lots of familiar faces and not a minute of boredom, mission accomplished.

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.

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.

I've been looking forward to this film for a long time and I haven't been disappointed. I was a bit irritated by the bad citics, but after watching the film, I realized that it was a Hollwood smear campaign against Polanski and his film. Non political correctness, non compromises. Typical Polanski style. This is not Hollywood trash, its serious Cineme. If you don´t like it, go watch "Barbie", "Everything Everywhere All at Once" or another Hollywood trash.

I read a few of the bad Reviews. I don't understand why it's hard to rate this movie, or why the movie is politically hard to defend? Is it because of Putins New Year's address? LOL

This is a damn fine comedy/Satire and it deserves at least one Oscar Nominee. Unfortunately, Hollywood these days is all about politics.

Normally, I would give the movie 8 stars, but because of the hate, i give it 9 Stars. Hopefully it wasn't Polanski's last film. He should get an Oscar for his life's work, but it's not going to happen. Hollywood, take your political correctness and go to Hell.

I recommend the film to all those who are still interested in real Cinema.