The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
(Criterion Edition Region 1 NTSC 2-Disc DVD set)
(2004)
review by Head Cheeze

Wes Anderson has a knack for making us care about some of the most despicable people. From Rushmore’s pathologically narcissistic Max Fischer and his desperately depressed alcoholic friend/nemesis Herman Blume, to the majority of The Royal Tenenbaums’ dysfunctional clan, Anderson has crafted characters so deeply flawed that they become beautiful in the most tragic sense of the word. In his latest film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson introduces us to, perhaps, his most compelling creation yet; Steve Zissou ( Murray), an aging pothead adventurer, and faded icon of the deep sea documentary circuit, whose life is as much of a fishbowl as the underwater world he claims to have such an affinity for. Just as his career seems to have hit heretofore uncharted depths of irrelevance, an encounter with a mysterious Jaguar Shark leads to the death of his best friend, Esteban (Anderson regular Seymour Cassel), and gives Steve the impetus for one last adventure; one in which he will hunt down and kill the creature that devoured his friend.

Of course, this doesn’t sit well with his producer, Oseary Drakoulias (Michael Gambon), as Steve’s documentaries have already cost his investors millions, and the thought of financing an expedition of revenge is simply out of the question. However, when Ned Plimpton (Wilson), a Kentucky pilot who may or may not be Steve’s illegitimate son, offers to help finance the mission, Team Zissou boards their hopelessly outdated research vessel, the Bellafonte, and sets a course for adventure with tragic consequences.

Much like Anderson’s previous films, The Life Aquatic is an ensemble piece, featuring an all-star cast in some of their quirkiest roles yet, including Willem Dafoe as paranoid German mate, Klaus Daimler, Jeff Goldblum as Zissou’s possibly gay rival in both profession and love, Alistar Hennessey, and Angelica Huston as Steve’s wife (and Hennessy’s ex) Eleanor. The film also stars Cate Blanchett as Jane Winslett-Richardson, a reporter for a high profile marine biology periodical who catches Steve’s eye, but falls for the soft-spoken country charm of Ned. The relationships between all of these characters are as complex as one would expect, but instead of playing them off of each other for laughs, Anderson finds the inherent sadness in it all, making The Life Aquatic his most bittersweet and oddly moving film yet. Sure, the film is full of the quietly funny moments Anderson’s films are known for, but it’s also unexpectedly touching and, at times, downright melancholy. There’s a moment in the film in which Steve asks Ned if he’s found what he’s looking for “out here, with me”, to which Ned tilts his head and ponders the question. Steve then quickly interjects “I hope so,” and we believe him, as it seems to be the first honest thing he’s said since they’d met, and, perhaps, the first truly honest thing he’s said in a life that, until that moment had been all about showmanship and artifice. It’s a moment of desperation between two men who are both looking for something in each other that they’ve long since given up looking for in themselves.

Anderson lends The Life Aquatic the same dreamlike quality he has instilled in his previous offerings, with a gorgeous full-scale “cut-away” set of the aged Bellafonte, gorgeous tropical locales, and stop-motion animation to create a truly fantastic undersea kingdom inhabited by imaginary creatures that are as far out as the Bellafonte’s blissfully stoned out captain himself. Featuring a soundtrack heavily laden with David Bowie (also performed in Portuguese by co-star Seu Jorge), as well as Bowie produced acts like The Stooges, The Life Aquatic is as much a feast for the ears as it is for the eyes, helped along by a hilariously minimalist (and surprisingly effective) synth score by former Devo frontman (and frequent Anderson collaborator) Mark Mothersbaugh.

Like Anderson's Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic makes its DVD debut as a Criterion Edition release, and this 2-disc set is packed with extras. There's a partial commentary track by Anderson (on select scenes), deleted scenes, interviews, and a making of featurette, as well as footage of Seu Jorge performing the ten of the aformentioned Bowie songs. The packaging also includes a fold-out map of the Bellafonte!

The Life Aquatic is a film that I am certain will polarise audiences. Those expecting a film as gentle as Rushmore or as funny as his debut, Bottle Rocket, will be sorely disappointed as The Life Aquatic is more of a natural extension of the irony and angst of The Royal Tenenbaums, but even darker and, at times, even a touch disturbing. Still, the adventurous souls who are willing to cast aside all preconception and simply allow Anderson to take them out of their world and into his will be rewarded by a beautifully crafted, wonderfully acted, and truly unique piece of cinema that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best films of the year.