Our Top 10 Wes Anderson Characters, Gustav Included
Asking us to name all our favorite Wes Anderson characters is a pretty hard task, especially that Wes has now released his latest masterpiece ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’. Still we’ve managed to go through all of Wes’s big screen outings and narrow our list down to just ten of our favorites. Of course everybody has their most memorable Anderson creations - so let us know yours - but here are just ten of the ones we’ve found most memorable.
1. Gustave H. (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
A new entry, from Wes’s latest offering ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’. Gustav is the hotel concierge intent on satisfying his guests in every way (no matter how old they are). Ralph Fiennes made his first Anderson movie appearance playing the consciousness concierge who ends up on the run. The usually more dramatic actor used the role to prove he can also be a very good comedically as well.
2. Max Fischer (Rushmore)
Jason Schwartzman played Max Fischer in the film that first established Anderson as a filmmaker of note. Fischer was the eccentric teenager who was both ‘Rushmore's’ best and worst student. Taking lengths to hide his less than privileged background Fischer tries to better himself with extra circular activities and a friendship with Herman Blume. Fischer might be Anderson’s first truly great character who’s led some to wonder how much of him is in the director himself.
3. Royal Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums)
The patriarch of the Tenenbaum family is perhaps not the most pleasant character Wes has ever created but it doesn't make him any less enjoyable. One of lives failures, Royal simply doesn't care as he tries to make amends with his equally mad family. Played by Gene Hackman, the character eventually comes across as a somewhat sympathetic figure, which is a testament not just to Hackman’s acting but also to Anderson’s movie making skills.
4. Mr Fox (The Fantastic Mr Fox)
George Clooney voiced the loveable rogue fox who’s always optimistic and more than a little vain. Roald Dahl might have created the character, but Anderson brought him to life on screen putting more than a little of his unique stamp on the classic children’s tale.
5. Steve Zissou (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Oceanographer Steve Zissou was played by often Anderson collaborator Bill Murray. Zissou was eccentric even by Anderson's character standards, but he was also hugely endearing. He’s the leader who might not necessarily be fit to lead but it tries his best at it as he becomes a somewhat tragic hero.
Next page: who else made our list of best Wes Anderson characters?
6. Margot (The Royal Tenenbaums)
The outsider of the Tenenbaum family, genius playwright Margot is full of secrets. Margot is the Tenenbaum’s adopted daughter whose success has only made her feel even more isolated. Margot is so complex not even her psychiatrist husband can figure her out. Wrapped in a fur coat and with a secret smoking habit, Margot is perhaps the most complex role that Gwyneth Paltrow has ever had to tackle and the actress manages to pull it off with charm and sympathy.
7. Hermut Blume (Rushmore)
Hermut Blume is a miserable man who forges a friendship with student Max Fischer in Rushmore. Anderson didn't think he had a chance of getting Bill Murray to play the role, but luckily Murray’s agent was a fan of his previous work, ‘Bottlerocket’ and convinced the actor to read the script. The friendship between Murray and Anderson would lead the pair to begin Murray’s full on career renaissance.
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8. Richie Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums)
Tragic Ritchie Tenenbaum hasn’t led a very happy life and being in love with his adoptive sister doesn't help matters much. Things just never seem to work out for him and he even attempts suicide in one of Anderson’s most memorable screen scenes. Portrayed by longtime friend Owen Wilson, Richie is the Tenenbaum we were all rooting for, to finally grow up and achieve happiness.
9. Suzy (Moonrise Kingdom)
Book worm Suzy from 2012’s 'Moonrise Kingdom' might be Anderson’s best dressed character. She’s also made one of the best uses of eyeshadow in cinematic history. The film might have contained some major Hollywood heavyweights including Bruce Willis and Edward Norton but newcomer Kara Hayward held her own with a memorable performance which earned her a Young Artist Award nomination.
10. Dignan (Bottlerocket)
Anderson’s first memorable character is perhaps 'Bottlerocket’s' Dignan played by Owen Wilson. Anderson, Owen and his brother Luke all made their film debut in the 1996 film, which they wrote together. The would be criminal who's a nice guy at heart is the naive and optimistic leader of a equally inept crew. For a debut feature Owen Wilson gives an extremely memorable performance in this much underrated classic.
More: The Grand Budapest breaks box-office records for limited release movie.