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The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
25 December 2004 (USA)
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Plot:
With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, oceanographer Steve Zissou rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
Shark
|
Expedition
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Revenge
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Pirate
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Oceanographer
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Awards:
3 wins
&
8 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(89 articles)
Music: Review: Seu Jorge And Almaz: Seu Jorge And Almaz
(From The AV Club. 26 July 2010, 10:00 PM, PDT)
From the shadows of mumblecore
(From The Guardian - Film News. 4 June 2010, 4:08 PM, PDT)
Jacques-Yves Cousteau 3D Biopic Coming Soon
(From HeyUGuys. 17 May 2010, 1:00 AM, PDT)
(From The AV Club. 26 July 2010, 10:00 PM, PDT)
From the shadows of mumblecore
(From The Guardian - Film News. 4 June 2010, 4:08 PM, PDT)
Jacques-Yves Cousteau 3D Biopic Coming Soon
(From HeyUGuys. 17 May 2010, 1:00 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A Beautiful Modern Fantasy
See more (594 total) »
US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)See more »
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Life Aquatic" - Japan (English title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for language, some drug use, violence and partial nudity.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 | Hungary:14 | Norway:11 | USA:R (certificate #41059) | South Korea:12 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Brazil:14
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The ailment acquired by Steve, hydrogen psychosis (or "crazy-eye") is a fictional version of decompression sickness (or "the Bends").See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: The team's Glock automatics frequently turn into Berettas when being fired. This is very noticeable during the rescue of Hennessy during the card game, when Zissou draws a Glock, but in the next shot he is clearly firing a Beretta Model 92.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
[in Italian]
Festival Director:Ladies and gentlemen, we are very pleased to welcome you to the world premiere of Part 1 of the newest film from a great favorite of ours here at Loquasto, Mr. Steve Zissou. A brief Q & A will immediately follow the screening. Thank you.
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[in Italian]
Festival Director:Ladies and gentlemen, we are very pleased to welcome you to the world premiere of Part 1 of the newest film from a great favorite of ours here at Loquasto, Mr. Steve Zissou. A brief Q & A will immediately follow the screening. Thank you.
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Movie Connections:
References "Stingray" (1964)See more »
Soundtrack:
City LightsSee more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (594 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Terrible movie... | Fledermaus |
| Custom Made Zissou Adidas. Modern. | chappy422 |
| Re the Belafonte | virgiltx |
| greatest movie ever | lilsap308 |
| Silver Guitar 36.23 mins | theJDexperience |
Recommendations
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"The Life Aquatic" is most certainly an unusual film. It's something of a collage of colorful imagery, fragmented shots, quirky music, strange characters, bizarre situations, and amusing montages. But if one had seen Wes Anderson's previous films, one would expect nothing less.
It can't really be helped that there be a certain amount of hype around Anderson's name, after all, his films "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" both generated vast critical acclaim and three of this young director's four films have already received the Criterion DVD treatment. Is the buzz warranted? I say, absolutely. Anderson has created some of the most vibrant, vivid, unique, and off-beat films of the last decade, and "The Life Aquatic" is no exception.
The film follows Steve Zissou (Murray), a formerly glorious oceanographer whose latest documentary, which is about his closest friend and colleague, Esteban, being eaten by a "Jaguar Shark", receives a less-than-glorious reception. Steve then announces he plans to set out on a voyage to film part two of his documentary, which will follow him and his crew as they attempt to track down the alleged "Jaguar Shark". Along for the ride is Ned (Wilson), someone who may or may not be Steve's son; Jane (Blanchett), an up-and-coming journalist doing a story on Zissou; Klaus (Dafoe), the eccentric German first mate; a Portugese, David Bowie-covering weapons expert; a no-nonsense tech expert; a usually semi-nude female crew-member; a band of unpaid interns; and several other quirky personalities. Other characters include Zissou's estranged wife, Eleanor (Huston), and her former husband, Alistair Hennessey (Goldblum). On the journey, the crew encounters money problems, relationship issues, and...pirates.
The film takes place in a vivid world that is somewhat inside Steve's head. A colorful world where the creatures are claymation and where Steve can single-handedly ward off kidnapping, gun-wielding pirates to beat of The Stooges' "Search and Destroy".
I do warn you though, if you are not a fan of dry humor, this one's most likely not for you. The movie's loaded with it, in all of its off-beat, tongue-in-cheek anti-glory.
There are some wonderful acting performances throughout, including an exuberant Bill Murray, who just loses himself in the character of Zissou, a subdued Anjelica Huston, whose subtle sly grins and deadpan delivery develop her character far more than anything else, and a spirited Willem Dafoe, who manages to make a German accent sound funnier than I ever imagined it could.
If you enjoyed "Rushmore", "The Royal Tenenbaums", "Punch-Drunk Love", or "I Heart Huckabees", then you most certainly should not let this charming, oddly beautiful little film pass beneath your radar.
9.5/10