Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A rich man learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes. He sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.
Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl is a singular piece of filmmaking — theatrical, layered, and unmistakably his own. The nested storytelling structure, direct-to-camera address, and rapid-fire set changes create a completely distinctive visual and narrative grammar that no other filmmaker could have made. The acting is exceptional, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley delivering stylized yet deeply committed performances that honor Anderson's precise rhythms. The cinematography is meticulously crafted, using flat, stage-like compositions and deliberate artificiality to stunning effect. The plot, while charming and morally tidy, is relatively slight — a fable structure that prioritizes voice over complexity. The ending resolves satisfactorily but feels almost too neat and expected, in keeping with its source material's parable nature rather than offering any dramatic surprise.