The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

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Internationally famous oceanographer Steve Zissou (Murray) and his crew set sail on an expedition to hunt down the mysterious, elusive, possibly non-existent Jaguar Shark that killed Zissou's partner during the documentary filming of their latest adventure. (Touchstone Pictures)

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Directed By: Wes Anderson

Written By: Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston, Cate Blanchett, Owen Wilson, Noah Taylor, Bud Cort, Seu Jorge, Waris Ahluwalia, Robyn Cohen

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adventure

Country: USA

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The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou belongs to 50 collections

1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (collaborative: moderated by kozan26 - 232 stars)

2. Criterion Collection (collaborative: moderated by caffe - 165 stars)

3. Favorite Film of Every Criticker Member (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 95 stars)

4. boobs (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 51 stars)

5. Movies about movies (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 31 stars)

6. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)

7. TimeOut's 1000 films to change your life (collaborative: moderated by ppinocchio - 11 stars)

8. Cinema Discusso Yearly Consensus (2008) (public: PeaceAnarchy - 10 stars)

9. Synth soundtrack or score (collaborative: moderated by Ag0stoMesmer - 8 stars)

10. Netflix USA (public: mpowell - 8 stars)

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TCI | Percentile | Date Rated | # Stars (Reviews)

Stars	User	Rating
12	doctor7	96 _99th
Surreal, absurd, downright strange and touching. There are no obvious laugh-out-loud moments during the film however I did find myself laughing quite a bit during moments that turn the typical scene of the same nature on it's head. I loved it and if you're looking for something that's different and not found in reality then this is a must see.
11	Okkervil	99 _99th
The film that seemed to change Wes Anderson from darling of the critics too then suddenly pompous and self indulgent! I couldn't disagree more. Funny, moving, quirky and very pretty, this is without doubt my favourite Anderson film, and I love all his stuff. As for Bill Murray, well he's just brilliant. There is so much in this movie to love that even now, after I have seen it many times, I find something new to admire. The whole cast are fantastic & Mark Motherbaugh's score is magic. Sublime.
9	overrated	93 _98th
I guess I'm a heretic because this is my favorite Wes Anderson movie. Amazing that this became such a lightning rod of negative opinions even among people who love all of his other stuff.
5	eveelun	86 _94th
This gets better every time that I watch it. I was always impressed with wonderful art direction and Anderson's intense focus on detail. I found the story initially too somber, but I think I was just expecting something different (E.g. a wackier performance by Owen Wilson); the film has a very fine balance between it's lighter and darker elements that I have grown to appreciate. Murray may play the " cynical, over the hill man " role often, but he's really good here. Awesome music (Bowie!)
5	rob	16 _90th
Anderson is truly the master of creating bleak yet endearing masterpieces, his characters flawed almost to the point of caricature yet masterfully remaining heroes. Like The Royal Tenenbaums before it, The Life Aquatic engrosses us deeply in the rich tapestries of its characters' lives and as a result we feel incomparably close to them, warts and all.
5	Jeb	88 _75th
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is a touching, funny and absurd contingency into the emotional bond of friendship and the grasp it has everyday. The art direction is exemplary, but this is no surprise considering this is Anderson. The cast is excellent, with Bill Murray pulling all of the stops with his accomplished and brilliant performance. The photography is beautiful, capturing the magic that happens below the ocean.
5	billkerwin	90 _83rd
Somehow, Anderson can revel in his obsessions (shadow boxes, uniforms, unsmiling women, searches for lost fathers, etc.), add some improbably cast actors (Bill Murray as Jacques Cousteau!?), throw in a few pirates, an explosion or two, some impossibly successful gun battles, and David Bowie unplugged in Portuguese, and not only make it all work but touch us deeply too. He does this by making a movie so filled with artifice that it gives us the freedom we need to fully surrender our hearts.
4	newlikegrace	96 _98th
A wonderful Andersonian story of awkward family adventures. Bill Murray is amazing, and the relationship between fantasy and reality is incredible.
3	Moribunny	25 _12th
Star-studded crap. The writing is just awful.
3	Tripwyre	91 _93rd
"Let me tell you about my ship." There is so much to love about this movie. On top of the typical Anderson quirks and dry wit, we have a GREAT cast, Henry Selick providing stop-motion sealife, Seu Jorge rocking Bowie in Portuguese, and an end-credits sequence lifted straight out of Buckaroo Banzai (complete with Jeff Goldblum!). It's about daddy issues of course, but at its heart it is a loving ode to the adventure of filmmaking. Anderson's funniest, and I tear up at the finale every time.
3	TheAguamoose	100 _98th
This is my favourite Anderson film though it's hard to pin down why. The cast are excellent, it's consistently funny and it has heart. But I think the visual style might be what makes it work for me. The world presented is one of magic and wonder, full of fantastical sea life and vibrant colour . This uninhibited style contrasts with the repression and sadness of the characters wonderfully and coupled with the brilliant music gives the emotional scenes a beautiful bittersweet quality.
2	whomperize	90 _96th
The Life Aquatic solidified Wes Anderson as one of the best directors in film. His use of color and music is a style completely his own, and the subtleness in his scenarios are what makes this movie hilarious and incredibly moving at the same time. And, of course, the scene. Sigur Ros and that look on Bill Murray's face makes for one of my favorite scenes in anything ever. This is a very different movie, and may take multiple viewings to fully appreciate.
2	Actionberg	80 _71st
Son of a bitch, I'm sick of these dolphins.
2	monkeycat	90 _95th
An excellent film, a father son story of redemption and reconciliation, complete with Anderson's always incredible visuals, great acting (Willem Defoe is adorable), and an ass-kicking soundtrack. What's not to love? Oh and it proves my long held belief that Jeff Goldblum is "part gay"
2	BattleToad	93 _94th
The cast of The Life Aquatic is outstanding. Everyone does something a little different than what they are used to for this film, and they all do it brilliantly. It's a quirky and funny film that's even kind of insightful, at the very least very endearing. On top of it all, the music by Mark Mothersbaugh is wonderful. Awesome!
2	Nathan S	4 _74th
Exemplary. It's creative in its cynical, sarcastic way of finding humor in the tragic and sometimes amoral situations the characters find themselves in. The atmosphere carries a kind of quirky sedation (much like The Royal Tenenbaums) that keeps it incredibly entertaining, and by the end everything seems pretty profound.
2	cosMOAnaut	96 _94th
The Life Aquatic is a great movie for the people with a good sense of humor to weed out their bad friends with. The next time someone tells me they thought this was a boring movie, I know to never take them seriously again.
2	NathanDarko	88 _70th
An awesome and crazy flick by Anderson which was topped by himself three years later with "The Darjeeling Limited". Zissou is one of those movies. that needs some time so that you appreciate this special humor. The "normal" viewer won't like this gem. 'm sure.
2	AndreasThau	88 _89th
I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. I would say that Klaus (Willem Dafoe) is probably the best character invention I've seen for quite some time. And yes, I know it's Wes Anderson. But still. Hilarious.
2	Snufkin88	71 _36th
The problem I find with some Anderson films is that they are so entrenched in Andersonisms that it gets in the way of a good story and characters. Nonetheless, this film is gorgeous to look at and beautifully made. Sadly the second half of the film drags and the ending felt a bit mashed together. Could have been a great 90 minute film.
1	Gracey	90 _65th
Funny, funny, funny. I don't know how many times I had to back the film up because I had laughed over yet another funny moment in the movie. Murray is great as the bumbling and mildly idiotic Zissou, and Dafoe was wonderful as the constantly mispeaking shipmate. The movies humor was a little dry/sarcastic at times, and might be lost on those that lack quick wit.
1	pinbackblue	90 _77th
As odd as this movie is, I loved it. Funny storyline, great characters, memorable lines, overall shaped up to be a great film.
1	ptony	58 _32nd
Seems to me there are people who just go with wes anderson's stuff. i ain't one, doesn't touch my funny bone, quirky bone, whatever bone. But for seu jorge singing david bowie covers on the deck, many many thumbs up!
1	Loki	70 _52nd
Lots of dry comedy. I liked it a lot. Some of the things that they did with the visual effects was just strange, but overall pretty good.
1	CatScandal	91 _98th
I'm not sure why I can watch this film over and over again. But I never get tired of it. The humour is so subtle, strange, and depressing that I can't help but love it. Bill Murray's performance is completely burned out, immoral, and lost, but still lovable somehow. It's more than a mid-life crisis film, it's more like the aftermath of a completely destroyed soul. Easily Anderson's best.
1	nancysid	60 _9th
smells like fish.
1	Slowking2099	80 _57th
Being overshadowed by the awesomeness that is The Royal Tenenbaums hurt this movie pretty badly but at the end of the day it's a Wes Anderson movie with a great soundtrack and immensely likeable characters. Case closed.
1	PirateJason	85 _79th
What a great variety of characters and lots of subtle humor. While it's slow most of the way through, I find it very engaging.
1	ozymandius10	82 _81st
It's got a cast that rivals that of another Anderson movie, the Royal Tenenbaums. While not as good as RT, it's still very good in it's own right. Jeff Goldblum is excellent in a very limited role, and Bill Murray is very quality as well.
1	Ju_St	80 _90th
"Son of a bitch, I'm sick of these dolphins."
1	altf4	98 _98th
I love every second of this goddamned film.
1	Derekstar	90 _85th
The "Search and Destroy" sequence brings an unabated joy to my heart every time.
1	killgreedy	96 _99th
ME LOVE LIFE AQUATIC
1	SOLARIS	100 _0th
Wes Anderson's most recent and greatest achievement. I was working on a screenplay at the time when I first saw this film and it changed my whole perspective on filmmaking. As an actor, filmmaker, and a writer I am forever fueled by this film.
1	twincinema	45 _23rd
I'd consider myself a real Wes Head, as I love his entire filmography, but this film doesn't work for me. Why? I don't entirely know. All the typical elements of his films are here, but why doesn't it work? I realize I won't be able to hear your answers. Send them to me by carrier pigeon.
1	TedDedon	46 _17th
As usual, Wes Anderson makes a stupid comedy about nothing.
1	frederic_g54	7 _57th
The character interaction felt uneventful rather than appealing, but all of them are awkwardly funny on their own, the events in which they are entangled approaching life-affirming qualities. Watching Bill Murray feels like being wrapped up in a warm blanket, as though nothing can go wrong. Nice little film.
1	vesupria	6 _61st
Seamlessly floats between the bleakness of Zissou's dying fame and the twilight of his years and the absurdity of life's lighter moments. Ned seems to be a counteracting figure to Zissou, almost a caricature of what he might have been in his lost youth. Most remarkable though is the stunning cinematography and screenplay which makes this a voyage worth embarking on!
1	WoozyB	70 _32nd
Good in parts, but not as good as Tenenbaums.
1	spazzPP2	4 _86th
Funny and full of love
1	burlives	60 _15th
For the first time Wes Anderson made a movie that I did not care for and I place the blame mostly on the lack of an Owen Wilson writing credit. Anderson relies too much on the formula that drove Tennenbaums visual appeal but left out the all important storyline and character development.
1	Dustyd	65 _49th
Charming and quirky, but doesn't completely work.
1	Icarus	75 _49th
I enjoy this for its brilliant colors, inventive production design, and every scene with Willem Dafoe. However, Zissou is the most difficult of all Anderson's protagonists to support. The character is too infused with ironic detachment to make his deep feeling for his dead friend as engaging as it should be. The film then is left with its ironic moments and cleverly conceived scenes, but not as much heart as Anderson typically injects into his films.
1	EOP	88 _86th
oh, wes anderson, why aren't we friends?
1	Wiche	16 _3rd
Expected so much from this one, but it never worked for me. The humour really isn't my thing and the story just wasn't interesting. It started of boring, and was never able to pick up a more interesting pace.
1	miss jesus	35 _14th
It's all been downhill for Anderson since Bottle Rocket, and this one is where he lost me altogether. Lacks cohesion and depth, and tries to fill the void with his most elaborately prepared doll house yet. The cast is unbelievably good, but it hardly makes a difference; there's just nothing here.
1	hehejaja	80 _76th
Stably melancholic under its hysterical surface and only sentimental in a personal and befitting manner, this tragicomedy from Anderson offer a delightful perspective on the difficulty of expressing ones emotions correctly. The scene in where Steve Zissou (played by a fantastic Bill Murray) dance to the music from the walkie-talkie in the helmet is completely unforgettable. This film's heart is tired, but throbbing!
1	purgatos	90 _91st
Watching this again, for some reason it seemed a fair bit better than the first time. It's very funny, but also very touching. Murray and Wilson always feel believable together and the art direction is top notch. There's even a couple of action sequences and explosions!
1	whatismyname	45 _8th
Either you love it or you hate it...I fall in the latter category. Not funny, not interesting, just a time waster.
1	ImThatDingo	98 _97th
I absolutely love Bill Murray! This was the perfect role for him! Wes Anderson is a genius. ^_^
1	moraesfelipe	83 _89th
This Costeau-inspired, 1970s-driven father-and-son drama is Anderson's loveliest film: it might as well be the first avant-garde feature of the 21st century with a true, gentle heart. It's also the a great collective effort: Seu Jorge's nice David Bowie adaptations, my Sigur Rós' favourite song, Selick's strange animation segments, and warm acting all around. Just lovely.
1	Ocelot	45 _36th
A fun, whimsical romp, as to be expected with Anderson. But this one didn't invoke anything beyond simple amusement, which isn't to be expected with Anderson. Perhaps I'll grow more fond of it over time, but as of now, it's my least favorite Anderson.
1	Piglet	70 _59th
Very likeable in all aspects, Murray especially off course.
1	Bown	89 _91st
Anderson's unique style taken to its extreme. Murray is, of course, fantastic. It's not perfect, but its laughs make up for its faults.
1	chrispbacon	96 _75th
Hilarious movie that maintains a special charm throughout. The ensemble cast pulls off an amazing show, leading us on a journey to find the shark that ate Zissou's partner. The film maintains a mood of melancholy, exploring the consciousness of one man's existential crisis when faced with his own mortality. The films soundtrack and cinematography are top-notch.
1	PierreTheron	100 _95th
Consensus regarding the film might be mixed, but Wes Anderson tried something different here, and quite honestly, it worked. The characters are even more deadpan than usual, the effects even more outlandish and vibrant, but it all builds up into its own sense of reality. It simply doesn't feel like the characters exist on our own universe, yet it's still easy to relate to their bizarreness. Uproariously funny for those with receptive senses of humor and beautifully moving.
1	fantastard	89 _91st
One of my favorite films, People never seem to like my favorite films, BILL MURREY'S in it, he can't do no wrong...............I mean, he can do no wrong
1	hellboy76	70 _79th
Not my favorite Anderson film, but the large amount of Bill Murray still swings me over to loving it. The normal diorama feel of his films is still here, as well as the large talented cast, but with the additional dimension of the strangely presented wildlife, it becomes a whole different beast.
1	afx237vi	45 _29th
Straddles the line between being brilliant and terrible. I really can't put my finger on it. There are things I like: the visual style, the deadpan humour, the soundtrack, but I also can't move past the fact that whole thing feels so incredibly self-aware. It's painfully quirky, which is alright in small doses, but becomes increasingly annoying over the course of two hours.
1	maakal	45 _7th
SO QUIRKY - FIND IT QUIRKY - SMILE BEMUSEDLY AT QUIRKINESS
1	signegram	95 _80th
I laughed my ass off watching this one. Bill Murray and Wes Anderson are sooo good together!
1	CMonster	89 _90th
My favorite Wes Anderson film. I think it has to do with the amount of Bill Murray.
1	isaboojum	2 _29th
I don't know, people. Why do you like this so much? The visuals are nice, there are some niceish things, but does it really work as a film? I don't think so. I couldn't even finish it.
1	magdabag	92 _85th
I think I enjoyed this movie more than most, but goddamn it I had such a fun time. Probably my favorite Murray performance out of all of Anderson's films. You can tell he's having a blast. Owen Wilson's Kentucky accent is hilariously bad, but I hope that was the intention. I would highly recommend this for film of Wes and/or Bill Murray. I give 9 jaguar sharks out of 10.
1	dylanwilson6	80 _80th
I had a lot of fun with this one. Like most other Wes Anderson films, you just can't help but smile throughout (or most of it I guess). It's got it's ridiculousness and Bill Murray is right at the centre of it. I don't think there is much more I can say that hasn't already, but I thought it was great.
1	redflag	99 _96th
It's not a perfect distillation of Anderson's concerns and aesthetics like Rushmore, but it's definitely his best IMO. The style was the peak of his meticulous artificiality before he started paring it back to its essences, but the heart was still worn on its sleeve. It treats its flawed characters like humans and rewards us with sublime catharsis. Completely misunderstood and I think the backlash Anderson experienced dramatically altered his film-making.
1	thereeldeal	70 _50th
I love Wes Anderson, but this seems to be his worst movie. There are many individual great ideas, and the concept itself is imaginative, but for once the jokes and drama don't really gel together and no characters other than Bill Murray as Steve Zissou are memorable. Besides that, the whole movie is just bogged down immensely by this huge negative energy. There's no appropriate foil character to Zissou's personality, and for all bright appearances and humor The Life Aquatic feels dead inside.
1	JPFerguson	90 _94th
In many ways a new take on the classic adventure film, with Anderson very effectively deploying his playful visuals and ensemble cast to indulge the imagination of the viewer. The music is also a satisfying match for what we see on screen. It's a lot of fun, but with that element of melancholia just below the surface that defines most Anderson films. Perhaps this was the last film in which Anderson did not take himself too seriously and was not captive to his distinctive style.
1	Hedaan	100 _95th
My favorite comedy ever. Objectively not the cleanest Wes Anderson movie but something about the outfits, the vibe, the constant forlorn yearning is just magnetic. Will watch until the end of my days.

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Average Percentile 57.79% from 9485 Ratings