Grandhotel Nevada: A dusty, strange trip worth taking

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that feel like they were dug up from an attic, yeah, give Grandhotel Nevada a shot. It is not a masterpiece, but it’s got this weird energy that kept me watching even when the plot started to get a little thin. If you need tight, modern pacing or constant action, skip this one. You’ll probably hate it and wonder why I told you to watch it. 🤷‍♂️

The hotel itself feels like it’s holding its breath. There’s a specific scene in the lobby where the lighting is so harsh it makes everyone look like they’re being interrogated by the curtains. I couldn't stop looking at the wallpaper patterns. They were, uh, quite the choice for the set designer.

The cast and the vibe

Lída Baarová is in this, and she kind of carries the whole thing when the script decides to take a nap. Some of the other actors seem like they’re just trying to remember where to stand. It’s not necessarily bad, it’s just… theatrical in a way that doesn't quite land in 2024.

I found myself comparing it to Summertime for some reason. Maybe it’s the travel aspect, or maybe I just wanted more ice cream. There is a certain emptiness to the shots that reminded me of The Lotus Eater, though this film is far less interested in being deep.

Random thoughts

• That one guy’s mustache is a real distraction. I think he spent more time grooming it than learning his lines.
• The silence in the hallway scenes is actually pretty effective. It felt almost like a ghost was going to walk through, but then someone just dropped a plate.
• Why is there so much focus on the stairs? There’s a lot of walking up and down. So much walking.

The movie gets noticeably better once it stops trying to be a drama and just leans into the silliness of the situation. It’s not a film I’ll rewatch, but I’m not mad I saw it. Sometimes, you just want to watch people in fancy suits wander around a hotel in the desert. 🏨