The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

REVIEW
In the immortal words of Steven Tyler, “Life’s a journey, not a destination.” These are good words to ponder as one takes in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Accused of using gimmick as substance, Wes Anderson’s films — it’s true — rely on linear storytelling less and less with each release. But as with 2001: A Space Odyssey, the story is all but secondary to the actual intention of the film: to offer a visual and audible experience that shows both film and filmmaking at its most imaginative, inventive and beautiful. Not to mention its most fun.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou tells the story of past-his-prime marine explorer/filmmaker Steve Zissou, who — though more stoned and shiesty than Jacques Cousteau — is on the honorable mission of hunting the possibly nonexistent Jaguar Shark that killed his partner. Of course, he hopes to make a landmark film of the experience, preferably before his funding runs out. He is joined on the voyage by an Air-Kentucky co-pilot, who may or may not be Zissou’s son (Wilson), a beautiful journalist (Blanchett) assigned to write a profile of Zissou, his estranged wife and co-producer, Eleanor (Huston,) a Brazilian guitarist who sings only Bowie songs, and the loyal German (Defoe.) As is standard for the resilient Team Zissou — things never quite go smoothly — thanks to kidnappings, pirates, and that little funding problem.

Wes Anderson has offered up a colorful, almost abstract portrait of a tired schemer who simply wants to go out on top. Whether or not he succeeds is almost incidental, as the life in and around the great Team Zissou ship, Belafonte, is a joy to experience. Odd? Yes. Quirky as all get-out? You betcha. But see it with an open mind, and you can expect to see one of the funniest movies of the last couple of years.