I have decided to do several post on different directors I like and their movies and soundtracks. After I decided to do that there was a movie that comes immediately to mind: The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. It is one of my favorite movies, soundtrack and I wish I could embark on a voyage in “The Belafonte”, so let´s set sail:

Seu Jorge – Life On Mars

The movie was released in 2004. It was co-written, co- produced and directed by the wonderful Wes Anderson. This American director has a unique voice, a creative narrative and visual style, and tops it all off with fantastic soundtracks. His characters are comic but surrounded by nostalgia and melancholy and there are strange pairings and friendship`s taking place. I also think his films have an OUTSTANDING cast.  His visual style is defined by symmetrical compositions, stop motion animations and a recognizable color palette, making his movies instantly identifiable (which I personally only find in a few other directors, like Woody Allen and Kubrick). I will do more post on other films by him so I won´t make a list here. However, if you are interested in reading more about Anderson I recommend you head to the rushmoreacademy.

The film was dedicated to Jacques-Yves Coustea.

It stars Bill Murray (yes, a post with him again) as Steve Zissou. Zissou is an oceanographer and also a man on a mission, he wants to find the shark that ate his best friend Esteban, he wants to fight it but let it live. Or, possibly destroy it using dynamite. The man is brilliant, as ALWAYS. While on his journey to find the “Jaguar shark” Steve makes “documentaries” and is also under pressure because there is a journalist (played by Cate Blanchett)  travelling with him and the crew on this occasion.

We also have Owen Wilson…

Let’s take a look at him again…

And now from another angle…

Those pics are so good I feel like the post is done and there is nothing more I can add to it! But, I am a professional and I will continue.

Wilson plays “Ned” (Plimpton was the name he was known by growing up), Zissou´s “son” who shows up at the beginning of the movie and is immediately recruited by Steve to join his crew. The most important relationship in the movie is the one that develops around these two.

Cate Blanchett plays Jane Winslett-Richardson

She is going through personal issues. She is 5 months pregnant, the baby is her editor´s who is married, but not married to her. Her presence constantly influences the Zissou´s.

The WONDERFUL, enchanting, bewitching and intriguing Angelica Huston plays Eleanor (Zissou´s wife) The brains behind the operation.

Willem Dafoe (One of my favorite actors). Dafoe plays Klaus Daimier (HILLARIOUSLY).

Jeff Goldbloom plays Alistair Hennesy, Zissou´s nemesis and Eleanor´s first husband.

I also want to mention Cody, the three legged dog left behind by the pirates and then left again by Zissou (that is all I am going to say about the plot by the way).

Besides this amazing cast, the movie employs none other than Brazil´s sexiest voice and I dare say man alive: Seu Jorge

Seu Jorge plays a member of the crew and occasionally breaks out singing. He is a musician, singer/songwriter and actor. He is one of my favorite male Brazilian musicians, along with Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tim Mai and Jorge Ben Jor. I recommend listening to ALL his albums and immersing in his soul, which is respected among musicians and ordinary people from the “favelas”, where he was born. In the movie he plays Pelé Dos Santos, and plays David Bowie songs in the acoustic guitar and translated to Portuguese. YUMMIE!!!!!!! The score of the movie was written by Mark Mothersbaugh, a member of DEVO! YES!!!!!

Since the movie came out in the early 2000´s, I am guessing most of you have seen it, along with Anderson´s other creative endeavors, but if you haven´t, I think you should start watching NOW.

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