Review
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Written by Chris Watt
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU is
an ode to the late oceanographer Jacques
Cousteau.
From the red hats that adorn the heads of
the crew of the battered ship Belafonte,
to Bill Murray's loveable, though
unravelling leading character Steve Zissou,
the notion of ocean exploration makes for
a charming backdrop to what could best
be described as a domestic drama.
For all the sharks, jellyfish, gun fights,
explosions and helicopters, what
resonates most is the character drama
unfolding before us.
This goes for almost all of Anderson's
work, which has always felt, for this
reviewer at least, like a trippy mix of Hal
Ashby and Mike Nichols.
The story, written by Anderson with Noah
Baumbach, sees Zissou embark on one
final mission, aided by a devoted, if weary
crew of misfits. The fly in the ointment
comes in the shape of Ned (Owen Wilson),
who may, or may not be Zissou's
illegitemate son.
Murray gives, arguably, his most
restrained, tormented performance here.
Zissou is all washed up, a failure as a
leader, husband and father.
"I'm right on the edge. I don't know what
comes next."
Murray is a master at delivering a line, yet
never gets enough credit for his
physicality. Think of that sprint he bursts
into, out of the blue, during a quieter
moment in RUSHMORE, or that
exceptional moment as he whispers in
Scarlett Johannson's ear at the close of
LOST IN TRANSLATION, before giddily
walking away like a schoolboy.
His Zissou is a wheelhouse of tics and
grimaces, genuinely unnerving at