The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

This movie slowly grows on you until its complete effect wins you over by the end. At first it's retro-Cousteau (cheesy film titles and lumpy documentary scripting and acting) and self-satirical (in a foppish, Italian Explorer Society kind of way), then increasingly quirky (with whimsically colorful CGI piscines), but always with the brushed-leather feel of the humanity that Bill Murray and his ensemble cast all contribute together. (Willem Dafoe and esp. Kate Blanchett stand out best.) You should love the Dave Bowie songs performed a la portugues above all, as they tie the film together in an aural texture as did Jonathan Richman in There's Something About Mary. This film adds several wonderful touches reminiscent of The Big Fish and Buckaroo Banzai. 4.5 stars.