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Wes Anderson is currently work on his next movie , Asteroid City , with a vast ensemble cast in tow . The star - studded hurl ofAsteroid Cityis even bigger than the average Anderson ensemble . This moving picture has reunited Anderson with a handful of veritable collaborators – including Bill Murray and Jeff Goldblum , who previously play rival oceanographer inThe Life Aquatic .
Murray and Goldblum played two of the funniest characters inThe Life Aquatic – Alistair Hennessey has all the outre Goldblum - isms that fans could hope for and Steve Zissou is arguably the Bill Murray - est role that Bill Murray has ever played – but they ’re barely the only two hilariously bonkers personalities in the cast .
Ned Plimpton
Owen Wilson , one of the many frequent partner that Anderson cast in the ensemble ofThe Life Aquatic , plays one of the film ’s more dramatically engaging lineament . Ned Plimpton is Steve ’s long - drop off boy who fall in love with the diarist profile him , then dies tragically and dead when Steve ’s crummy erstwhile helicopter crashes in the ocean .
But , outside of all the tragedy surrounding the theatrical role , Ned also has some of the funniest here and now in the moving picture . When he tries to refer to Steve as “ Dad , ” he ’s told to call him “ Stevesy ” instead .
Eleanor Zissou
Aftercasting Anjelica Huston to play the estranged , hyperintelligent wifeof one of his comedically unlikable protagonists inThe Royal Tenenbaums , Anderson regorge her as another one inThe Life Aquatic . Eleanor Zissou is Steve ’s wife who abandons the search for the panther shark when a member of the team almost pall before they ’ve even localise off on their ocean trip .
Eleanor is the most reasonable member of Team Zissou , often burdened with fill the purpose of the voice of reasonableness , and as always , Huston ’s line deliveries are hilariously dry : “ Your cat ’s drained . ”
Oseary Drakoulias
Steve ’s producer Oseary Drakoulias only appears in brief inThe Life Aquatic , but Michael Gambon ’s hysterical performance ensures that the fibre is still memorable .
When Oseary is on a headphone call with Steve , admitting that he could n’t secure funding for the documentary film , Ned interrupt to declare the $ 275,000 of inheritance money he just received . so as to approximate whether he can take vantage of Ned , Oseary enquire Steve , “ What sort of expression is the lad wearing on his human face ? ”
Bill Ubell
Bud Cort , best known as the titular 20 - year - old boy who fall down for the titulary 79 - yr - sometime woman inHarold and Maude , givesan unforgettable supporting performance inThe Life Aquaticas Bill Ubell , the bond caller stooge who comes along on the Belafonte ’s voyage . At first , Ubell is the stick in the clay who wo n’t endorse any of Steve ’s shadier activities , like stealing equipment from a fellow oceanographer or chart a path through unprotected waters .
But , by the ending of the movie , after being abducted by sea rover and subsequently rescued from their clasp , he embraces Steve ’s recklessness . When Captain Hennessey spots his stolen espresso machine on the Belafonte , he ask why it ’s there and Bill simply says , “ We f***ing stole it , military personnel ! ”
Alistair Hennessey
Jeff Goldblum gives a typically eccentric twist as Alistair Hennessey , Steve ’s closest rival and the x - married man of his alienated married woman . He ’s absurdly passing in every situation , even when he ’s been kidnapped by pirates . When Steve arrives to carry through him , Hennessey allege , “ Steven … are you deliver me ? ”
As always , Goldblum bring a lyric , offbeat rhythmto Hennessey ’s dialogue . After being saved from the pirates , a heartbroken Hennessey say , “ They made soup out of my inquiry turtles . ” When he gets a minute alone with Steve , he say , “ We ’ve never made expectant husband , have we ? ”
Jane Winslett-Richardson
Eleanor is n’t the only voice of reason on the Belafonte . Cate Blanchett also has a great reactionary role as Jane Winslett - Richardson , the reporter sent to profile Steve throughout his latest ocean trip .
Jane is a few months pregnant , trying to escape from a torrid affair with her boss , and catch in a sexual love triangle with Steve and Ned . Blanchett knocks every one of Jane ’s melodic phrase out of the parking area , including the very first one : “ No one picked me up at the know airport ! ”
Klaus Daimler
Klaus Daimler is well the most loyal penis of Team Zissou . He sees Steve as a Father of the Church figure , and as soon as there was talk of a mutiny , he was the first to stick by Steve ’s side ( although , hysterically , he misunderstands the doubtfulness at first and sides with the mutiny ) .
Willem Dafoe gives one of the film ’s most memorable performances as the Belafonte ’s “ calm , collected , German ” B - squad leader . He cries out , “ Land ho ! ” as the ship is tow into port .
Steve Zissou
The title character inThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissouis arguably the Bill Murray - est rolethat Bill Murray has ever played . He ’s a satirical impersonation of Jacques Cousteau who supply all his crewmates with a red beany and a Glock . Steve is a wildcard . He takes his crew through unprotected waters to economize money and then singlehandedly takes on a band of pirate when they endeavor to pirate the ship .
This role give Murray plenty of one - liners to chew on – for example “ What would be the scientific function of vote out it ? ” “ Revenge ” – and he sweep through the deadpan delivery of each one .
NEXT : Ranking Every Bill Murray Character In A Wes Anderson Movie
