'The Darjeeling Limited' - Wes Anderson's new film

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Kerry Lengel

The Arizona Republic

Dripping with Wes Anderson's patented blend of whimsy and melancholy, The Darjeeling Limited is the story of three brothers traveling across India in search of themselves. But their journey is weighed down by baggage that is both literal and crudely symbolic, in the form of exquisitely expensive designer trunks left by their dead father.

Movie buffs, too, will be carrying some baggage into the theater that may prevent them from coming along for the ride. It is impossible to watch Owen Wilson's character struggle to conceal his desperation without thinking of the actor's recent reported suicide attempt, for example.

And then there is freight of Anderson's previous films. Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums were all critical faves, but his directorial stamp is so distinctive that you begin to wonder if he is making the same film over and over.

Last month, a fake-news story in The Onion (theonion.com) purported that fans at a sneak preview "were surprised to learn that the film features a deadpan comedic tone, highly stylized production design and a plot centering around unresolved family issues."

" 'What will he think of next?' "

Indeed. Despite the exotic setting, all of the familiar Andersonisms reappear in Darjeeling, from the slow-motion climaxes and rock-snob soundtrack to the dioramic cutaway of compartments on the titular train. Tenenbaums echoes loudly in the eccentric siblings who are oddly innocent in their world of privilege, despite the psychological traumas that warp them.

The most annoying affectation is the casting of Anderson alum Bill Murray, apparently for no reason other than to tease the audience into thinking his character is more important than he turns out to be.

On the other hand, there is no denying this filmmaker's gifts. The characters may be predictably quirky, but their quirks are no less compelling for it. Wilson is especially endearing as Francis, the oldest, whose idea of a spiritual journey includes a to-the-minute itinerary and a personal assistant to keep them on schedule. A similar mix of endearing and frustrating traits defines brothers Jack and Peter, in finely etched performances by Jason Schwartzman, star of Rushmore, and a newcomer to the Anderson family, Adrien Brody (The Pianist).

Francis' carefully laid plan quickly runs off the proverbial rails, of course, another victim of the brothers' casual self-indulgence. The result is a bittersweet picaresque of spoiled Americans blithely crashing through another culture, punctuated by moments of high style and raw hurt.

In one way at least, the brothers manage to leave their father's baggage behind, but only time will tell if The Darjeeling Limited can do the same. For now, it's too hard to see the film purely on its own terms. It could be the final proof that Anderson's art is all style and no substance, or it could be his magnum opus. Some distance is required to decide.

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articl...eeling1012.html

[pedroh 21]

so the emo/cutter /wrist wilson did finish the movie?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

so the emo/cutter /wrist wilson did finish the movie?

I think Owen's a decent actor - his best performance I thought was in Bottle Rocket.

[pedroh 21]

ya but he's a cutter /wrist emo.. stupidest thing you can do.. i lost the respect i had for him when he did that..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

ya but he's a cutter /wrist emo.. stupidest thing you can do.. i lost the respect i had for him when he did that..

It's hard to say whether he had his full faculties when he chose to do that. Who knows his reasoning if he even had one. Kurt Cobain shot himself dead...and lots of his fans still like him.