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Wes Anderson, writer/director of Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic has added another classic and unique film to my favorites.
I went out to the Marina Pacifica AMC Theatre in Long Beach, California Sunday night and saw The Darjeeling Limited.
Going out to the film without knowing anything about it is how I prefer when it comes to Wes Anderson's work. All I knew was he co-wrote it with Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman. I was looking forward to seeing the film, but knowing his work up to this one, it was hard to know what to expect.
Wes Anderson continues to blow my mind and I suppose he knows what he wants when he is working. It is a clear expression of thought, pain, sadness, love, lust and humor. In some situations, maybe even action.
Without ruining the surprise of The Darjeeling Limited, I'd like to mention some of the things that I found completely inspired and endearing.
The actors were great and seemed to really understand the way Wes wants things to play out. I'm sure you're thinking; "That's in the script, Mark." But, no, I think it must be difficult for his actors to play characters that only exist in Wes' world.
Even if you watch every Wes Anderson film ten times and study the way these characters operate, it must be taxing and a good workout to play characters that aren't comparable to classic character models like hero, villain, cop, artist, dreamer, dancer, soldier, etc.
The Darjeeling Limited has some things in common with the recent films that are becoming extremely important to me. The set design and locations are so original and unique.
In Bottle Rocket the main locations are real sets, in Rushmore the character Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) represents Wes Anderson as a filmmaker in some ways. Max builds interesting sets from a child's point of view, with an obvious understanding of the language of film.
In The Royal Tenenbaums, the house itself is the main set and in The Life Aquatic, it is the exploration vessel that provides that childlike expression of colorful and playful set design.
But in The Darjeeling Limited it is a fun little train and the exploration of India and some interesting parts of its culture.
When thinking about films, after watching them, I like to let them soak in for a couple of days and look back on them with the memories that come up. I know a movie is really good when I can just look into my memory and enjoy the scenes all over again.
It is impossible to talk about The Darjeeling Limited without mentioning the short which is semi-attached to it, Hotel Chevalier which takes part in one of the coolest hotel rooms on the planet.
Properly decorated by Wes Anderson's eye and touch of color, I'm sure the room was amazing to begin with.
Natalie Portman stars with Jason Schwartzman in this short made before Darjeeling. She comes into the room and looks around at each little thing as if to give you a tour of the little things he's collected in Paris.
Although Wes and Jason didn't know it at the time, the connection to The Darjeeling Limited would end up being more than just a little treat for the fans of these films.
The story of Hotel Chevalier sort of kicks off the feature film and gives you a peak at Jack (Schwartzman) before the start of Darjeeling begins to introduce the rest of the cast.
- Official links
- The Darjeeling Limited
- Hotel Chevalier
- The Life Aquatic
- AV Club:
- Wes Anderson interview
- Darjeeling Review
- Darjeeling iMdb links
- The Darjeeling Limited
- Wes Anderson
- Roman Coppola
- Jason Schwartzman
- Adrien Brody
- Owen Wilson
- Jason Schwartzman
- Anjelica Huston
- Bill Murray
- Amara Karan
- Wallace Wolodarsky
- Waris Ahluwalia
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(Be advised: anyone planning to see The Darjeeling Limited for the first time should not read beyond this point. And, further, should have already seen the rest of Wes Andersons films or own them and watch them again, prior to seeing the film.)
Adrien Brody joined the pack as the new-comer in this sort of strange group of actors Anderson has in his films. I was amazed at his work and am now kicking myself for not watching him in The Pianist by now.
Jason Schwartzman, now with a big thick mustache has yet again outdone himself. In recent films such as I Heart Huckabies and Marie Antoinette he has shown his ability to draw you into the story and beyond the obvious distractions in film.
Owen Wilson, going all the way back to Bottle Rocket, nearly 14 years ago, works his magic with Anderson and the rest of the cast in this film. With bandages on his face through ninety percent of the scenes, his tale of a broken man perpetually unravels and cries out for acceptance and understanding.
These three brothers, meet after a long family silence and their father's funeral to work through their issues and search for meaning in their lives and spirituality for their souls.
Bound for anywhere and late for the train, they run to catch up to it as if to show their position in this world.
Beginning in dysfunction and helping each other throughout the journey they find hope and sadness is better than success and loneliness.
In a few scenes of the film Wes Anderson, the story and these actors manage to show things on film that only existed in my dreams and personal thoughts before-the feeling of being thrust into an ancient culture and finding out what it really means to give your self to a cause.
One of the lessons of this film is how a twist of fate can lead to adventure or enlightenment. Another lesson in the film is the value of life and health over material possessions.
Wes Anderson may be a little strange and quirky, but I enjoy his films and can't wait to see the next one The Fantastic Mr. Fox scheduled to release in 2009.
- Hotel Chevalier iMdb links
- Hotel Chevalier
- Wes Anderson
- Jason Schwartzman
- Natalie Portman
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