Hey folks, Harry here... I've heard from several friends that have seen THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, including one friend that introduced me to BOTTLE ROCKET and the film world of Wes Anderson... Overall the feeling from those that I know has been disappointment. They had gone in hoping for the best and walked away... not sated. No one has said it was a bad movie, only not what they had hoped. And, this fella seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. So enjoy this non-spoiler review...
Wow. What a night. Last night I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. We were also treated to about 60 minutes of discussion as well as Q&A with Mr. Anderson, but more on that in a minute.
Of course there are still many great films to be released in the next few weeks, but this is the best film I've seen so far this year. The first thing that struck me was the color palette. It evoked an anachronistic mood, perfectly suited to The Tenenbaum family. Additionally, you can really see the development of Mr. Anderson as a director. I hadn't heard of his DP and his name escapes me, but the framing of the film was masterful. Overall, along with Moulin Rouge, this was the most beautiful and artistic film to be released this year. Really incredible.
As far as the story and overall feel of the film, I was surprised by how uplifting it was. I've read other reviews who mentioned a particularly violent scene in the film. Maybe because I was expecting it, it didn’t seem out of place. In fact, the undercurrent of sadness and tragedy that exists in this film, grounds it in a way his other films weren't. In addition, it generates a pathos that really pays off at the end. In a lot of ways, it is very similar to A Christmas Carol in that Mr. Hackman's character arc parallels Ebenezer's.
Now for the acting. It is somber, but not without humor. The exception of course being Gene Hackman. Mr. Hackman is incredible in this film. His presence generates this sense of mischief that we all wish we were a part of. There is one particular scene between him and Anjelica Huston while walking in a park that is so full of charm and warmth it can't help but bring a smile to your face. It all seems so effortless.
The only thing I had trouble with was the semi-slapstick nature of the end of it and how quickly everything is more or less resolved. This ending all revolves around Owen Wilson's character, which I'm not sure I understand the point of at this point. Overall, a fantastic film and a memorable addition to the Anderson canon.
Now for the portion before the screening. We first saw a rare print of the short which later became the feature length version of Bottle Rocket. It primarily consists of the scenes where they break into Luke Wilson's characters mother's home, obtain their guns, and rob the bookstore. It was shot in black and white but has all the same characters. The dialogue is a little more scattershot but still very very funny. Hopefully it winds up on a DVD. Which brings me to my next point.
During his discussion he mentioned that they are planning Criterion Editions of both Bottle Rocket and the Royal Tenenbaums. They will all have similar art work, all done by his brother (who also did the map and cover for the Rushmore DVD and all the portraits in the Royal Tenenbaums).
Lastly, Kumar, the safe cracker in Bottle Rocket and the butler in Tenenbaums, was also present. He is more or less like he is in the movies. It was fun to see Kumar and Mr. Anderson interact with one another, especially as Kumar explained in his broken English that next time he wants a bigger role, a dual character, and more sex in his next role. Hilarious.
That's about it, I know it's a long email but it was a memorable evening where lots happened.
"Man in the Rear Window"
