Hey folks, Harry here... Now here's our third look at THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS and it just keeps getting better. We've heard from Jackie Coogan before... He's snuck into a couple of things in New York before, and this time he's very jazzed about what he saw. For the rest of us, this is a gift that most will want to open immediately... but patience... all good things to those who wait...
Harry,
Jackie Coogan, here.
I was truly fortunate enough to catch the first screening of Was Anderson's newest film, The Royal Tenenbaums, last night in NYC. Truly fortunate. I think the only thing that upset me about the film was that I'm going to have to wait until Christmas to see it again.
The movie is perfectly set-up as being chapters of a book. Often-times, this technique is arbitrary and a gimmick. In Tenenbaum's case, it could be nothing else. What I think I loved most about the film was that it really felt like a book come to life. Quite possibly one of the best shot films is recent years, each frame felt like an illustration brought to life. I say illustration because the design of this world is a reality just heightened a bit. The costumes, set design, the composition and colors, were gorgeous and beautifully thought out. Any shot could be a publicity still-- meaning that you could pull any shot to prefectly represent the film.
The Royal Tenebaum's is a step further for Anderson and Wilson. Both Bottle Rocket and Rushmore have a slight underlying sadness, as we watch these (more or less) outcasts trying to succeed or fit in the world. Tenenbaum's world is a bit more melancholy-- which I loved. It's still funny, but it's also moving. It's a tough line for a movie to walk, but Anderson makes it work with expert ease. You really feel for each of the characters. They all start off seeming quirkily two-dimensional, but the film progresses, and in a very subtle way, we truly learn about these characters. It's very easy for filmmakers to make the mistake of explaining everything. Wes Anderson does not. The film is not heavy-handed and obvious. As an audience member, I felt myself having to listen and think-- which, is a rare occurance in today's films. It's because of that, though, that I ended up really caring. Caring?! In a movie?! Whoa.
The cast is amazing. There are shots in this move where the entire cast is in the single frame, and I found myself amazed that that talent could be gathered in one room-- let alone one frame. Each of the main eight actors IS their character. They're not just playing their roles, I felt that they WERE their roles. The characters are quirky and nuanced and not necessarily easy. They were PEOPLE.
The film wasn't finshed-- color timing and sound work still to do. But it's definitely saying something about a film when you don't even notice these issues. In The Royal Tenebaums, Anderson creates a world-- someplace between a storybook and Manhattan, and lets you get lost in it for two hours.
Rushmore and Bottle Rocket fans get psyched. Kumar, himself, returns and spends most of his time sharing the screen with Gene Hackman. Brilliance.
The Royal Tenenbaum's comes out Christmas, I think. Think of it as a gift.
Jackie Coogan
