The Royal Tenenbaums
Thu May 30 2024
Quick Synopsis
Despite Anderson's usual quick pace, quirky dialogue and choppy editing, it never feels out of place or distracts from the story. It moves along nicely, the characters behave organically, despite their quirks. It's a simple yet wonderful plot, with a lot of moving parts handled seamlessly.
The film's strength lies in its unique yet relatable characters and their emotional impact. It's fun and upbeat but tinged with poignancy and melancholy, highlighted in two memorable scenes with great use of music. Anderson's signature framing and use of color make the film visually stunning.
Beneath all the whimsical quirks, it's the underlying sadness which elevates this one...
I'm a huge fan of Wes Anderson, despite his occasional overuse of quirky dialogue, symmetrical shots and general wackiness. But this film always stands out to me. It feels more personal and grounded than his others, striking the perfect balance of style and substance.
This is also one of the best uses I've seen of such a large and diverse cast. Despite the quick pacing and numerous characters, everyone shines and it feels like we are giving a lot of time to get to know them, even though we really aren't.
The characters are complex and some of them give you plenty of reasons to hate them, yet you still can't help but like them and root for them. For me, this is a sign of both great writing and acting. Something which sums up one of the great achievements of this film: Anderson's wacky and complex characters are already hard enough to play, but here they are a little more nuanced than usual, and the brilliant acting all around pulls it off perfectly.
A Wes Anderson film where all his strengths come together, producing a funny, quirky, melancholic masterpiece
Info:
- Directed by: Wes Anderson
- Written by: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson
- Actors: Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston
- Release Date: 2001
- Runtime: 110 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama