Apr 27, 2008
REVIEW: The Darjeeling Limited
(Movie poster image from Wikipedia)
In a hurry? No worries, I'll be brief: If you're a fan of Wes Anderson and you liked Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (I've yet to see Bottle Rocket), you'll probably like The Darjeeling Limited as well.
As is common in most Anderson films, this one comes complete with several dysfunctional characters, impermissible love and complex relationships. The human condition (almost) on the screen for your consideration, entertainment and maybe even, enjoyment.
A word of caution: The Darjeeling Limited is not a comedy, even with the presence of Owen Wilson. In fact, many of Anderson's films (to date), are not comedies. Instead, what he presents us with are movies that may be described as being 'serious' comedies, or comedy/drama, or drama/comedy, or an odd way of looking at ordinary lives (with a pinch of comedy thrown in to make it watchable).
In his latest film, Anderson introduces us to three brothers who travel across India. The trio have lost touch with each other since their father's funeral. Wilson's character (a somewhat annoying, know-it-all, big brother type who loves to make agreements) gets everyone together on a train, The Darjeeling Limited, for a bonding and spiritual trip (there is also another reason which is alluded to as the film progresses).
Even though a good portion of the film takes place on a train, viewers need not resort to the Discovery Channel, or National Geographic for a glimpse of India. It begins with an almost care-chase like scene featuring Bill Murray ('The Businessman'), trapped like a caged animal in the backseat of a taxi. The driver, an Indian gentleman wearing a turban on his head and a zen-like apperance on his face, skillfully and calmly pilots his high-speed craft through narrow, crowd, motor vehicle and cow-filled streets while Murray hangs on for dear life.
The taxi scene, for me, is one of the most enjoyable ones. I visited India years ago and what I saw on the screen was familiar. Narrow, crowded streets, insane driving and the occasional cow in the road. Eventually, the taxi screeches to a halt at the train station and we see Murray running to catch his train (The Darjeeling Limited which has already begun to pull alway).
While running, he is overtaken by Peter (Brody) who successfully manages to climb aboard and looks back at Murray who has given up the chase and is left behind on the platform. Unfortunately, the significance of Murray's character is lost on me. Maybe it was just a cameo, like the Old Man played by Kumar Pallana (who is a regular in a number of Anderson's films).
There are other memorable scenes as well. Jack's (Schwartzman) brief and complicated encounters with Rita (Amara Karan, a definite cutie!), a.k.a 'sweet lime,' the blatantly un-Indian Indian, and the silly shenanigans involving the three brothers and Rita's apparent boyfriend (Waris Ahluwalia), The Chief Steward of the train, and a rigid disciplinarian if ever there was one. Also, the visits to the market and to the temple(s) by the brothers offer one or two light moments in contrast to the tragic river and subsequent village scenes (however, from that point on, the brothers appear to be closer to each other).
In the end, the brothers find what I think they are looking for: peace, answers, each other, family, trust, friendship and closure. We see them exit our lives in much the same way Peter entered: via The Darjeeling Limited. However, as they run for the train, they physically (and emotionally) toss their (father's) baggage so that they can jump aboard before the train pulls away forever.
I gave this film a 'B'.
(Movie poster image from Wikipedia)
In a hurry? No worries, I'll be brief: If you're a fan of Wes Anderson and you liked Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (I've yet to see Bottle Rocket), you'll probably like The Darjeeling Limited as well.
As is common in most Anderson films, this one comes complete with several dysfunctional characters, impermissible love and complex relationships. The human condition (almost) on the screen for your consideration, entertainment and maybe even, enjoyment.
A word of caution: The Darjeeling Limited is not a comedy, even with the presence of Owen Wilson. In fact, many of Anderson's films (to date), are not comedies. Instead, what he presents us with are movies that may be described as being 'serious' comedies, or comedy/drama, or drama/comedy, or an odd way of looking at ordinary lives (with a pinch of comedy thrown in to make it watchable).
In his latest film, Anderson introduces us to three brothers who travel across India. The trio have lost touch with each other since their father's funeral. Wilson's character (a somewhat annoying, know-it-all, big brother type who loves to make agreements) gets everyone together on a train, The Darjeeling Limited, for a bonding and spiritual trip (there is also another reason which is alluded to as the film progresses).
Even though a good portion of the film takes place on a train, viewers need not resort to the Discovery Channel, or National Geographic for a glimpse of India. It begins with an almost care-chase like scene featuring Bill Murray ('The Businessman'), trapped like a caged animal in the backseat of a taxi. The driver, an Indian gentleman wearing a turban on his head and a zen-like apperance on his face, skillfully and calmly pilots his high-speed craft through narrow, crowd, motor vehicle and cow-filled streets while Murray hangs on for dear life.
The taxi scene, for me, is one of the most enjoyable ones. I visited India years ago and what I saw on the screen was familiar. Narrow, crowded streets, insane driving and the occasional cow in the road. Eventually, the taxi screeches to a halt at the train station and we see Murray running to catch his train (The Darjeeling Limited which has already begun to pull alway).
While running, he is overtaken by Peter (Brody) who successfully manages to climb aboard and looks back at Murray who has given up the chase and is left behind on the platform. Unfortunately, the significance of Murray's character is lost on me. Maybe it was just a cameo, like the Old Man played by Kumar Pallana (who is a regular in a number of Anderson's films).
There are other memorable scenes as well. Jack's (Schwartzman) brief and complicated encounters with Rita (Amara Karan, a definite cutie!), a.k.a 'sweet lime,' the blatantly un-Indian Indian, and the silly shenanigans involving the three brothers and Rita's apparent boyfriend (Waris Ahluwalia), The Chief Steward of the train, and a rigid disciplinarian if ever there was one. Also, the visits to the market and to the temple(s) by the brothers offer one or two light moments in contrast to the tragic river and subsequent village scenes (however, from that point on, the brothers appear to be closer to each other).
In the end, the brothers find what I think they are looking for: peace, answers, each other, family, trust, friendship and closure. We see them exit our lives in much the same way Peter entered: via The Darjeeling Limited. However, as they run for the train, they physically (and emotionally) toss their (father's) baggage so that they can jump aboard before the train pulls away forever.
I gave this film a 'B'.
Labels: Adrien Brody, comedy, drama, India, Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, review, The Darjeeling Limited, Wes Anderson
