Filmmakers like Wes Anderson are vital to modern cinema. His
unique and offbeat style is fresh and important. In an era of huge
budgets and computer effects, visionary directors have become a
rare commodity.
In 1996, Anderson made his promising debut film, "Bottle Rocket." Two years later came "Rushmore," a masterpiece that became an instant cult classic. And now, Anderson and his co-writer, actor Owen Wilson, present "The Royal Tenenbaums."
Structured like a novel, complete with chapters, narrator Alec Baldwin starts things off by introducing the three Tenenbaum children, Chas, Richie and Margot.
Chas is a whiz with numbers and makes a fortune by playing the stock market. Richie is a champion tennis player and aspiring drummer. Margot is a playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner. This is all by the time they are in their teens.
{INSERT_RELATED}Years later, each child has suffered a breakdown. Chas (Ben Stiller), who has twin boys named Ari and Uzi, is a grieving widower. Richie (Luke Wilson) lost it on the tennis court in a televised tournament and is hiding away at sea. And he's in love with his sister. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) has writer's block and travels the world searching for herself before entering a loveless marriage, her second, with a much older man, Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray).
The children are all brought together after their father, Royal (Gene Hackman) announces that he is dying and wants to spend some time with his children and wife, Etheline (Anjelica Houston). He and Etheline have long been separated but never divorced. Her new suitor is a man named Henry Sherman (Danny Glover).
The self-absorbed and irresponsible Royal has long been an absentee father, and winning back the adoration of his children and wife is not going to be easy. But Royal is crafty and has a few tricks up his sleeve. His cohort is the family's long-time butler, Pagoda (Kumar Pallana).
"The Royal Tenenbaums" is an enchanting, humorous and melancholic tale anchored by Hackman's performance, which is easily one of the best in a distinguished, Oscar-winning career. Royal does all he can to lose audience sympathy, but thanks to Hackman it never happens. You can't help but love the guy and his wily ways.
In a cast full of well-developed and peculiar characters, which includes co-writer Owen Wilson as neighbor and longtime family friend Eli Cash, everyone is exceptional. Paltrow is especially impressive, injecting warmth into the depressed, lonely and bitter Margot, whom Royal has always referred to as his "adopted daughter Margot."
Anderson has created a New York City like we've never seen, using seldom seen locations around the city. The attention to detail, particularly the clothes and the items in the Tenenbaum household, is remarkable and adds dimension to an extremely layered film. The viewer is in another world for 108 minutes.
Equally impressive is the songs Anderson has chosen. Artists include Elliot Smith, The Ramones, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground and The Rolling Stones. It's the kind of soundtrack you fall in love with immediately and want to purchase after leaving the theater.
Some feel that Anderson may be too quirky and precocious for his own good. There may be an element of truth to that, but why bother with something as innocuous as that. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a warm, wonderful film, and one you'll want to see more than once.
"The Royal Tenenbaums" starts Fri., Jan. 4 at select local theaters. Click here for showtimes.
