News of Owen Wilson’s attempted suicide hit me hard. I don’t know why but I feel as if I have a divining rod for dark, self destructive tendencies and his actions rung a distinct tone in me. That’s why I avoided this film in its initial release. It wasn’t until 1) I had tons of time on my hands, 2) the movie was practically playing around the corner and 3) I could see it for less than the price of a small soda that I finally went… and I’m glad I did.

Allow me one more preamble. I am a Wes Anderson fan but have felt that he’s been slowly moving away from the heartfelt and closer towards empty artifice since RUSHMORE. He crossed that line with THE LIFE AQUATIC. That movie was a sloppy stew of visually precious trinkets that couldn’t stand up to an average episode of JOHNNY QUEST. With THE DARJEELING LIMITED, the filmmaker has hit the reset button.

This film is still unmistakably the work of Wes Anderson (and his team) – only once does he give in to a bit of visual whimsy, which is used appropriately – but he allows the characters and actors to take the spotlight and as a result every quirky interaction rings true throughout. Yes, the story meanders towards the end but that feels appropriate for a film about men that act like boys, parents that act like children, all of whom are forcing spiritual awakenings. It’s the central relationship between brothers that anchors this work and all three actors do a great job of feeling perfectly at home in the stylized world of Wes Anderson while always keeping us rooted in the emotional honesty of the moment.

On a related note: this feature was accompanied by the short film HOTEL CHEVALIER. Many have praised this for being the perfect distillation of Mr Anderson’s distinct sensibility and I’d have to agree. It also shows that he’s not for everyone as witnessed in the performances. Jason Schwartzman slips perfectly into this world but Natalie Portman feels as if she’s struggling into an ill fitting outfit that isn’t her style.

What’s more, I died a little after seeing this short. Why? It bears a striking resemblance to my proposed thesis. Sure, my film would look and feel nothing like this but we’re thematic brothers and that make me the tyke standing in the shadow of my elder’s success.

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