The Darjeeling LimitedEver wanted to go to India and ride a train? The Darjeeling Limited tells the story of three brothers on a journey of spiritual awakening, who have been separated from one another since the passing of their father. The Whitman brothers include the controlling Francis (Owen Wilson), the neurotic Peter (Adrian Brody), and the lovelorn Jack (Jason Schwartzman), who spend the majority of the film on the verge of exploding into a full-scale fight...and at one point do. Over time and a need to bid for their trust, Francis reveals his deception and the real reason for their congress: a desire to reunite the family, including their mother (Anjelica Huston).
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The films of Wes Anderson--including The Darjeeling Limited--have a unique style that make them distinct--somewhat like storybook fables from grown ups. With a playful tone and vividly colorful visuals, you might be lured into thinking that The Darjeeling Limited is superficial in its dealings with issues like familial estrangement and grief; however, you'd be wrong. Because while The Darjeeling Limited is a comedy, it is also the story of how these three men--who have some rather poor coping skills--through trial and introspection, begin to learn to check their emotional baggage and bond as brothers should. Wes Anderson introduces his film with a short-film prologue, called Hotel Chevalier, the name of the hotel where Jack Whitman has run off to after his father's funeral--escaping is his own form of evasion in dealing with his grief. Jack is visited by his ex-girlfriend (Natalie Portman), and Jack teeters wildly between excessive hospitality, awkward seduction, and cold indifference, all completely understandable cards to play on an ex. But what makes Hotel Chevalier even more interesting is that we learn that Jack is a writer. Sure, he plagiarizes his own life experiences for source material, but as they say, "write what you know". Maybe Hotel Chevalier is just one of Jack's stories--it is, in fact, but maybe it never happened...maybe it doesn't matter if it did. But another of Jack's stories opens old wounds about the day of his father's funeral, and provides context for how these three men "snapped" under the weight of grief in their own individual ways. The three not-so-wise men fumble a lot on their pilgrimage through the sub-continent, and transform from disenfranchised tourists into confident soul-searchers after their baptism by sleeper car.
Wes Anderson's films wear their inspiration on their sleeve, and The Darjeeling Limited is no exception. Influenced by Merchant-Ivory films and the films of Satyajit Ray--his music is featured prominently in The Darjeeling Limited--this film could almost be described as a travelogue of India from the perspective of three rich Americans, bickering at every turn, "seeking enlightenment" only to go on a consumerist binge the first chance they get. But rather than simply emulate, Wes Anderson captures the spirit of these influences, and harmonizes it with his own style, creating a delightful tale that helps us do a little soul searching, too. In fact, the first time I saw The Darjeeling Limited, it was at a time in my life where it had a profound effect on me, and I had the impulse to catch a flight to India and ride a train--it represents a kind of need to rediscover that which gets left behind in the dust, what we push down because, well, it's hard to face those tough challenges in life. Francis didn't have much luck facing his demons, but had enough foresight to draw Peter and Jack together to try to work out their differences...even if he isn't much of a facilitator in that regard. Wes Anderson captures a beautiful vista of India that is both real and magical; a glow encompasses many scenes, radiant in saffron and gold. Also keeping with other films by Wes Anderson, the soundtrack is peppered with classic rock selections--early Rolling Stones, and an abundant amount of songs by The Kinks, all from the fantastic album, "Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One" (I'm especially fond of "This Time Tomorrow"). The Darjeeling Limited was the first blu-ray published by Criterion that I purchased; I have a great respect for the Criterion Collection, which often honors exceptional and noteworthy films with high-quality releases, and The Darjeeling Limited is an excellent addition to their stable. So hop on the virtual train and leave your baggage behind.
Recommended for: Fans of intelligent humor surrounding a neurotic batch of characters on their own individual emotional journeys to try to learn how to be human beings again.
Wes Anderson's films wear their inspiration on their sleeve, and The Darjeeling Limited is no exception. Influenced by Merchant-Ivory films and the films of Satyajit Ray--his music is featured prominently in The Darjeeling Limited--this film could almost be described as a travelogue of India from the perspective of three rich Americans, bickering at every turn, "seeking enlightenment" only to go on a consumerist binge the first chance they get. But rather than simply emulate, Wes Anderson captures the spirit of these influences, and harmonizes it with his own style, creating a delightful tale that helps us do a little soul searching, too. In fact, the first time I saw The Darjeeling Limited, it was at a time in my life where it had a profound effect on me, and I had the impulse to catch a flight to India and ride a train--it represents a kind of need to rediscover that which gets left behind in the dust, what we push down because, well, it's hard to face those tough challenges in life. Francis didn't have much luck facing his demons, but had enough foresight to draw Peter and Jack together to try to work out their differences...even if he isn't much of a facilitator in that regard. Wes Anderson captures a beautiful vista of India that is both real and magical; a glow encompasses many scenes, radiant in saffron and gold. Also keeping with other films by Wes Anderson, the soundtrack is peppered with classic rock selections--early Rolling Stones, and an abundant amount of songs by The Kinks, all from the fantastic album, "Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One" (I'm especially fond of "This Time Tomorrow"). The Darjeeling Limited was the first blu-ray published by Criterion that I purchased; I have a great respect for the Criterion Collection, which often honors exceptional and noteworthy films with high-quality releases, and The Darjeeling Limited is an excellent addition to their stable. So hop on the virtual train and leave your baggage behind.
Recommended for: Fans of intelligent humor surrounding a neurotic batch of characters on their own individual emotional journeys to try to learn how to be human beings again.