The Popkorn Junkie :: The Royal Tenenbaums

I loved this film as some would love their first born child. "The Royal Tenebaums" is a miraculous piece of film which rivals any of the best picture winners from the past decade of cinema. Director Wes Anderson has crafted another gem, much like his previous film "Rushmore", the best film of it's year and one of the best films I have personally ever had the privilege to view. His latest effort is no different than his previous effort, a hilarious, yet touching and heartbreaking story of a family coming to grips with past mistakes and moving forward with their lives.

Royal Tenebaum and his wife Etheline has three children. Their son Chas started buying up real estate at a young age and became somewhat of a financial genius. Their other son Richie won three national tennis titles at a young age. And, their daughter Margot received a fifty thousand dollar grant in ninth grade to pursue a writing career which would eventually lead her to winning the Pulitzer. However, their adolescent glories quickly dissipated when their father and mother separated and their father disappeared. After that, it was all failure and disappointment for the Tenebaum children. However, after years of being away, Royal suddenly returns and tries to reconnect with his children and ex-wife.

Gene Hackman turns in an absolutely marvelous performance as Royal, with Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Paltrow stealing the show as the prodigious children. However, the most noteworthy performances in the film come from Bill Murray as Paltrow's husband, and Danny Glover as Anjelica Huston's (Etheline Tenebaum) fiancé. Also--just a note--it's Alec Baldwin's voice you hear as the narrator.

The most enjoyable aspects of this film are the scenes where side splitting scenes of humor explode into intense scenes of drama and hurt, much like "Rushmore". Wes Anderson has become an expert at keeping us interested, yet keeping us emotional and intense at the same time. I just recently stated than "Ocean's Eleven" had one of the greatest ensemble casts ever, but "Royal Tenebaums" surpasses it. The only person missing in this film is Steve Martin, though he was offered the role Murray eventually took.

Another aspect of this film that was extremely likable was the way in which the characters looked and dressed. They all wear the same educated, yet slackerish suits and dresses that one just automatically associates with a dysfunctional family. Many of Paltow's outfits look like something out of "Mommie Dearest" and Stiller's physical appearance is so melancholy, it can't help but incite laughter and smiles.

All-in-all, "Royal Tenenbaums" is the BEST film I have seen this year, and that's saying a lot considering I REALLY loved "Bandits" and "Life As A House"--but, there's just something about Wes Anderson that makes me smile. It could be the directing, or it could just be the damned good job Owen Wilson does co-writing. Either way, this is a classic.

-- Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )

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Other Junkie's opinions.....

James ( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )

This one gave me mixed feelings. I liked it's quirky-ness, but I thought the editing could have been faster. The pacing was off. It was slow in too many places. Maybe that was intentional to give the film a more quirky feeling but the pacing just seemed off, however, the acting, casting, cinematography, and direction were all wonderful, but the editing stank.