The Darjeeling Limited
Following the death of their father, three brothers (Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman) embark on a journey on the cross-India train the Darjeeling Limited and attempt to reconnect after years of physical and emotional distance. The trip also opens up some old wounds and proves that their sibling rivalry can never be completely erased. Natalie Portman and Anjelica Huston co-star in Wes Anderson's lyrical comic drama.
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Wow at an hour and 30 mins I couldn't\t bring myself to finish this movie, the comedy seemed so contrived, the drama so stereotypical and thee hardest they tried to push the envelope the worse this film got. This made just plained out bored me, granted I fell asleep the first time I watched it but the second time I couldn't even bring myself to stay awake.- LH 969269
In my opinion, slightly funnier than Royal Tenenbaums but the character development was a little less. If you are familiar with the (excellent/amazing) director then you know what to expect and should not be disappointed. I would give the film a rating somewhere in the medium to low 90's/100
- Banana
A disappointing (and oftentimes boring) effort from Mr. Anderson. I don't know if it's that my expectations were too high (because Wes has done some of my favorite films) or if it was just a generally lackluster film. Certainly one of his weaker movies (if not the weakest).
- CO 1521212
Sure I'll agree with other reviewers here who praised the beautiful setting and cinematography of the film but damn this movie is boring. If this is the last film Owen Wilson made prior to his suicide attempt I'm not surprised. I wanted to end it too. I should have shut it off after the Hotel Chevalier prologue which was the only part of the film that wasn't boring which included a nice shot of Natalie Portman's lovely rear end and the most witty dialog of the entire film. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
- RaisedByWolves
I cannot write much about this film as I gave up on it about 30 minutes into it. I just could NOT get into this movie. Too much seemingly pointless dialog. The characters were not ones of which you would be able to attach to in anyway, to odd and peculiar. The "comedy" if there was any was lost on me. I just couldn't get drawn into this one. My opinion if your really bored and have nothing to watch...maybe this one...but only maybe
- *~*Sullivans*~*
Wes Anderson makes another movie exploring familial themes with the same cast and it feels just as unique as anything he has done. It's the story of 3 brothers traveling by train through India lost in their obsessions. India serves as the ideal locale for Wes to set the film. Places they pass through are stuffed with color and details in tune with his ornate style. There's always been a theatrical framing to his shots and a train with all the windows provides the perfect device to do this without it feeling superfluous. A few of the shots are reminiscent of those in Sternberg's Shanghai Express, where each compartment is its own world and with a single shot of a train passing you get a barrage of settings and emotions. And this film is emotional. Even during the comedy there are undercurrents of vulnerability and fear. In the beginning it's hard to feel for the brothers other than just relating to their brotherly relationships. They are rich kids who have been coddled their whole life so when they are left on their own to deal with life they are unable to. Francis (Wilson) has almost broken out of his insulated shell do to a motorcycle crash. He has realized that without a family he can't go on and so reunites with his brothers under the pretense of finding spiritual enlightenment. He has another agenda that harkens back to his need for family. The other 2 brothers need each other just as much but they are so wrapped up in their own malaise that they can't see things as clearly as Francis can. That is until a devastating event occurs and lets us see that they really are good people, just slightly broken. The film is Wes's best balance of style and substance. Every stylistic choice seems to serve the story, a story that develops more organically than his other films; its characters and not plot that create this story. In that respect it's a lot like the character driven films of the 70's, where you never quite know where it's going but you have to watch.
- Paul Logan
Director Wes Anderson's quirkiness translates well to the backdrop of India and three brothers reunited on a cross-country train. The film feels like a mix of the Beatles-esque 1960s, 21st century neuroses, and nostalgia for the past, all wrapped up in a few stilted, awkward moments that have become the trademark of Anderson's films. The plot, which follows the three brothers across India, shares many similarities with The Life Aquatic and Royal Tenenbaums -- themes of lost family, missing parents, and self-discovery. Unfortunately, Anderson fails to break new ground in this film. What's missing here is Anderson's lingering moments of silence, those wide-screen shots that include subtle facial movements and the short, pointed statements between characters that make you realize what's being said is only a small portion of what's actually going on. It's those moments that make people love or hate Anderson's work, but they're nowhere to be found in this film. Instead, we're treated to a condensed Wes Anderson film, one that seems to have been edited of any fat and trimmed to create a traditional Hollywood film and pace. Oddly enough, the 10-minute short film that serves as an introduction to the film is classic Anderson. It's Schwartzman and Natalie Portman in a Paris hotel suite, and the director allows plenty of time to soak in the surroundings and details, including the minutia of the room and the beautiful Paris skyline. In the film itself, Anderson creates a beautifully detailed yet rickety train that is almost a piece of art, and it's almost as mesmerizing as the Indian landscape. Yet unlike the short film, we never quite get a chance to take it all in. The same is true for the shots of India's landscape and culture, so while the characters are experiencing life-changing moments, we never quite understand what's so special about their surroundings. The film is worth watching for fans of Anderson or the three main actors, but it's not the director's best work.
- Author Allen
Wes Anderson puts as much care and thought into his settings as he does story and character. This was apparent in all of his previous movies, and has been taken to the nth degree in THE DARJEELING LIMITED. This is a pretty good movie, with a plot that was really difficult to predict, which is a point in its favor for me. It was also funny. Yet, it has that same dreamlike quality of Anderson's previous work. Things happen with no apparent reason or purpose, which is part of its unpredictability. This is beginning to feel forced to me. It was organic and surprising in RUSHMORE, but began to grow tedious in TANNENBAUMS and LIFE AQUATIC. It has now become a stylistic element. Can't fault the acting. Superb. I also liked THE HOTEL CHEVALIER, and that brief moment Anderson made the viewer think this was going to be another Bill Murray flick.
- Firewater
I liked it a lot, but I would never recommend it. It's just too loose. If you already like what Wes Anderson and co. do, you'll probably enjoy it. But in terms of movie strength, not only is it his shortest movie, but it was also his easiest to watch. It works principally based on the strength of the stars. It's wanders a lot, not always making the most sense until later in the movie.
- psq 667824
Wes Anderson's work has, unfortunately, gone downhill somewhat since Rushmore. It must be tough to create your masterpiece so early, but nonetheless he's had a difficult time recapturing the magic he found with that film. I found this to be quite easily the most boring of his projects. The setting is indeed lovely, but in the end that's the most endearing element. The dialog is dry, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but in this case it's uninspired, as if the silliness of the character's situation is enough to carry the film. It isn't. Brody, Wilson, and Schwartzman all do a good job of creating their various personalities, although I felt that Schwartzman's character in particular needed more development. It turns out that I neither like nor dislike this film. The DVD also included the short film "Hotel Chevalier", which is prologue to the events of the full-length feature.
- Photo Heathen
It is easy to dismiss Wes Anderson's movies as all being variations of the same film. He definitely has a specific style and abandonment seems to be a central theme in all of his films. However, I think it is a testament to his skill as a filmmaker that he can consistently put out entertaining movies without varying his formula. While The Life Aquatic was a bit of a misstep, the Darjeeling Limited shows Anderson is back on track. Not my favorite Anderson film (that would be Rushmore) but this does show he is back to near Tenenbaum levels.
- Brody
A quirky indie flick with lots to look at but not much more to offer. Dlukenelson's review describes it well. He says "beautiful set designs, amazing color palette, and gorgeous cinematography. The Darjeeling Limited is very good, but seems slightly dulled by the sense that you've seen this all before. It feels stylized into a corner; it's so quirky, with witty dialogue and pregnant metaphors that it gets slightly laborious." I think Brody, Schwartzman and Wilson are fine actors, but I didn't feel the chemistry here. That probably hurt the movie most. Bill Murray does a cameo. Maybe more sceen time for him would have helped. I rate on entertainment value and just didn't think it all adds up to much here.
- GS Chicago
Three brothers reunite for a spiritual journey across India. That's the framework for the film; however, the scenes that fill up this delicious morsel are hilarious and subtly point to long held family dynamics that rear their ugly heads even after years of separation. Adrien Brody was surprisingly funny in this, and Schwartzman has done more to bring back the "Cop-stache" than anyone since Magnum P.I.! In fact, the three main actors (Brody, Wilson, and Schwartzman) had a chemistry that was as good as any I've seen in some time. Wes Anderson did an excellent job of detailing the points and parallels of their journey across India to times in their lives, and I found it to be much more revealing than a simple comedy. Also, the soundtrack is very nice... so good that I noticed it, so I guess that says something. In short, take a chance on this. Some may not like it... but I did! 4 stars. Lose the baggage and watch this film!
- Freakin Meow
Full of the signature Anderson/Yeoman look, beautiful set designs, amazing color palette, and gorgeous cinematography. The Darjeeling Limited is very good, but seems slightly dulled by the sense that you've seen this all before. It feels stylized into a corner; it's so quirky, with witty dialogue and pregnant metaphors that it gets slightly laborious. It has got a unique touch compared to the rest of Anderson's films, but its still marked in the style of his other films. Brody, Schwartzman and Wilson are great together, Adrien Brody fits in astonishingly well Anderson's standard cast (cameos from Kumar, Wolodarsky and Bill Murray). The plot feels a little thin a times, but pulls itself back together to the point where you are willing to accept its flaws for the greater picture. As usual a great soundtrack, well set to long sequences of people walking in slow motion (wait has he done that before?). Overall its standard Wes Anderson, if you like him, you'll probably like this, if you hate him, well...why are you reading this?
- Dlukenelson
Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman star as brothers on a journey to the Himalayas to find their mother who left the family to become a nun. Most of their travels are on the train Darjeeling Limited. It is quirky and unique and at times you feel that some scenes are inside jokes. The three actors play their parts to a tee. The movie is from Wes Anderson who also wrote and directed The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. If you liked those movies, you'll like this one. Also a cameo by Bill Murray. "Is that one of Alice's pots?"
- Cleve1212