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| The Darjeeling Limited * * * * |
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| Written by Ivan Radford |
| Friday, 23 November 2007 00:00 |
 Director: Wes AndersonWes Anderson is an odd taste; you either like it or you don’t. The boundary isn’t one to be crossed or grasped; you can’t achieve the taste or have it thrust upon you. Some are born with it, some aren’t. Perhaps the Anderson funny bone is genetic. A bit like noses. Blessed with their father’s wonky proboscis, three estranged brothers reunite on a hispiritual journey. Led by the eldest, Francis (Wilson), Peter (Brody) and Jack (Schwartzman) board the titular train in an attempt to reforge their relationship – a deep task indeed. Luckily, Francis brings along his assistant, Brendan. He has a laminating machine. Armed with itineraries, the siblings sojourn soon goes awry; kicked off the train, annoyed with each other and literally weighed down with baggage, the return journey begins to look more and more appealing. Too bad Francis has confiscated the passports. Events continue in traditional Anderson manner, offbeat encounters interrupting every step of the way. Humour abounds in the desert as the delightful trio set loose one-liners seemingly on a whim; unlike its predecessors, The Darjeeling Limited benefits from a close-knit ensemble, allowing us to engage with each character individually. The tone alters when we stumble across a fatal accident. Face to face with death, the script flounders in its attempt to switch gears from comedy to philosophical tragedy. At times disjointed, the script’s construction is Darjeeling’s only weak point. Accompanied by the beautiful short Hotel Chevalier, which invites us to appreciate Jack’s back-story, this is an aesthetic tour de force; a road movie set on a train, which even manages to squeeze in a cameo for Bill Murray. VERDICT This train ride is typical Wes Anderson fare: wry, witty and full of endearing angst. |
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