Movie Review: Darjeeling Limited

Ok, here's the caveat. Writer/Director Wes Anderson is definitely an acquired taste -- I think either you really "get" and like his quirky work or you think he is terrible, I don't think there is a middle ground.

I really liked Darjeeling Limited, probably his best work since Rushmore. His usual themes of family issues, death, isolation even when together, discord, melancholy, and trying to shed one's baggage (in this movie quite literally) are on display.

Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzmann play three brothers who haven't spoken to each other in the year since their father's death. Owen's character plans a trip, a trainride across India on "The Darjeeling Limited" locomotive with his two brothers to go on a spiritual journey and for them to reconnect and bond. He also has an ulterior motive that they don't know about - to visit their estranged mother who is a nun in the Himalayas - she didn't come for their father's funeral.

Owen's character Francis is a rich businessman, and he has bandages and gashes on his face from a near fatal motorcycle accident. Schwartzmann's character is a lovelorn novelist (his girl is introduced in a 15 minute short before the actual movie starts, and she is played by Natalie Portman. A nude Natalie Portman. A naked nude Natalie Portman. There is a god). Brody's brother is expecting his first child in a month with a wife he expected to divorce.

I think the tone of the movie - the uncomfortable awkwardness of the brothers trying to bond together spiritually really comes through. An unexpected, shocking plot twist helps put things in perspective for them that they otherwise couldn't do themselves. This movie, like most of Anderson's leaves you (well, me anyway) thinking about life afterwards.

If you're a fan of Anderson, definitely rent this movie, and let me know if you agree with me that it is one of his finest works - better than Life Aquatic and Royal Tennenbaums in my opinion.

It gets 3 out of 4 Lanes from me, the trailer is below.