"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
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Director: Wes Anderson Writesr: Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola Genre: Comedy - Adventure - Drama Country: USA Certification: 15+ Language: English Released: 7th April, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST:
Owen Wilson (Francis L. Whitman) Adrien Brody (Peter L. Whitman) Jason Schwartzman (Jack L. Whitman)
Francis, the eldest of three brothers from a wealthy family, decides to bring his brothers together on a 'spiritually' awakening trip to India. The brothers, who haven't spoken to each other since their father's death, begin their awkward trip aboard 'The Darjeeling Limited', a train that will carry them across India where their planned agenda will take them to 'spiritually' awakening tourist hotspots. Unfortunately, the brothers, who were abandoned by their mother years earlier and left to be raised by a henpecking Francis and their obscure father, encounter problems along the way that have much to do with their pent-up hostility towards each other and Francis's pushy nature.
There 'spiritually' awakening trip takes a turn for the worse when the brothers literally come to blows, and they are escorted off the train by the harassed train guard who has had more than enough of their boisterous behaviour, obsessive abuse of over-the-counter pain killers and cough syrup, their reckless
smuggling aboard of an extremely poisonous snake which ended up getting out of its box, and the youngest brother's seduction of the guard's girlfriend and subsequent sexual tryst in the train's public toilet.
Stranded in the middle of the desert with a mountain of matching luggage, the brothers embark on an unplanned journey that just might be the 'spiritual' awakening they've been searching for.
'The Darjeeling Limited' is one of those oddball cinematic creations that isn't exactly what the viewer is expecting… in fact, it isn't at all what the viewer expects. It isn't a 'spiritual' road trip (or, in this case, train trip) movie, not quite a comedy, not strictly a drama, and far from an adventure… it's a mishmash of this and that and the other thing, and it takes a while to decide whether or not you're actually enjoying the movie. The word 'oddball' pretty much sums it all up when forced to describe the movie.
First of all, I would like to say that the movie's visual aspect is striking, and India's magnificent countryside with its hectic cities, charming villages and sparsely populated desert has been taken advantage of to its fullest, creating an atmosphere that is so intrinsically Indian that you can almost catch a whiff of the spices wafting off of the screen… even the train scenes possess that 'exotic' quality to them that are pleasing to the eye and appear so incredibly real that the viewer can almost feel the heat wafting in from the desert, the claustrophobia-inducing tightness of the compartment the brothers' share aboard the train, and the strain and tension induced by too close a proximity of characters that would rather be anywhere else but aboard a train heading for God only knows where… the scenery, the camera shots, the atmosphere, everything comes together so brilliantly that the viewer can actually 'experience' the movie.
The acting is brilliant, definitely one of Owen Wilson's best performances, and no doubt due to the fact that he wasn't expected to dish out the comedy and milk it. Owen is a decent actor who possesses a childlike quality to him that is endearing, and the ability to shoulder comedy without having to actually carry it is something he does very well. When placed in situations where he is forced to dish out the comedy, like in the movie 'Drillbit Taylor', you can bet the movie will be a flop. However, match him up with a 'real' comedian, and he's the perfect sidekick.
Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman give a great performance as the awkward and troubled brothers who have endured their older brother's henpecking and pushiness for far too long, and are now on the precipice of an outburst that promises fireworks… however, although the tension leads the viewer to expect the worst, the storyline isn't one of anger and resentment, it's one of forgiveness, understanding and brotherly love. 'The Darjeeling Limited' is a study in masculine emotions that, although it often gives way to humour, is incredibly endearing.
The brothers are all struggling, to certain extents, with some sort of addiction or other, painkillers, cough syrups, women, all of these either fill an empty void or bring comfort in there own way. Beneath their individual eccentric facades, they share the same hurt… their mother's abandonment of them, and their father's untimely death. The viewer senses their turmoil, sees their shared similarities, their qualities and their flaws, and can't help but like them all regardless of their shortcomings. The humour aspect is due, in large part, to their awkward bungling, and is mostly a result of their lives getting out of hand… which is what makes it all so appealing. There are no in-your-face jokes or attempts to be funny… what there is are scenes that allow life to take its course and to turn it, invariably, into something quite amusing. The characters don't provoke the comedy, the comedy comes to them. They are hapless puppets aboard a train that will never take them to their intended destination.
'The Darjeeling Limited' is a nice little movie, not extraordinarily fascinating or even 100% entertaining, but it has the power to string you along for the full 91 minutes. This is the type of movie you're never quite certain you actually enjoyed. The one thing I know for certain is that I loved the soundtrack to this movie… some of the songs brought back some wonderful memories… however, unless, like me, you were brought up on the likes of Debussy and Dassin who belted out some incredibly beautiful French songs, you might not even be certain of whether or not you liked the music either!
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Jul 2nd, 2008
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