Brotherhood and the Kinks
I went to go see The Darjeeling Limited it was fantastic. I've always been a big fan of Wes Anderson movies. What I love about Anderson is how he continues to examine damaged lives with whimsy, humor and
bittersweet compassion. Francis, Peter, and Jack Whitman might be his most damaged characters yet. Francis the controlling oldest, Peter the middle brother searching for purpose, and Jack the sullen, disinterested youngest.
The estranged brothers are reunited a year after their father's death for a trip across India to find "spiritual enlightenment" on The Darjeeling Limited an oddly colorful train. The trip is organized by the Francis. He wants them to reconnect and become brothers again. For the trip he has brought along an assistant to provide laminated spiritual itiniaries for the the trip. This act might be the funniest part of the whole movie. The other two comply and even though they haven't seen each other for a year they quickly fall into old habits, behaviors and dialogue
when they reunite. Calling one another "indian givers"-priceless. Being in a family is a lot like riding bike —
you never forget how what to do it and that includes how to irritate each
other to the fullest. Francis orders all of their food, Peter insists he was their father's favorite, and Jack just wants to spy on an old girlfriend via her answering machine. The one thing they all have in common with one another is a fear of becoming sick in India-this makes for some hilarious scenes. It is only after their train becomes "lost" and they are kicked off for letting a poisonous snake out, fighting, and macing each other do they reconnect. The end of the movie finds them shedding baggage both figuratively and literally.
Anderson once again also does an amazing job incorporating the beautiful scenery of India with the wackiness of the Whitman brothers. Some of the shots of them going through the little towns are stunning. When Peter buys the snake and carries it around in a wooden box with a skull and crossbones on it I couldn't control myself. Who does that? The train is almost like a cartoon. It's colors are so vivid and the fellow passengers are also like cartoons. Like The Royal Tennanbaums the background and supporting characters are key to making the movie great. The soundtrack is great score by Bengali film maker Satyajit Ray and other artists from Indian cinema. Anderson used three songs from my favorite Kinks album-1970s Lola Versus the Powerman & the Moneygoround, Part 1. "This Time Tomorrow", " Strangers", and "Powerman" have never been used better. Go see this movie.
*I don't have any siblings, but I loved this movie. If you have siblings go see The Darjeeling Limited with them. I think that by the end of the movie you will remember why you both love and hate them. You also might learn a little something about yourself.
*I will add the Kinks songs so you know what I'm talking about.
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i knew the soundtrack would be good. i've yet to see the movie, though. what's the matter with me?!
Posted by: blythe | November 13, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Fuckin' A...the Kinks are awesome.
Posted by: exilegrrl | November 13, 2007 at 02:56 PM