TotalTelly.co.uk
Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV
The Darjeeling Limited [2007]
![The Darjeeling Limited [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61P1KxCxDUL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £6.96 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Family tension again provides dramatic comedy in Wes Anderson's new film, The Darjeeling Limited, about three American brothers travelling by train to find their reclusive mother in rural India. Like The Royal Tenenbaums, this film succeeds because of its smart, funny script in addition to the visual beauty of India and its luxurious locomotive transportation. In Darjeeling, the oldest brother, Francis (Owen Wilson), blackmails his two younger siblings, Peter (Adrien Brody), and Jack (Jason Schwartzman), into travelling to a monastery where their mother, Patricia (Anjelica Huston), has been in hiding as a nun. Supposedly embarking on a spiritual quest, the three men reminisce about the recent death of their father, and the family's irreconcilable problems previous to their reunification. Though they do find Patricia, Francis, Peter, and Jack grow immensely from another brush with death, this time an Indian boy they try to rescue, giving the film an added conceptual depth that Anderson's previous films have been accused of lacking. Co-written by Roman Coppola, The Darjeeling Limited is a finely-tuned critique of American materialism, emotional vacuity, and lack of spiritualism, presented in ironic twists and gorgeous cinematography and lighting recalling Altman's McCabe & Mrs. Miller. A lovely, poignant sequence occurs while the three brothers attend a traditional Indian funeral, and flash back to their father's one year prior. Moreover, the film's soundtrack culled from Satyajit Ray's films and vintage Kinks gives the film a timeless feel, removing it from the predictable indie rock scoring of independent releases. By far Anderson's best film thus far, The Darjeeling Limited offers a much-needed dose of cultural self-reflection, pillared against India's ever-evolving yet ancient religious backbone. --Trinie Dalton, Amazon.com
Magically Compelling
Review date: 2008-06-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
"Precious, in any case, is a word with two meanings, which both might apply to "The Darjeeling Limited." This shaggy-dog road trip, in which three semi-estranged brothers travel by rail across India, is unstintingly fussy, vain and self-regarding. But it is also a treasure: an odd, flawed, but nonetheless beautifully handmade object as apt to win affection as to provoke annoyance. You might say that it has sentimental value." AO Scott
Surrounded by the vision of India, we find two brothers joining the third on a voyage across India. Frank, played by Owen Wilson, has convened the group to bond, as they once did. Frank has his head and face swathed in bandages, after he tried to "off" himself by running his motorcycle into a tree. Their father died a year ago, their mother left then to join a convent, and we are left to wonder 'what is this all about'? Adrian Brody plays Peter, and he wears his father's sunglasses, and tells his brothers that their father loved him best. Jason Schwartman plays Jack, the youngest and the one who loves the sweet lime and the sweet women.
So, here they are, each of them with several pairs of Louis Vuitton baggage left by their father, traipsing across India trying to loosen and leave their virtual baggage behind. They travel by train until they so annoy the Indian conductor he throws them off. Then by foot and taxi, off they go. We learn a little bit about each of them. They meet up with their mother who has become a nun in a monastery, and there they try to unload their emotions. She listens but apparently it doesn' take. Frank tries to let go of his scars. Peter tells them his girlfriend is about to deliver a son, and he is confused about it all. Jack breaks into his ex-girlfriends voice mail and relishes what he learns. All in all a melancholy trip, a humorous trip and a compelling trip. I found the films a little on the weird side, but I could not stop watching. What was going to occur next? We never know what is around the corner- it keeps us off-guard. Did the brothers achieve their goal? The layers of emotion come undone in a way when they confront their mother, the nun, played by Angelica Houston, in a role like none other.
"The movie meanders. It will therefore inspire reviews complaining that it doesn't fly straight as an arrow at its target. But it doesn't have a target, either. Why do we have to be the cops and enforce a narrow range of movie requirements? Anderson is like Dave Brubeck, who I'm listening to right now. He knows every note of the original song, but the fun and genius come in the way he noodles around. And in his movie's cast, especially with Owen Wilson, Anderson takes advantage of champion noodlers." Roger Ebert
Jack, the youngest listens on his IPod to a song that will stay with you throughout the movie and swirl around your head. The song by Peter Sarstedt 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely?" It is a lilting, catchy song that resonates with me.
'But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head'
Highly Recommended. prisrob 05-13-08
The Big Bounce (Widescreen Edition)
The Pianist
Similar Products
Reviews
Average but watchable
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 6 out of 10
The Darjeeling Limited does not deviate much from Wes Anderson's previous films, particulary the now predictable cast. However the 'quirkiness' of his films is less compelling in TDL and is not cohesive with the totality of of the film. Not that it has to be, but quirkiness for its own sake gets a bit tiresome. The greatest disappointment is the plot, which essentialy seems to be a contempory homage to the 1991 film City Slickers which starred Billy Crystal: A bunch of stereotypes with existentialistic or pressing life issues embark on a 'spiritual' journey to a destination untainted by conventional western influences and serendipitously achieve some revelation/epiphany.
The Darjeeling Limited
Review date: 2008-06-19 Rating: 2 out of 10
I had to write to say that this film might appeal to those who think it trendy to feel they are somehow intellectually superior to others.
The reviews that state "those who don't get it" etc, are pretentious in the extreme.
In short I rented this film from Amazon and I think it a waste of postage, the postman's time in delivering it and most certainly mine whilst watching it.
It's one of those films you watch to the end hoping it gets better, only it does not.
Yes I "get it" I picked up on all the hidden messages, the films not very
clever in that respect. It's been done so much better elsewhere.
However, if you want to pretend that this is anything other than a waste of life watching it go ahead and waste your time.
One point I do agree with, it is beautiful on the eye and very well shot. Pity the substance of the film isn't to the same standard.
Rubbish but pretty.
Review date: 2008-06-18 Rating: 2 out of 10
This film is like a beautifully iced cake which looks fabulous on the outside but once you bite into it you feel conned because it tastes awful. The film is visually very pleasing but it hides a film which doesn't really work on any level. It is not really funny, and it is not strange or quirky enough to challenge the viewer to something new and unusual. The film upholds the veiw that US citizens don't understand or have any real interest other cultures. Darjeeling Limited is exactly that! Limited.
three brothers, two stars, one big disappointment.
Review date: 2008-06-02 Rating: 4 out of 10
From his first feature, Rushmore, Wes Anderson has had a unique style. Bright colours, deadpan performances and the all important soundtrack have become staples of his subsequent films but the only worry with his most recent outing is that he may just be repeating himself and with less and less effect. After quite enjoying The Life Aquatic, which received some fairly lukewarm reviews, I had high hopes for this far more well received effort. Plus it showcases three of the finest noses in Hollywood!
Three brothers estranged after the death of their father meet in India to undergo a spiritual journey (which actually hides a more practical purpose for one of the brothers). Owen Wilson is recovering from a near fatal accident, Adrien Brody is running away from impending fatherhood and Jason Schwartzman is reeling from his relationship (with a suddenly naked Natalie Portman), which we glimpse in the short film Hotel Chevalier that precedes the main film. Self obsessed and shallow the brother's journey is really only made interesting about half way through when they try to prevent the drowning of three boys in a river. It is the death of a stranger that forces them to confront their own reaction to their father's death and to get closer to the spiritual awakening they hoped for.
But the film lacks substance. The colours may be bright but the film somehow fails to capture the sights and smells of India, too much of it seems clichéd, and even the visual tricks are ones we've seen before in previous films. The performances are predictably low-key but lacking any real character and Bill Murray makes one of the most pointless cameo appearances ever. Even the soundtrack is disappointing with a confusing recurrence of French standards when I'd have thought Wes would've been having a field day plundering his collection for all that Indian influenced music from the 60's.
What's surprising with this film is how well he handles the middle section where it all becomes more serious. Perhaps Anderson has been hiding some real substance under his cloak of design and quirkiness? I'm not sure where he goes from here but maybe he'd benefit from a spiritual journey of his own.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Bill Murray
Owen Wilson
Jason Schwartzman
Anjelica Huston
Adrien Brody
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036037099
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-04-07
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007