Review of The Darjeeling Limited (2007) by Nick A — 10 Nov 2010

Wes Anderson's most recent live-action film (which also includes a fair prefacing short called "Hotel Chevalier") is one of delicate symbolism that totes a pleasantly droll, comprehensive story, and attains the spirituality it aims for with an honest study of alienated brotherhood and the serene reds, yellows, and turq-oranges of India's color wheel.

"The Darjeeling Limited" is about three brothers who, after the death of their father, take a train ride through the dulling and scenic landscapes of the India backcountry in search of spiritual enlightenment and solidarity. Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody play the brothers, and do so with cunning and subtlety. Schwartzman's Jack (whose problematic romance with Natalie Portman is made apparent in "Chevalier"), the youngest of the estranged trio, is a down-on-his-luck, cough syrup-guzzling writer, whose year-long hideaway in Paris has only left him feeling more dejected. Wilson plays Francis, the oldest brother and recent victim of a one-car accident, who organized the trip and leads it with an itinerary he laminated with his lamination machine. Peter (Brody), Jack's elder brother, has appointed himself the heir to their father's possessions -- much to the dislike of Francis -- and has become dismissive and paranoid of he and his wife's unborn child, which he thinks will have a detrimental effect on his marriage.

Anderson's craftiness as a writer is at its most prudent and dry-witted state in "Darjeeling", though it still manages to erupt with charisma and delight. His film is one of dedication and repetition that tells a warm story of companionship -- something Anderson tells so well. Whereas Wes confines his adventure to already-before-seen lands, he expands in the depth of his subjects, indulging in sentiment and connection, rather than less-genuine jokery; and though he doesn't reach the level of cleverness and quality he achieved with "Rushmore" or "Tenenbaums", he makes a generous addition to his filmography with "Darjeeling".