Review of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Warakorn B — 22 Sep 2012

Undeniably Wes Anderson's masterpiece, "The Royal Tenebaums" achieves everything little thing it sets out to do, and instead of being excessively busy, it always hits the right note. Many of Anderson's films have fell flat.

in my opinion. Some of them are almost TOO whimsical, while others focus on characters that are nothing more than a cartoon of a person. But this time, every single shot rings pitch-perfect. Anderson, who by this time knew exactly what he was capable of, hits the right balance-- while creating eccentric characters (such as Owen Wilson's "cowboy" Eli Cash, or Ben Stiller's jump-suited Chas Tenenbaum), and putting us into a world that belongs in a comic book, Anderson and writing partner, Wilson, flesh out a simple scenario and make it consistently witty and interesting, something most dysfunctional family dramas can never do.

This film is usually billed as a comedy, but instead we're led to an offbeat drama where anything whimsical or exaggerated is like a backdrop. We're so intently focused on these characters, none of whom are cut-outs, and soon enough we end up caring in some way or another, regardless of any decision they've made.

The writing is so brilliant that it's easy to see everyone's perspective-- it shows how much at that time Anderson and Wilson had really matured from their "Rushmore" days. "The Royal Tenenbaums" may feature a star-studded-- if not star-FILLED cast-- but the names aren't the only thing that makes this film so excellent.

This is a brilliant movie that should be seen. Highly recommended.