Rating: Summary: Not an easy, but enjoyable movie Review: There are not many movies I would be willing to see again. That is how I judge whether or not it's any good. I would see this film again. I may even being willing to purchase it when the DVD eventually comes out. There are some tough spots in the film,and the humor is often snuck into some dark moments. If you are looking for racuous laughter it's not here, but true humor that makes you smirk and let out a loud laugh unwittingly, can be found in the Tennebaums. The disfunction in this family makes me feel so much better about my own family it's worth seeing again.The bottom line is: If you are looking for slapstick this is not for you. If you are looking for some escapism and very good performances from wonderful actors that have a slight edge....you will enjoy the Tennebaums
Rating: Summary: One of the best movies of the last ten years Review: I hadn't seen any of Wes Anderson's previous films, but this one piqued my interest. I went to see it and am happy to say it's one of the best films of thelast ten years. It is a genius story, with a cast of characters that are likeable and different in their own way. The acting and directing was brilliant, and there were some verey funny scenes. To be honest, I would consider this more of a drama with some insanely funny scenes. I recommend this to any one who likes movies.
Rating: Summary: So Bad We walked out Review: Royal Tenenbaums is one of the two movies I have walked out of in 10 years. I am a frequent movie goer as is a friend of mind and we both agreed this was a horrible, grossly over rated film. Gene Hackman was very good and may be the only reason to consider going to this movie. The theater we were at had a good croud and you almost never heard a laugh at any time. It was more like a morgue. For normal movie fans this is a bomb!
Rating: Summary: The First Great American Movie of the New Century! Review: THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS is brilliant! It's a quirky and vastly entertaining movie, that's not for everyone, especially if you don't have something of a literary background to begin with. The movie is like something Woody Allen should have done around the time he was drifting into "serious" stuff like INTERIORS. It's as if he'd decided to base a script on the characters of J.D. Salinger, and it's a far better achievement than that depressing lot of nonsense! I read all of Salinger's work in order about 15 years ago, and wanted to kill myself when I was finished. (I'll never read it again, that's for sure) I usually can't tolerate either Gwyneth Paltrow or Ben Stiller, neither of whom I think deserves their careers. They are muted and just fine in this treat. It's the marvelous performance of Gene Hackman, however, that makes it worth every moment in the theatre. I didn't care for RUSHMORE at all, but I think THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS should win Best Picture. Those fools at the Academy don't recognize talent and style anymore, so it will get zilch. After all, last year they gave a Best Actress Oscar to hair and teeth. Along with SHREK and MONSTERS, INC. this is the best thing I've seen this year. I'd lost faith in American Cinema, except for Animation, but now I'm starting to change my mind. To Wes Anderson, I say, More, soon, please.
Rating: Summary: so-so Review: The first hour or so is good- quirky and funny (tho the humor is very light- dont expect gut-busting laughs). Hackman is charming and Owen Wilson is playful with his part. However the movie eventually fizzles, and I think part of the problem is with the Paltrow and Luke Wilson characters. I wanted to care about them but they were such cold fish- which wouldnt have been so bad if the relationship had developed some passion in the second half. I also didnt like the Kubrickian pausing-between-lines.
Rating: Summary: Does anyone understand black comedy?? Review: I found it interesting to note that the reviews here of The Royal Tennenbaums are either love it or hate it. Not too many reviewers took a middle road. I can see that point of view if you are looking for something just a bit too literal. Those who found it boring were just taking a quick surface look at it as we do of many movies, most of which are nothing more than surface. But the essence of this movie was too take a number of very intense folks (a large family, if you will) and put them together for the wonderful interactions that we saw since every character has a high intensity that must be savored for a bit before mixing with the others. No,I wasn't hysterical throughout the movie but I couldn't help being fascinated by the mix of what I saw. These were genuinely feeling people, who have screwed up and worked on their inner beings to come together to entertain us for a bit. I enjoyed this movie very much and will tell all my friends. No doubt some of them will see it and give me a strange look afterwards. I'll accept that too!
Rating: Summary: Smartest film of 2001 Review: I will say right off the bat most people will not understand this film. It's amazing this film was even made considering how most comedys these days have to be dumbed down to play to movie goers who only enjoy jokes about bodily functions. But this film is miles above that. It's the smartest movie of the year. Yet most people will not notice all of the small laughs in this film. And they won't like the fact that there are genuinely touching, human moments in the film. Most people just want lame obvious humour. The tenenbaums has none of that. It's smart subtle humour. This film is so fresh, funny, and touching it is almost unreal, like a great dream. There are giant laughs in this film but mostly there is just constant grinning at all of the small clever touches in the film like when Royal Tenenbaum and his faithful servant Pagoda (what a great name for a character by the way) become elevator operators. If you don't understand why that's funny then you won't get this movie. So there.
Rating: Summary: Tenenbaums is a gem! Review: When I saw the previews for this movie, it looked really great. I was so eager to see it! When I finally got to, Tenenbaums turned out to be better than I thought! The acting was amazing and Gene and Owen were hilarious! I highly reccomend this movie. I'm definitely going to see it again.
Rating: Summary: very fine acting .... Review: If this movie wasn't 2 hrs long I probably would have rated it higher. It wassn't dragging but the story line was just too long. But I cannot deny the shrewd acting of the actors... it's good to see Gwyneth as a lugubrious as she was in Seven. Didn't think that Owen Wilson had the writing talent and my, oh my... Angelica Houston I've never seen her sparkle so charmingly as she did here, old and wrinkled as she is.
Rating: Summary: Multi-layered masterpiece Review: Always a fan of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, I eagerly anticipated the release of this movie, and wasn't disappointed. This oddball dramedy is one of the most original movies in years. It is the story of the ultimate dysfunctional family, the Tenenbaums. Despite their uncaring and self-involved patriarch, Royal Tenenbaum, the three children all attained fame as child prodigies. Not surprisingly, as they've grown up they've remained trapped in the emotional wasteland of their childhood. Royal's return to the family circle forces each to confront their childhood resentments and to re-evaluate their family relationships. It would be an injustice to classify this movie strictly as a comedy. The movie is far too emotionally honest not to be considered a drama. Despite the outlandishness of the characters, they are very human and surprisingly sympathetic. The comedy is multi-layered, from the broad visuals to the subtle dialogue, and always delightful. The all-star cast is consistently superb, so much so that it's impossible to pick any particular standouts. What a relief that Anderson hasn't lost any of his edge in his graduation from art house regular to the mainstream.
|