Rating: 
Summary: "Of course it's dark, it's a suicide note..."
Review: A hilarious family-structure that proves the American family isn't perfect, or even destined to be in a perpetual state of love for the other members...The ideal family is instead whatever grab bag of flawed character-combinations you can possibly imagine. Just remember that when the stories have been told and your luck has run out that they'll be around -- Caution: REAL people; Watch with your family. ;) Enjoy each other.
Rating:
Summary: The Art of Movie-making
Review: Wes Anderson always amazes me. He has a way of weaving an almost supernatural (or should I say preternatural) feeling into the ordinary. His movies contain an innocence that touches the heart, and for a few hours makes all the cynicism of the world disappear.
The Royal Tenenbaums is another feather in Wes' hat, and a great addition to any movie-lover's library. It's a story of friendship, love, death, forgiveness, and redemption, but don't expect any of the usual Hollywood cliches to be used to express these themes. Again it's Anderson's ability to create a real world with an ethereal hue, it makes me wish our world could be as bizare and sweet as that of the Royal Tenenbaums.
Rating:
Summary: A Family of Geniuses
Review: I thought "The Royal Tenenbaums" was an excellent film, but I can understand the naysayers. I really liked the movie the first time around, though I couldn't really tell you why. The plot of the movie isn't so intricate: the movie is essentially about an inconsiderate father who has left his family, but comes back 22 years later to save them from themselves. I really could relate to the characters in the film, seeing I come from a rather dysfunctional family, and it makes me almost cry at the end when Chaz says to his father, Royal (Gene Hackman), "I've had a really rough year." If you can't relate to failed geniuses, broken families, and depression, then you won't like this movie. This movie isn't really about the plot as it is about the characters experiences and the way they deal with depression. Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow) locks herself up in bathrooms all day, sitting in the tub and watching television, and she is so desperate to live a secret and detached life her family doesn't know about her somking habit and her first marriage. She dresses in girl's dresses, not wanting to grow up, but puts on tons of black eyeliner to hide from the real world. Her brother, Chaz Tenenbaum, (Ben Stiller) "had a preternatural understanding for international finance," and spent most of his childhood in his room, driving business deals. He harvests some resentment to his father for leaving he and his brother and sister, and also for his father's shooting him with a BB gun when he was young. "Why'd you shoot me?" Chaz asks his father later. "It was the object of the game," Royal answers innocently. "We were on the same team," says Chaz, who still thinks that his father loves his other brother more than he. The last brother, Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson), is a failed tennis champion who had a meltdown in an important game. To hide from the world, he grew a thick beard and long hair, and always wore aviator sunglasses to cover his face.He secretly loves Margot, his sister, who is adopted, and this also adds to the dysfunction of the family. Also to add some laughs is Eli Cash (Owen Wilson), a pseudo-intellectual novelist who has a pretty huge drug problem. "I've always wanted to a Tenenbaum," says Eli, at the end, and Royal says, "So have I." This movie is very enjoyable, but doesn't have a lot of action, sex, or violence. If you are really into that stuff, you won't like "The Royal Tenenbaums," but if you like black comedies, this film is for you!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Four for the film, five for the DVD!
Review: Criterion does it once again with The Royal Tenenbaums. One of Hackman's best turns as the patriarch of his once forgotten family. When Royal catches word of his wife considering re-marriage, he suddenly shows interest in things he never considered showing interest in before. The way he goes about working his way back into the Tenenbaum household is simply charming, yet at the same time audacious. I love this film! I laugh out loud every time I see it!
Rating:
Summary: In response to Enumclaw, WA
Review: It seems to me that the gentleman from Enumclaw, WA was probably too dense to appreciate a Wes Anderson film. And people who are not bright enough to value the film for its quirkiness and seamless storytelling should not be allowed to write scathing reviews. I write this in hope that people will not be led astray from his review...as it is completely off the mark and ridiculous. The Royal Tenenbaums is fraught with oddity and rich with character. Gene Hackman was robbed of an Oscar for his incredible portrayal of a man who, despite all his faults, genuinely loves his children and his wife. It is original (how many movies can we say that about these days?) and witty. Wes Anderson has demonstrated once again that he can create the most ridiculous characters and plot lines and yet make everything flawless and everyone endearing. Mr. Enumclaw...please refrain from writing reviews from this moment on...you obviously know nothing about movies. I mean, you probably really liked The Matrix 2, right?
Rating: 
Summary: worst movie ever
Review: This movie [stinks]!!!!! now I'm normaly a guy that is a not a very harsh grader but I hated this movie. Now I am saying nothing bad about the actors. They just weren't right for this film, no actor is. I thought that such a great team of big named actors would make a great movie, it seems that they spent so much money on the actors that there was none left for a deceint plot.This movie was almost two hours, it felt more like two years. I Layed on the couch wondering how much longer till this awful was over. If there was a lower grade then one star I would give it negative. I pity the sole of those who watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Love it or leave it.
Review: This movie is so funny and well written. The cast fits together perfectly and the story is so odd and wonderful. All the character are so charming. I have never been a huge fan of Gweneth Paltrow movies, but this one makes me think twice. The Wilson brothers are great, as always, and Gene Hackman, I can't even express how wonderful the ensemble works together. This isn't the movie if you want a funny "ha ha" but definitely worth watching. Keep in mind people either LOVE his movie or hate it. I hope you love it.
Rating:
Summary: Royally funny
Review: Before "The Royal Tenenbaums" was released, nobody knew that Owen Wilson had any entertainment talent. This proves the audience wrong. He wrote the screenplay and acted splendidly. The movie has its own unique flavor, especially the chapter book theme and the broken home story. He took a series of typically unusual events for real life and connected them wonderfully. Oscar winners Gene Hackman, Gweneth Paltrow, and Anjelica Huston, perform at their best since their past winning roles. Luke Wilson's role as a seemingly happy guy who turns depressed was Oscar worthy. Those who are looking for a comedy with some serious themes should try "The Royal Tenenbaums". One will not be disappointed. This shows the right and wrong way to bring a family together, close-knit or broken.
Rating:
Summary: Peaceful, Uneasy Feelings...
Review: Wes Anderson is a bit artsy for my tastes but The Royal Tenenbaums is a good film. But, really with a cast like this how can you go wrong? Gene Hackman stars as Royal Tenenbaum, the father of the "Family of Geniuses" and he does a bang-up job. This is his best performance since 1991's Unforgiven. Royal is a sly, witty fellow who you can't help root for. His wife, played to perfection by Angelica Huston, has recently taken a man-friend(Danny Glover) that is threatening the fabric of the Tenenbaum clan...Oh by the way, they've been separated for 18 years! The Tenenbaum children are all geniuses. Chas(Ben Stiller) is a cut-throat businessman whose wife has just died in a plane crash, he is left with two school aged boys. He is just a tad high strung. Margo(Gwyneth Paltrow) is actually not a Tenenbaum, she's adopted and Royal never lets her forget it. She's a tad introverted and dark. Ritchie(Luke Wilson) is a world class tennis player who has fallen from grace. He's probably the most "normal" of the Tenenbaums but wait, oh yeah, he's in love with his sister!?! How does this all work? I'm not really sure but it does and does with flying colors. Owen Wilson plays Eli Cash, the next door neighbor who always longed to be a Tenenbaum. He has a slight substance abuse problem. Overall, this film is like no other I've ever seen. It left me with a peaceful, uneasy feeling but with tons more respect for everyone involved in this project...especially the Wilson brothers, Ben Stiller and Wes Anderson.
Rating:
Summary: Strange and stylish
Review: This movie was far more than I expected - strangely surreal, yet somehow very true. It certainly has a very interesting flow - something like drawing lines on paper slowly, becoming fascinated with the pattern, able to leave anytime, but feeling very calm and satisfied. The movie is like a leisurely put together work of art, something that is overwhelmingly interesting to simply look at; great actors, great costumes, great plot, great everything. Nothing falls out of style, but the feelings are right there. Few movies lately have been so exquisite, yet so very easy to watch.
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