Re: The Darjeeling Limited (minor spoilers)
MaxFisher said:
The "Darjeeling" characters are certainly quirky and funny, but they came off as more real to me. The family dynamic was emotionally way more raw than "Tenenbaums" and I think the interaction between the brothers was exactly how a lot of siblings relate to each other. Their struggles struck a more palpable chord with me, whereas sometimes the emotional punch in his previous films take a backseat to the onscreen antics and witty/eccentric dialogue.
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I liked how the showing I saw screened "Hotel Chevalier" beforehand because it really fleshed out Schwartzman's character.
Couldn't agree with you more. I just saw it last night. "Hotel Chevalier" was great and Natalie Portman is just beautiful, beautiful! She reminded me so much of Audrey Hepburn.
I think the "whimsy" in Darjeeling Ltd. took a backseat to the three brothers and their problems. Definitely more realistic characters with more realistic problems, as a result, a bit of a downer at times IMO.
Beautiful, gorgeous setting. Everything (set design, music, art direction, location shots, extras, etc.) worked almost pitch perfect in this film. My only complaint, and it's not really a complaint as it is more of an observation, at several, several points during the last 20 minutes or so, I thought the film was ending . . . . and then another scene would come and the film just kept going. It kind of made me feel like I was in a manual car with someone who didn't know how to drive stick. Just when I was preparing for the end, it would start up again and keep going.
Kind of weird, but not fatal. When the real ending did come, I felt it was a good, fine ending and left on an optimistic, upbeat note.
My one actual complaint:
More Murray!!! I wanted more Bill Murray!!!!