Film Review: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Some films are like jazz music. They give more joy to people that make them than those that later watch them. Examples can be found even among filmographies of highly respected film makers. One such examples was provided by Wes Anderson with his 2001 black comedy The Royal Tenenbaums.
The title refers to Royal Tenenbaum (played by Gene Hackman), man who long time ago had many things other people would envy him for – successful career of an attorney, wealth, loving wife Etheline (played by Anjelica Huston) and three children which, each in their own way, turned into geniuses and wunderkinds. But happy days for Royal came to an end after he was arrested for embezzlement and left Etheline and the rest of the film. Lack of father had devastating effect on children and instead of success they had to endure twenty years of misfortune and frustration. Young financial genius Chas (played by Ben Stiller) has, after tragic death of his wife, became overprotective parent to his own children, whom he constantly drills for fire and similar emergencies. Richie (played by Luke Wilson) used to be junior US tennis champion before inexplicably chocking in crucial match and ending as drifter on world’s seas. Margot (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), once talented writer, ended in loveless marriage with neurologist Raleigh Raleigh St. Clair (played by Bill Murray). Three siblings are reunited after father returns home claiming that he is terminally ill with cancer and that he wants to redeem himself. Some of them are sceptical and think that Royal is actually jealous of Harry Sherman (played by Danny Glover), family’s long-time accountant who is about to marry Etheline.
Anderson co-wrote the film with Owen Wilson, personal friend and Luke’s brother who briefly appears in the film in small role of cowboy writer. The most notable element of The Royal Tenenbaums is great cast that took great delight in playing unorthodox eccentric characters. That includes Gene Hackman whose portrayal of disgraced family patriarch represents one of the more interesting roles of his career and which was later awarded with Golden Globe for Best Actor in Musical – Comedy. Unfortunately, what looked interesting to Anderson at times isn’t that interesting to general audience. Characters are sometimes simply too eccentric and even when they aren’t, their eccentricities aren’t properly explained. With too much emphasis on style, Anderson didn’t pay much attention to content, including what was supposed to be the film’s main feature – humour. The cast was often, at least in scene that don’t feature Hackman, playing in a way that suggested keeping “the stone face” contest rather than serious acting, thus making viewers hard to sympathise with characters. Couple of bright spots made The Royal Tenenbaums watchable, but not enough to win general audience and Anderson’s reputation of talented but sometimes incomprehensible artist was solidified, making many of his works into acquired taste.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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