The Royal Tenenbaums
Certified O. Anderson Top 20 Film
The Plot:
Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) had three children -- Chas (Ben Stiller), Richie (Luke Wilson) and Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) -- and then they separated. Chas started buying real estate in his early teens and seemed to have an almost preternatural understanding of international finance. Margot was a playwright and received a Braverman Grant of fifty thousand dollars in the ninth grade. Richie was a junior champion tennis player and won the U.S. Nationals three years in a row. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbuams was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS" tells the story of a family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter. (From Yahoo Movies)
My Thoughts: (Reviewed by O. Anderson)
This film is the epitamy of off-beat comedies, but the always handy all-star cast makes it an amazing one. The Royal Tenenbaums revolves around the twisted plans of Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), who was an unsuccessful father and a substandard husband. His three supernatural children, his adopted daughter Margot (Gwenyth Paltrow), sons Richie (Luke Wilson), and Chas (Ben Stiller), became famous before their teenage years, each in their respective fields: Margot, an acclaimed playwright, Richie, a tennis champion, and Chas, a brilliant marketer. The story takes place when the children have grown older and bitter towards their father, who left them living with their mother at a young age. Royal's ingenious scheme consists of a fish-tale about his dying, and pills, that are really Tic-Tacs, perhaps to win back the family with sympathy. This film is easily a favorite of mine. The extremely off-beat themes and circumstances drive this movie to the comic genious that it is. Interesting characters like Royal's man-servant and best friend, Pagoda, and drug addict Eli Cash (Owen Wilson), add off-the-wall situations to the already insane plot. Not only is the movie great, but an AMAZING soundtrack adds a really cool dimension to the film. The songs range from the early punk-rock of the Ramones and the Clash, to an easy listen with Nico. Everything inbetween is the bliss of the likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, etc. The point is, though, the film is amazing, and i encourage you to see it.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth
Paltrow
Directed by: Wes Anderson