The Royal Tenenbaums: Extended Review

Kyler De Jong Podmoroff (Film 1007-61)

The Royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Anderson stands as a brilliant cinematic piece that artfully layers madness, family bonds, and the search for self-identification. The movie was released in 2001, tearing down the limitations of a regular script, and instead it was the viewer who was given the opportunity to uncover the characters’ lives, visuals,  and other ideas well hidden.

Moving between a whimsical and melancholic Carrollian landscape of Manhattan, the movie introduces the enigmatic Tenenbaum family and the former child prodigies who now struggle with the weariness of adult life. Heading the family is Royal Tenenbaum, played in a lovely way by Gene Hackman, a father full of selfishness and deceit who has estranged himself from his family. The matriarch, Etheline, is beautifully interpreted by Anjelica Huston, showing the couple’s unconventional way of love and Etheline’s gentle tenacity of staying together and handling the complex lines of family relationships.

The Tenenbaum siblings could be regarded as equally fascinating in their immature behaviors. Margot, the adopted daughter and mysterious playwright, played by Gwyneth Paltrow with a skillfully evocative demeanor, grips with the agony of inadequacy and loneliness. Chas, the critical financial genius who is played with pathos by Ben Stiller, has guilt and heavy responsibility on his heart, because of losing his wife and attempting to shield his sons. Richie, the former tennis prodigy played by Luke Wilson, descends into the world of chicken fighting where he unsuccessfully longs for love and lacks purpose, which is represented in his inner turmoil.

Through Anderson’s unique directorial style, one sees his obsession with creating elaborate details, using vibrant colors and his extraordinary patience in creating perfect and beautiful shots. The artwork shown in The Royal Tenenbaums gives a visual treat to the audience, a feeling that they have been taken to an amusing yet tranquil world which at the same time looks familiar and fantastic. From the detailed mise-en-scène to the skillfully managed crane shots, Anderson’s visual choices impart the film with a peculiar flavour and nostalgia that is distinctly his own.

The movie creates one of the most heart-wrenching scenes during a mesmerizing slow-motion sequence set to the most haunting rendition of Nico’s “These Days”. Lovers embark on a journey filled with mystery and discovery in the lullaby of the song. It is a fleeting exhale of reflection, the realizations of the movie’s themes effusively emerging with the depth of feeling that drives me to reflect on the intricacy of human relationships and the vicissitudes of life.

Existing just on a superficial level, The Royal Tenenbaums paradoxically goes deep into the metaphysical realm of mankind and questions of identity, belonging, and complexities of relationships. Anderson’s screenplay, along with Wilson, has been able to find the middle ground between the funny and heartbreaking, thus giving the audience an experience that provokes both their minds and hearts in equal measure. This type of story is not new, and it will bring to light the problems related to family dysfunctionality. We plan to approach our viewers by making them reflect on their own insecurities and uncertainties with the end result of them finding a common ground in the human condition.

Along with thematic subtlety, the film The Royal Tenenbaums is powered by the performance of the cast who are just exceptionally deployed by the director. Gene Hackman brilliantly embodies Royal Tenenbaum’s essence, combining his innate charisma and underlying emotional depth throughout the character. Gwyneth Paltrow nails the role as Margot, allowing the viewers to see the character’s intricate struggles with extreme delicacy. Ben Stiller convincingly shows all the emotion needed for the part of Chas, and it is the way he does it that you can feel him as a mass of feeling with fighting spirit. Luke Wilson is as competent as John Cusack in his depiction of Richie, artistically playing absolutely inward realness of the latter.

I number The Royal Tenenbaums 4.5 (out of 5) as my top. Some people can’t get their head wrapped around the movie’s original storyline and eccentric characters, and these movies may not be for the majority, but for those who appreciate cinematic art and narrative depth will definitely be hooked. It’s a flick that enjoys the double-duty of entertainment and education, with each showing peeling back yet another layer of significance.

In this regard, The Royal Tenenbaums is a great example of Wes Anderson’s unique point of view as an artist, and his storytelling capability. The movie displays, through its diverse group of characters, sceneries, and subject matter, a path of self-discovery and reflection. Therefore, if you are one who has a high intellect and deep emotional core, the judgment is obvious – give it a try, and you will not regret watching The Royal Tenenbaums. This masterpiece will continue to sparkle even decades after its opening.

– Kyler De Jong Podmoroff

---