The Darjeeling Limited

"After their father's death, three brothers travel to India to go through a spiritual journey in attempt to bond with each other."

Title: THE DARJEELING LIMITED

Year: 2007 Directed By: Wes Anderson Written By: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes Genre: Drama, Comedy, Indie Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman Language: (mainly) English, Hindi, German, Tibetian Score: 9.5/10

So "The Darjeeling Limited" or personally for me: "The Underrated Movie of Wes Anderson" is basically a family drama that is a lot more complex than that. It contains a lot richer story and more subplots than the short synopsis explains. This is also one of my favorite movies that I don't mind watching more than once. Also, it's Wes Anderson. No question about his masterpiece, right?

WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT?

1. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SIMPLE STORY

Sure, it's a tale about three brothers trying to bond again, but Wes Anderson provided so many angles, subplots, and complexity to tell the amazing story. Yes, it's a family drama, but it's not boring or too serious, because Wes Anderson always puts a little comedy in his movies. And all in the right amount and the right places. You can laugh together with them and at what happened to them, but you will still feel pity or tensed whenever the scenes wanted you to. It's just not your typical serious, long, boring family drama movie. It's a funny yet still serious and heart-wrenching. You'll get every kind of feelings from this movie. Also, the arrangement of every scene and the evolution of the characters and story are perfectly made. 

2. THE CHARACTERS

Definitely not one-dimensional at all. Always interesting, each got their own unique characteristics that made you dislike them, like them, laugh at them, and feel sorry for them. They also sometimes do ridiculous things that doesn't necessaryly make you laugh, but just smile. They reveal their characteristics little by little, through their stories and actions, and it builds up the ending perfectly. After watching everything that they've been through, you'll recall and connect everything you've witnessed about them and understand them completely. Point is, they're super realistic to watch. 

Also, Bill Murray, apparently Anderson's favorite actor to work with, made a cameo here. It's really simple and short but it represents some other message Anderson wanted to deliver. And that short duration of Murray is enough. 

3. THE STORYLINE

Anderson usually use the mixed storyline: backward and forward. But he doesn't always mix them too much, like Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. He just adds a little flashback in the perfect moment to create a great twist. And he did it in this movie. You'll get the last piece of the puzzle after three-quarter into the movie, and that is amazingly satisfying. 

4. HIDDEN MESSAGES

No, I'm not talking about easter eggs here, I'm talking about actual moral messages of the movie. I don't know why, I don't find as many moral messages in any other Anderson's movies that I've watched. After I reached the ending, everything seems to make sense and everything they had done in this movie, all have its own meaning. Something about relationships, all the good and bad things about it. Generally, it's everything that everyone go through in life once in a while, so you'll understand and relate to them. The messages are beautiful, and it gets more beautiful every time. 

5. WES ANDERSON'S TRADEMARK: CAMERA MOVEMENTS AND SHOTS

After a while, you'll realize he has his own way to make a shot or camera movements. He does panning, zooms, cool and satisfying slow-mo, and profile shots a lot. It makes it look like a super good indie movie. Different but in a good way instead of weird. Also, will always be remembered as his unique trademark. His color picks are also really great. In short, they please you eyes. 

6. WES ANDERSON'S TRADEMARK: THE MUSIC

Classic rock music are never absent from his movies and they suit the scenes and the vibe very well. A little classic music is included and I love it!

7. THE DIALOGUES

Totally unique, deep, unlike any other mainstream movies, one of a kind, sometimes stabbed your heart directly (or the character's heart but you feel them too), and some other times comedic with a classy vibe instead of lazy gag vibe (like fart jokes). 

WHAT'S NOT GOOD ABOUT IT?

To be super honest, I can't find any disturbing flaw that made me not enjoy the movie

WHAT'S SO-SO ABOUT IT?

1. THERE ARE SOME SCENES THAT COULD BE CUT OR SHOWN DIFFERENTLY 

There are some scenes that I feel are better if they're shown differently to get different vibes. These scenes make audience feel the story will never end and it might create boredom. But to be honest, it's a great move because they shouldn't end it just like that, the story have to continue. But I think if they replace some scenes and continue the story in a different way, it'll prevent a repetitive vibe.

2. MIGHT BE GENERALLY BORING

To be honest, if you're not in the mood or not paying enough attention, or just doesn't like indie movie, you might find it boring. It doesn't have energetic music like Transformers of Fast and Furious,  

PLOT HOLES

Can't find any that distracted me from the movie, either

This movie for me is quite underrated, frankly because I've never heard of it before this year. Thankfully I decided to watch it because of the talented actors and amazing director. I wasn't disappointed at all. Apart from it being indie, therefore probably not understood by wider audience, it's actually a really great movie about family. You can enjoy watching it together with your family without worrying about awkward sexy scenes or dropping tears from your eyes (well, maybe a little, depending on how sensitive you are, but I didn't cry). It's soothing for the heart and definitely enjoyable as well as beautiful.