The genius of Wes Anderson has come full circle with The Royal Tenenbaums. A complex comedy that orbits issues of familial dysfunction, TRT's ferocious wit speaks to all of us on some level. The cast is uniformly wonderful, especially Gene Hackman as Royal. This is the tale of a clan of geniuses in decline, with their estranged parents and associated pretenders to the family. Each character is drawn in such an individualistic manner, this harkens to our sense of identity while providing a visual style that is again, an Andersonian achievement. Alec Baldwin's stoic narration coupled with stark super titles that flash staccato style add to the off-kilter ambiance of the pseudo New York dramascape. More outré than Bottle Rocket, more sagacious than Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums is a monumental accomplishment in visual storytelling, a milestone in Anderson's career, and one of the best American films of 2001.
Review of The Royal Tenenbaums
