Wes Anderson films are required viewing for the hipster crowd, and regardless of whether or not the movie's any good, it'll make money from the cult following. But coming out of DL, I feel like I'm a victim of marketing. A film needs more than some critically-acclaimed actors, a cameo Bill Murray appearance, a retro soundtrack, and some bright colors to impress me.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a fan. But I'm seeing a disturbing trend. What made the original "indie" films so successful was a good juxtaposition of all of these elements, along with an ensemble cast of characters who were quirky and likable yet flawed. The characters in DL are flawed but not particularly likable, beyond possessing the faces of actors who we already know and love. None of their quirks are very enduring, none of their actions are very interesting, and their relationships are mystifying. While we do eventually get some insight into why they are the way they are, some of the details of their important relationships are never explored. Are we expected to take everything at face value? I think comedy is at its best when the characters are relatable, and I just can't relate.
I found most of the soundtrack - particularly the first "short" at the beginning of the movie - terribly annoying, as if the bottom of the barrel is being scraped for retro tunes, which I know can't be true. The movie mostly lacks any semblance of symbolism, except for one moving scene, which is fairly isolated from the rest of the story. Bill Murray is on screen for a good 2 minutes in a completely insignificant role, seemingly added for fanservice purposes only.
This movie's been done before, and better. Others may be captivated by style alone, but to establish longevity of the genre, substance will need to evolve as well.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a fan. But I'm seeing a disturbing trend. What made the original "indie" films so successful was a good juxtaposition of all of these elements, along with an ensemble cast of characters who were quirky and likable yet flawed. The characters in DL are flawed but not particularly likable, beyond possessing the faces of actors who we already know and love. None of their quirks are very enduring, none of their actions are very interesting, and their relationships are mystifying. While we do eventually get some insight into why they are the way they are, some of the details of their important relationships are never explored. Are we expected to take everything at face value? I think comedy is at its best when the characters are relatable, and I just can't relate.
I found most of the soundtrack - particularly the first "short" at the beginning of the movie - terribly annoying, as if the bottom of the barrel is being scraped for retro tunes, which I know can't be true. The movie mostly lacks any semblance of symbolism, except for one moving scene, which is fairly isolated from the rest of the story. Bill Murray is on screen for a good 2 minutes in a completely insignificant role, seemingly added for fanservice purposes only.
This movie's been done before, and better. Others may be captivated by style alone, but to establish longevity of the genre, substance will need to evolve as well.