The Darjeeling Limited: Wes Anderson
There’s a lot not to like about this movie: it’s essentially the same story as Anderson’s previous two outings, The Royal Tenenbaums (2002) and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2005), much of the dialog, filmmaking technique, and visual effects are recycled material as well, and overall it feels like (at best) a lateral move for the director.
That said, I’ve been strangely compelled to watch The Darjeeling Limited three times in the past week. Even if it is a retread, and potentially Wes Anderson’s least compelling film, it’s still a solid movie that I think would have been received more favorably if it were considered outside of Anderson’s other great work.
The director’s attention to detail is as amazing as always, his ability to convey a sense of place (this time in India) is powerful, and he seems to have mastered the slow-burn approach to developing the story in the absence of anything more than a few minimalist plot devices.
So yes, ultimately The Darjeeling Limited is just another typical Wes Anderson movie, but, as I’ve said before, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I’d recommend that you rent it and see for yourself…