That’s the consensus on Wes Anderson films, which is odd because such an off-the-wall director is usually not associated with the word consensus. The sense of humor displayed through his track record is dry enough to slip through the hands, challenging even his strongest supporters to find the laughter.
“The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Rushmore” introduced the public to his mainstream appeal, while “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” left scratched heads. “The Darjeeling Limited” is Anderson’s first “road” trip. By “road trip” I mean “three brothers going from a train to the middle of a desert with a laminating machine.”
Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman play the Whitman brothers, who are together on this trip because of blood ties but wonder if friendship would be out of the picture.
Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Anjelica Huston also make appearances. Both stars, as well as Schwartzman, are reportedly in talks to work with Anderson in his next film, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which is based on the Roald Dahl novel.
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”
On DVD Feb. 5
Finally! A movie about Jesse James!
That was a joke, though members of the latest generation might not have received a quality recent version of the tale. Much like Shakespeare interpretation (Guns as “swords”? You’re crazy Mr. Luhrmann!), cinematic tales of the American outlaw have varying levels of quality.
Kris Kristofferson, Rob Lowe and Robert Duvall are some of the dozens of actors who have played James, considered a hero of the neo-Confederate movement and an American Robin Hood after doing things you should have read about in history class. Colin Farrell also had a hand in “American Outlaws,” but that 2001 movie, oh what’s the word, sucked. Unless you like Jesse James riding horses to Moby.
If nothing else, Andrew Dominik’s interpretation can claim the coolest name, though credit goes to Ron Hansen’s 1983 novel of the same name. Brad Pitt plays James, who is planning a robbery before realizing that a traitor might be in his midst. Breakthrough star Casey Affleck plays said coward, earning him a Best Supporting Actor nod at this year’s Oscars.
“Gone Baby Gone”
On DVD Feb. 12
The kid doesn’t stay on the picture, but the picture stays on the kid.
In Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, police and the family of missing four-year-old Amanda McCready take obsessive steps to find the girl. Two men hired by the family as private detectives take on corners of Boston most citizens would step away from, while police keep going through a seemingly impossible search.
Affleck’s brother Casey plays the lead and apparently has reach with his roles. Gaining buzz with Gus Van Sant’s “Gerry,” he followed with commercial success in the two “Ocean’s Eleven” sequels before dipping into the indie field again with “Assassination of Jesse James…” and this. Casey plays a private eye, hired by the girl’s aunt (Amy Madigan) to crack the case when police, led by Capt. Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman), aren’t doing the trick.
