fratboy187

i watched the royal tennebaums for the second time with my girlfriend this weekend, well actually, i slept through it...i just didn't care for it.

his best work, i'd have to say is bottle rocket, with rushmore coming in a distant second, and the tennenbaums, well, i thought it kinda sucked...something about it just didn't sit right with me. it might be the pacing, or the fact that i don't laugh near as often as i did while watching bottle rocket.

badger1997

Interesting viewpoint. But I would think that if anything he is underrated. I mean, he gets plenty of respect from us film geeks (and I use that term lovingly ) but not enough from the general movie-going public. I personally though the opposite and think his movies have only gotten better as he has gone along, but each to their own as they say.

fratboy187

criterion, known for their taste in films and what have you, finally release a very mainstream film...you can but it at wal-mart for less than $20..and it's a double disc...hastings has about a million copies to rent, and they're all rented....i just don't think the film is really worth all the praise.

Geofferson

I agree. Wes Anderson is one of the most talented "new" directors out there...IMO.

fratboy187

but that's my whole point....i think he's talentless

Groucho

Just because a director's films don't match your tastes doesn't mean he's "talentless."

fratboy187

but i liked his other films...why would i hate this one???????

Supermallet

I love Wes Anderson. I actually didn't care much for Bottle Rocket, but Rushmore and Tenenbaums were among the best films of the years they came out. From a technical standpoint he's beyond reproach, his visual style and precision is stunning. In terms of how you enjoy it, well, not everyone will like his stuff, but I think it walks a wonderful line between dark and light, funny and serious. I can't wait for his next film.

MrN

You think he's talentless, but you liked Bottlerocket? Why do you suppose that is?

There are some people (not necessarily you) whose liking for filmmakers (or whoever) is inversely proportional to their popularity.

I personally thought 'Tennenbaums' wasn't as good as Rushmore but they were definately in the same vein.

The Antipodean

Fratboy, if you think Tenenbaums is a mainstream film you've got to be kidding. Just because you saw it at Wal Mart or wherever doesn't make it mainstream. I saw "Seven Samurai" at a Sam Goody, it must be a sell-out! I imagine about 8 of 10 people at Blockbuster or Hastings or wherever that rented RT returned it hating it, because that's just the kind of movie it is to mainstream audiences. You didn't laugh enough? It's not a COMEDY. It's a drama with funny moments, I like to think. IMHO, anyway...

Also: Criterion has released "The Rock" and "Armageddon" before, to name a few, what the heck makes you think "Tenenbaums" is a "very mainstream film"?

Kudama

I'm one of the people that loves everything this guy's done so far. Along with Guillermo de Toro and David Fincher (I still have faith and I didn't think Panic Room was that bad) Wes Anderson is one of my all time favorite directors (and writers). Not only is his stuff amazing, but it's also completely done with a unique style. Not derivative of anybody that I've ever seen before.

movielib

The only one I liked was Rushmore. And I didn't love it.

Jackskeleton

Fratboy, RT is not mainstream. it's one of those pictures were you like it or you don't. looks like you didn't oh well.

joeydaninja

no he's not

Matt925

Even though Tenenbaums is definately not mainstream, I think fratboy187 calling Anderson overrated is valid considering that he wasn't impressed with the movie and he's heard enormous praise for it here.

But I also consider him to be one of the best, most interesting young filmmakers out there. I love everything he's done and I am eagerly anticipating his next movie. Owen Wilson and his dialogue is incredibly sharp, and his movies are beautiful, original, intelligent, hilarious and touching. He has his own unique style which I think we need more of in todays American films.

He may not be everyones cup of tea, but you have to give credit for originality and innovation.

Josh Z

Maybe you just didn't get it.

Food for thought.

greeny

I'm another one that loves everything Wes Anderson has done so far (even the original Bottle Rocket short film was great, IMO). I think the reason I enjoy all of his films so much is due to the quirky characters who actually come off as being believable. The amount of care he seems to pour into his films makes me believe he is one of the best directors around today.

wendersfan

I've only seen Rushmore and Royal Tennenbaums, so...

I don't think he's over-rated, but also, I didn't like Tennenbaums at all. I thought it was boring, trite, silly, you name it. But, it was very clear to me that Anderson has a unique vision and is very talented. His use of music, while not groundbreaking or original, is certainly quite effective and masterful. Plus, his attention to detail and the fact that even "minor" characters seem genuine demonstrate the guy knows what he's doing. I just didn't care for it one bit. I'm sure it's a personal thing.

Rushmore, on the other hand, I loved. It can't be an age thing, since I'm 39 and I'd probably identify with almost any of the characters from Tennenbaums more than the kid from Rushmore.

BlondScrnwriter

I was discussing RM and RT with a friend the other day and I truly believe that Wes Anderson is comparable to early Woody Allen. I hate to say "He's the next Woody Allen". That's not what I'm saying. When Woody made his films in the seventies, he had a way of relating the characters to the audience that made them feel closer to the characters. I guess what I am trying to say is in relation to how Wes Anderson develops his characters, Woody and Wes are a lot alike. And I really find that saying something as they are both very talented storytellers (although, I didn't particularly care for Hollywood Ending).

I *loved* The Royal Tennenbaums, but as I was walking into the theatre to see it, a lady that was walking out yelled, I kid you not, yelled, "Don't go see that! It's stoopid!" (post note: yes, I know that "stupid" is spelled "stoopid" in this post! It was supposed to be for effect! Ah, well.). I loved Gene Hackman's character so much in the film that it was truly hard for me to choke back tears during some of the scenes. He wasn't a loveable character, really. But, he was real. And near the end of the film, I had an understanding of why he was the way he was.

I also thought the film was hilarious and I have great respect for anyone who can use the enormously underrated Bill Murray so well. But, that's just me!

caiman

So she spelled it wrong when she yelled it?

BlondScrnwriter

Ha ha ha. Smartass. It's simply how it sounded to me coming out of her mouth.

ScandalUMD

Criterion is known for their taste in films, because that conceit allows people an excuse for collecting them, and for paying a premium for them. I don't care what the MSRP is, $26 is not a bargain.

Armaggeddon is ridiculed as not fitting into "the collection" because the conventional wisdom is that it's not a very good film. For bad films which are too obscure to have any conventional wisdom, well Criterion fans will eat that crap and lick the plate.

The reason why Criterion releases Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam and the Maysles and Michael Bay is not because of any particular taste in film. It's because these directors make themselves extremely available to Criterion. Anderson and Bay collected Criterion on Laserdisc, and approached Criterion to work on the DVDs, and apparently smoothed the road to getting licenses from Disney. That's why they're in "the collection." Not because their movies met some sort of lofty Criterion standard.

As for the multiple copies for rent, this particular Criterion release was actually distributed by Buena Vista/Disney, who have a heck of a chain. That's why the MSRP was well below Criterion's normal pricing scheme. The fact that they were all rented out is a function of the film getting a lot of premium shelf space, due to Disney's video distribution network, and the fact that people didn't see it in the theater.

If you're looking for an overrated Anderson, his name is Paul Thomas Anderson, and he thinks we're happy to put up with his crap for three hours, so we can see a payoff that doesn't make any sense or tie anything together.

Sunday Morning

anyone else think that it's hilarious that someone who calls themself "frat boy" doesn't like wes anderson!

I'm sure wes would laugh over it as well A friend of mine works for him, I think I just might pass it on

CapRockBrewingCo.

I don't think he's overrated. He doesn't receive enough attention from the mainstream press to be overrated. Some like his style of directing and humor, some don't. I think he's awesome.

funkymonk

if he was over rated he would have won a bunch of academys and still i dont think that would be over rating this beautiful film. oh by the way i love tennebaums but haven't seen the other two are they worth blind purchases