This is the start of a new series. I could have called it “I Just Don’t Get It,” but that opens me to a lot of heckling.
I feel more like the child who announced that the emporer has no clothes. There are acceptable limits in the world of serious film (or “Fillum” as the snobs say) and you can get away with a lot of sins if you stay within those guidelines.
Then there are the guilty pleasures — the low humor and vulgar sex and politically incorrect topics that we can enjoy as long as we don’t publicly announce we”re admirers.
But although I can sit through the former and have a shameful stash of the latter, there is a classification of movies where some people liked and some didn’t like, but generally are accepted as OK. The “didn’t likes” are basically told they didn’t understand — something was too sophisticated and intelligent.
So I just shout “B.S.” and come right out and say — I didn’t like it and there’s nothing to like.
OK — there are many, and I’ve seen more than my share. My first one is not the most egregious of the bunch, it’s just that I saw another article praising it in a “fillum” blog.
The Royal Tennenbaums (2001) received an 80% approval from critics and 87% from fans. So I must be wrong, huh?
Well, I’ve long ago discounted the opinions of the people who are interested in shiny objects and quick movements, or those who are motivated by big-name actors, pretty faces and sexy figures (Gene Hackman, Luke and Owen Wilson and Parker Posey, respectively) and the rest who go along with the crowd — if it says the film it good, then it’s good!
No, I like to watch a movie and then decide whether to ask for my money back (I never do, but it’s the sentiment that counts) or whether I’ll watch it over and over again on home video (Die Hard!!!!)
Tell the truth, I’ve never really gotten into Wes Anderson’s films anyway (what’s up with “The Life Aquatic?”) but I would go see his next one just on the off chance he comes up with a winner. Likewise I don’t boycott the Wilson brothers, although my admiration for them as actors is not quite at the Pacino/DeNiro level.
I just want to be entertained. I want to sit up and say, “My, that was well-written!” and nod knowingly at some good direction that most audience members wouldn’t even notice.
Not with “Tenenbaums.” I would even give it a pass if it were more weird than it is. I can do weird. But this isn’t weird enough. Come on, a brother with a sister-crush? We can do better than that, can’t we?
I never really got into the Gene Hackman character. I never thought this was actually a comedy. (When was the last time Bill Murray was in a comedy? Yet casting him gives a movie company the right to call it a comedy). Dysfunctional family flicks are a dime a dozen. As are dysfunctional families.
If you loved this movie (or even liked it) — good for you. But I just don’t see what all the fuss was about.
WADE
