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Film Criticism
02/25/2003
A Study of Works of the Auteur Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson, a young and relatively new director, has to date directed only three major motion pictures and a short film. The short film Bottle Rocket, made in 1994 went on to be made into a full-length film in 1996. His second film, Rushmore (1998) was widely hailed as a masterpiece at its Cannes Film Festival debut. His third and final movie to date was the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums. The three movies have remarkable similarities, demonstrating the auteur theory in work. The films show Andersons strong personal style through his choice of actors and writers, writing style, score, and cinematography.
All of Anderson's movies involve the collaboration of the Wilson brothers on some level. Actors and brothers, Luke and Owen both studied at the University of Texas, where Wilson attended film school.
Wes Anderson in Berlin 2005.
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums (soundtrack)Owen Wilson stars in and co-wrote both Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums. He also co-wrote Rushmore but was not featured in the film. Luke Wilson stars in both Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums, and has a minor role in Rushmore. Bill Murray also stars in both of Andersons latter movies (without monetary compensation no less). There are also several actors that have smaller roles in all three of his films. Kumar Pallana, the lovable Indian butler in The Royal Tenenbaums also plays the janitor in Rushmore and a safe-cracker in Bottle Rocket. His brother Dipak Pallana has roles in all three movies.
Both the writing and acting style of the Wilson brothers delivers a distinct mood of comedic undertones to Andersons works. The dialogue is well thought out and delivered with a kind of campy cynicism that differs from the delivery of a generic comedy movie joke.