For my money, Wes Anderson just doesn't get any better than this. The Royal Tenenbaums is where he strikes that perfect blend of heartstring and humor, spontaneous weirdness and obsessive attention to detail. The family itself has enough history to carry an entire franchise, but the film doesn't bother to wallow in it for long; there's just too much going on in the foreground to spend more than a few savory moments on back story. Loaded with talent, it pulls everything from its cast. Whether it's Gene Hackman as the conniving, two-faced patriarch with a sudden need for intimacy, Anjelica Huston as his long-sacrificing ex-wife, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow as their never-had-a-childhood offspring, or the vast array of eccentric, colorful supporting characters, it's tough not to appreciate each as a leading-caliber performance. The Royals' tale is vivid and real, emotive and wounded but also spirited and playful. It resonates in a modern setting, especially, when so many of our friends' and family members' tightest circles are similarly dysfunctional. Layered and complex without feeling superficial or overstretched, it's a whole bundle of emotions, flavors, sights and senses smashed into a single, rich, evergreen portrait. I feel this one in my heart's private pantry and my stomach's deepest pit. Wonderful.

Fucking shit like anything from Wes Anderson.

> "Why'd you do it? 'Cause of me?" "Yeah, but it's not your fault." "You're not gonna do it again, are you?" "I doubt it." > "Can't somebody be a shit their whole life and try to repair the damage? I mean, I think people wanna hear that." In contrast to later Wes offerings that seem to be set in a surreal alternate reality of pastel tones and whimsy, "Tenenbaums", though stylized, still seems to take place in our world—which somehow makes its strange relationships and off-kilter dialogue feel even more bizarre. This piece of trivia is too good not to include: "As shooting continued, the bird used for Mordecai was caught by a citizen of New Jersey, who demanded a price for its return. It was replaced instead by one more white in color." (Wikipedia) > "Please, give me second grace..."

Like the transitions between scenes, the flash-backs , very light movie. 10/10 ⭐️