Wes Anderson does it again

[A special 'travelling post' coming to you from the Halcyon coffee shop on 4th St. in lovely downtown Austin, Texas!! (Site of Wes Anderson/Owen Wilson's first collaboration, "Bottle Rocket"). I'm here to see the stars of "Once" -- in concert!]

"The Darjeeling Limited" -- I always enjoy a Wes Anderson movie, no matter what anyone else says: from "Rushmore" (filmed in Houston), to "The Royal Tenenbaums" to "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou." And this movie proudly joins that list. Stylistically inventive like his previous films, it is also engaging, funny, clever and cheeky. Shot in vivid colors, it is a sumptuous travelogue of India. It's the kind of film critics love to describe by trotting out useless descriptors like 'precious' and 'twee' -- both of those courtesy of the New York Times -- to denigrate Anderson's unique, quirky style. My retort: "It's his style -- get used to it!"

Also, I have a soft spot for any movie that takes place on a train. (Movie truism #1: train movies work; plane movies do not. Latest example: that Jodie Foster vehicle I refer to as "Panic Room on a Plane" because I can never remember the name of it. Another sexless starring role for Jodie Foster (in addition to the two previously mentioned, look at 'The Brave One' and 'Inside Man') which is a shame from such a fine actress. Why is she afraid to play a character with a sex life??? I do not care what sexual orientation she portrays (or lives) just show us something! Hell, she was asexual in "Anna and the King" and that was a romance!!) [How can you be sexless when you're playing opposite Chow Yun Fat, girlfriend!?!!]

I digress. The performances by the three leads are all on-pitch (Wilson, Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody; even though they share zero sibling resemblance). They are petty and selfish and needy ... just like real brothers! =) The movie does take a too-serious detour that is out-of-step with the mood of the piece (consequently, the emotions it evokes do not feel earned). But it does lead to a necessary flashback sequence that fleshes-out the characters of the three brothers.

I cannot imagine enjoying it as much if I hadn't seen the essential short film that now precedes the feature, "Hotel Chevalier," filmed in the chic Hotel Rafael in Paris. It sets the tone for the feature and informs the Jason Schwartzman character and two key scenes. I wonder why it was not included with the main film in the first place.

Look for great cameos by Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray (redeeming himself for appearing in the execrable "The Lost City" last year), and director Barbet Schroeder (redeeming himself after appearing in an execrable sequence in "Paris, Je t'aime" this year). I suppose I have a favorite adjective, too.