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# Wes Anderson's 'The Darjeeling Limited' Reviewed: Stylized Brothers' Journey Across India
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/photo-courtesy-james-hamilton-checking-in-adrien-brody-owen-wilson-and-jason-schwartzman-in-the-darjeerling-limited-getting-it-right-on-the-limited/
- Published: 2007-10-05T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:13:58.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

IF BECK IS THE MUSICAL GENIUS OF our generation, then director Wes Anderson may well be his cinematic counterpart — combining stylized visual poetry, a natural gift for storytelling, unconventional film design and his characteristic slow motion shots (juxtaposed with songs by the Kinks, The Rolling Stones and Satyajit Ray) to create a tour de force with “The Darjeerling Limited.”

A 12-minute short (available via Internet only; starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman) pre-empts the film. Fox Searchlight’s marketing strategy is to “try to get every person who goes to the film to see the short first,” which eliminates people — like my father — who still don’t own a computer. Sorry Dad, you’re gonna miss a nearly nude Natalie. Although at 76, I have the distinct feeling he’s not their intended demographic; and I don’t necessarily want him having a heart attack either.

“Limited” tells the story of three estranged American brothers traveling on a train (of the same name) across India in an effort to bond, reconnect and become friends again.

Owen Wilson portrays Francis the eldest, who simultaneously acts as parental figure — presumptuously ordering everyone’s meals, and tour guide — educating his siblings on trip protocol, planning every step of their “adventure” with a carefully controlled itinerary which he naively believes will foster a sense of supernal camaraderie. That anyone could aspire to gain spirituality within the constraints of such a regimented program is of course ironic; but sincere whimsy and fragile desperation is Wilson’s forte; and he plays Francis with earnest charm, hiding his true goal — to reunite his brothers with their peripatetic mother, (Angelica Huston) who left long ago to join a remote Indian nunnery.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/100507-22_02.jpg)

CHECKING IN: Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman in 'The Darjeerling Limited.' Getting it right on the ‘Limited’ (Photo: Photo courtesy James Hamilton)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 5, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100507.pdf?ref=smdp.com)