> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Taking a ride with the boys - URL: https://www.smdp.com/taking-a-ride-with-the-boys/ - Published: 2007-10-06T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:15:32.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Behind the scenes at the press junket for ‘The Darjeerling Limited’* *By TAYLOR VAN ARSDALE Special to the Daily Press* BEVERLY HILLS For those of you unfamiliar with the term “press junket” just think great catered food, lots of coffee and the soundtrack of whatever movie you’re reviewing playing over and over, and over again in the background. Most people are in and out after a few meetings, but because I’m scheduled to see Wes Anderson early and talent in the late afternoon, I’m trapped at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills the bulk of the day. Not necessarily a bad place to be confined. Everyone, as in all the other reporters, have digital recorders. I’m a holdout with my paper and pen, and I feel like a Luddite, but fellow critics graciously offer to e-mail me copies of the tapes — to them I’m obliged. I’m excited to meet one of the best film directors of my generation, eager to gain insight on his process, perhaps even get some technical questions answered; but Anderson is completely unexpected. Slight and reserved; I find it hard to believe this quiet, diminutive man could ever yell “action” on a set, let alone direct an entire film. That Anderson feels comfortable enough around me to kick off his shoes, and seems genuinely pleased when I tell him I love the film indicates he’s relaxed and the interview’s off to a good start, but his body language suggests otherwise, as he nervously rocks his knees and refuses to expand upon any of his answers. Discussing Anjelica Huston’s portrayal of the nun, I mention how she brought such joy and quirkiness to the role of a woman who essentially abandons her children to follow her own path. I’m told the nun story was inspired by parents of friends of Anderson’s who ran off to live in ashrams and also by a friend’s aunt who became a nun. I ask, if he could go back to India and do it all again, what might he do differently. His shy demeanor abruptly shifts and his tone becomes direct, clipped and assertive. He won’t answer my question — choosing not to reveal any potential flaws. I’m taken aback by what seems to be snippiness, but remind myself this is an artist who is extremely protective of his work and quite possibly insecure about critical response to its release. Only when I ask him about what current music groups he’s listening to does he perk up. He tells me, “Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Phoenix …” Okay, he’s got good taste in music. Perhaps he’s not a morning person? Maybe he’s hungry? I’m trying to believe something other than my inquiries are the cause of his displeasure. To be certain, Anderson is an enigma, but I have to believe that somewhere inside him is a guy with an irreverent wit, and somewhat upbeat personality otherwise why would Jason Schwartzman (who may just be the most affable fellow I’ve ever met) travel and hang out with him for months on end? I’m betting (and hoping) when I see him later at the round tables with Roman Coppola, he’ll be more relaxed. Adrien Brody’s up next. He’s a charming, gracious man, the kind of person you want to be around. He has a soulful quality about him and his easy-going nature immediately sets our intimate group at ease. He asks if we’re cold, which we all are, and whether he can turn down the A/C admitting to us “I’m freezing my ass off,” but I get the feeling he honestly cares about our well being. I notice one of his rings, silver, with a raised skull. It reminds me of the one Keith Richards is known for wearing — but this one, like Brody, is exquisite, delicate, refined and wound together by an intricate filigree. Brody tells me he found it at an antique store in Prague while shooting “The Brothers Bloom.” He didn’t want to treat himself saying, with a barely perceptible Queens/NY-like gruffness, “Ah, I don’t need it,” but to his surprise and delight his girlfriend went back and bought it for him. Brody’s got that “real person” quality about him (maybe it’s that we’re both from New York and I feel a kinship toward him), but there’s an inner serenity as well, as though material things do not encumber him and I’m convinced of it, when he tells me, “I really love the ring, more so, that she bought it for me.” Of his performance, it’s quite possibly one of his best. Brody brings a truthful exuberance to this role allowing every nuance of emotion to clearly surface from the depths of his inquisitive green eyes. In fact, Brody is so convincing in this film that when he says, “I love the way this country smells. It’s kind of spicy.” You’ll swear you can smell the spice, too. I ask him if that line was ad-libbed. It wasn’t. Everything about this movie is so “natural” the question of improvisation comes up. “It feels very improvised,” says Brody. “A lot of that is the writing … but it was very choreographed … because it was so specific; camera movements, timing, you have to be very prepared. So the physicality is somewhat improvised within that realm.” Of the shoot, Brody said, “It didn’t feel like work” adding “Wes creates a wonderful, family-like environment.” After sitting down with Wes for 15 minutes I find this ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/100607-09_01.jpg) FACE TIME: Director Wes Anderson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson (back) talk it out while filming ‘The Darjeerling Limited.’ (Photo: Photo courtesy James Hamilton) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 6, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)