42
by AAAAAAAARGH_Archive
I've seen The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. I really disliked both and, from what I've heard, seeing Rushmore would not change my opinion of the director.
First and foremost, his characters are one dimensional, totally disengaging, and too quirky and ridiculous to relate to. A few writers are able to make great use of out-of-this-world goofballs (John Waters is a great example), but Wes Anderson's movies are serious and "introspective" and ultimately ask the audience to sympathize with caricatures.
I don't like the way he puts twenty cuts between every shot of conversation and is obsessed with centering things/people. I'm always visually distracted and the problems I have with his direction are certainly a factor in my difficulty enjoying the plot. Although his use of lighting reminds me a little of the cool picture-esque style used in Twin Peaks, which isn't saying anything good or bad.
I generally find his use of music arbitrary and resultantly annoying to listen to. A lot of people have applauded him for his music choices. I don't get this, and I think a big piece of the praise comes from lower tier indie listeners being surprised to hear their favorites on the big screen. See also Garden State. Sorry if that's an asshole statement, but as a sound design/music snob, this is as important a factor as any.
Most importantly, I haven't taken anything from the two movies of his I've seen, one of which is often lauded as his masterpiece. I can't remember half the plot from either despite remembering them as being predictable at the time. Even as I was watching them, I rarely found them funny, especially intelligent, or slightly compelling.
I can understand why people like his movies: they're weird, I guess, compared to a lot of stuff being released on the same scale at the same time. His dialogue and plots are off-kilter and, like I pointed out earlier, he incorporates a lot of token indie music during scenes that's sure to impress. He has a undeniably recognizable style, elements of which are being far more talentlessly ripped off all over the place in pulp like I Heart Huckabees, Thumbsucker, and Little Miss Sunshine (the latter two of which are on the top of my hated movies list, right below Thirteen). I can't say I passionately hate his movies, or that he's an unoriginal hack, but his movies haven't failed to not surprise me, not impress me, and not make me want to come back for more.
We are The Fall in the Neighbourhood of Infinity