If you're looking for an alternative to the halloween melee of films this weekend, the you won't go wrong with the brothers journey film The Darjeeling Limited and the sweet and sincere Lars And The Real Girl.
Both films offer a brisk and enjoyable escape from the gore and ghouls of this Hallows Eve weekend. With Darjeeling filmmaker Wes Anderson along with new collaborators Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola (son of Francis ford.) It's the tale of three disillusioned brothers who attempt to reconnect while journying through India. And thats about all the plot needs before Anderson takes on his visually lush experience. Anderson has always had an eye for the frame and familial discourse and the darjeeling limited is his most mature by far.
Lars and the real girl is wonderful and sincere film about a small town recluse played by Ryan Gosling who surpilrises his family and community when he introduces his new girlfriend which happens to be a life sized human sex doll. But before you cringe at the awekward scenario the film actually plays its characters and their reactions rather straight. The community doesn't rebuke Lars, rather they band together to support him in his social awakening. Unbeknownst to his family and only his family doctor, Lars is using the doll- who he affectionately names Bianca- as a security blanket, slowly eeking out of his shell andeventually becoming more socially grounded. The film is wonderfully refreshing film and will make viewer pleasantly surprised.
That's all for now, till then
Enjoy,
Chaz