Film Analysis: The Royal Tenenbaums

English 3.9 Introduction Start Up Work

In my first choice of movie -“The Royal Tenenbaums” directed by Wes Anderson, there is an array of different visual and verbal techniques displayed throughout the entire movie. Wes Anderson has a very distinct filming style with the cinematography and colour balancing/scheming during a scene and his love of tracking shots with a hint of slow motion. He also often loves to use the same actors throughout many of his films too, but my favourite feature of his movies are the beautifully thought out symmetry in almost every scene - whether it’s the characters, the set or even the background it’s all perfectly arranged. The film uses third person omniscient narrator, symbolism, and numerous important characters to help illustrate its themes; specifically family dysfunction, the individuals desire to make amends, and the importance of maintaining togetherness but in the scene I am talking about the main theme will be self-harm and its effect on yourself and the others around you. The second movie I am choosing to work on is “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, which is also directed by Wes Anderson, and which also shows clear visual features with small, distinct verbal techniques.

The “Needle in the hay” scene, from “The Royal Tenenbaums”, is so named because the song being played in the background of the scene is “Needle in the hay” by Elliott Smith. This is a great choice of music (verbal technique) to portray the meaning and feeling of the scene.