Jack Whitman (Jason Schwartzman) is alone in a comfortable European hotel room. He gets a call from a woman (Natalie Portman) who insists on joining him. She tells him that she doesn't want to lose his friendship but he tells her that he will never be her friend. They make love and afterward, they go out on the balcony.Director Wes Anderson makes this short as a prologue to 'The Darjeeling Limited'. I love Wes Anderson but Darjeeling is not one of my favorites. This short definitely has the Wes Anderson touch. Schwartzman and Portman are fine. They're not doing anything really deep but there are snippets of interesting insights into their relationship. The one thing I love above it all is the song 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)'. It's classic Wes Anderson.
... View MoreI am afraid to see the The Darjeeling Limited. I cannot stand Owen Wilson, and now that I have seen Jason Schwartzman, and know that certain friends think he is something special, I don't know what to do. There are also those who think that you have to "get" Anderson, or you are some ignorant rube.This short film did not make me want to check out Wes Anderson's new film. I found Schwartzman to be particularly obnoxious and need to explore further before I make a commitment. I will watch Rushmore and Shopgirl, and maybe The Royal Tenenbaums this week before I commit. That ought to give me enough Swartnman and Anderson to determine whether I "get it," or am just a rube.I do, however, like the idea of shorts as a prelude instead of trailers. More should explore this.
... View MoreNot a real big Anderson fan, but you can count me in on any piece of film that shows off any part of Natalie Portman's impressive ASSETS! Ever since she first enthralled me in her debut performance in Luc Besson's classic The Professional, I have been entranced by this siren of modern cinema. She is a great actress and one of the most beautiful women on the planet, as far as I am concerned. O.K., so this really isn't a review of this short film but more of an homage to a really spectacular female. Check this short out if you want to see Natalie's soft and tender side, get it? You will be somewhat teased, no actual money shot, but for what Anderson gets out of her to put on the screen must have taken considerable trust from Natalie on her part. The short is alright maybe a 6 or 7, but overall gets a 9 from me for Natalie's gorgeous bottom! Check it out guys (and girls, you know who you are) and enjoy!
... View MoreOne of the things i've always liked about Wes Anderson is how well he can subtly imply certain characteristics or histories in a dry sort of humor. This film accomplishes that in a more pronounced scale than a longer film might have.Jason Schwartzman is great, perhaps the stronger of the two performances, although Natalie Portman is not to be dismissed here.Without giving anything away, the film accomplishes its goal of setting a mood and not forcing itself to tell the entire history - something too many other directors might have tried in a 13 minute time span and thus sacrificed most if not all of the actual feeling behind the couple's reunion.I rate this a ten out of ten - a great short, and even though i'm a big fan of Wes Anderson's, i'm glad he didn't over-stylize it. It's simplistic, humorous, and yet bitter-sweet and thoroughly enjoyable.
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