- Rushmore has an 86% rating on RT, Royal Tenenbaums and Bottle Rocket a 79%, and only Life Aquatic (your own clear holder of the #4 spot, a “rotten” 52%. So you’re talking about a 6 – 13% difference in critics fawning over Mr. Anderson. Let’s not make it a bigger deal than it is. Sure, there are likely a handful of critics who aren’t as crazy about those elements of Anderson’s work that send you into some sort of nirvana, who were able to overlook – or actually appreciate – them in this animated film.
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- Directors have been making innovative, offbeat, and wonderful “family films” for a long, long time. Look at the first Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. How brilliant was Mel Stewart to cast Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson in that delightful, creepy and fabulous film. Rob Reiner has made perhaps the best family film of all time with The Princess Bride, way back in the 80′s. Danny Devito made an odd charmer with his Matilda (just realized how many offbeat, brilliant films owe more than a small debt to their author, Mr. Roald Dahl)
I, too, am glad that directors continue to make all kinds of films, and that family films continue to get directed by all types of directors. Still, I don’t think this is a new phenomenon.
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-How could you not mention Kristofferson?! I was fascinated when you told me that the actor voicing Ash’s cousin was Anderson’s own brother. Lots of room for psychological analysis there. Give the kid some love, would you?
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-Finally, how have you managed to deprive those girls of Rudolph for so many years? I have had them all (what about Santa Claus is Coming to Town?!! That has a stop animated Fred Astaire, for crying out loud) for years. I bought them again this year on DVD. So let’s plan a Christmas movie marathon. We just wanted SC the other night, but I’m sure the kids would be happy to watch it again