By far my favorite film of all time has got to be Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001. This year, marks the 10th year anniversary of the film, and to celebrate, the New York Film Society at Lincoln Center did a special screening yesterday as part of the 49th New York Film Festival.

It was so intense to be able to see the film at the Alice Tully Hall in the Starr Theater @ Lincoln Center, where the film made its debut 10 years ago. I noticed things I hadn’t noticed before. For instance, during the intervention, when Richie (Luke Wilson) and Royal (Gene Hackman) visit Eli (Owen Wilson) to try to get him off drugs: Behind Eli, in the next room, there is a full hydroponic garden, stashed with bud and it even has HPS lamps. I can’t believe I never noticed that.

After the film, there was a panel/discussion with Wes Anderson, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelica Houston. Curated by Antonio Monda, who plays the Film Festival Director in Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004. I thought that was quite splendid.

Among the things I learned from the discussion are: Gene Hackman is a difficult person. “A lot of people like to throw the word cocksucker around…(long pause, mad laughter ensues)…” said Bill Murray, completely tongue in cheek.  Also, Jason Schwartzman (a long-time collaborator of Wes) was originally supposed to be in the film as a character named Mordecai who lives in an embassy across the street from the  Tenenbaum house. Mordecai was used as the name for Richie’s hawk. The original movie that was screened at NYFF 10 years ago contained a lot of Beatles music. Gwyneth Paltrow took Paul McCartney bowling to see if he could let them use the music, to which Paul replied by stating he didn’t own the rights to the Beatles music. Angelica Houston’s glasses in the film are actually Wes Anderson’s mother’s, who was an archeologist herself, “for a period of time.”

Bill Murray thinks everyone is weak

After the panel, there was a short Q&A. I wish I could have asked Bill Murray, “What would be the scientific purpose of killing the tiger shark?” But I didn’t.
After the show, we had invites to an after party at Stone Rose Lounge in the Upper West side with complimentary Stella Artois and 42 Below vodka. Wes Anderson and Bill Murray…sorry, BILL FUCKING MURRAY were there too. Our heads exploded, when we were hanging out 2 feet from Wes. I then became best friends with Wes and Bill.

Ok, the last part about becoming best friends is a total lie. Everything else is true.

-d