Reel Critics

John Depko and Rob Orozco

Good ‘Lord,’ it’s a winner

“The Lord of the Rings,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy, has

captivated millions of readers with the wondrous world of Middle-earth,

where mythical beings, both good and evil, live alongside the race of

men. Hobbits, elves, orcs, nazguls and wizards join men in the epic

struggle between the forces of light and darkness. Through countless

adventures, the heroes of this timeless tale play out ancient themes of

duty, honor and self-sacrifice.

Doing justice to the books’ sweeping vision on film has always been a

daunting challenge. The task is magnified by the mystical aspects of the

story, where many important scenes take place in the spirit world. But

Director Peter Jackson’s love of the story, great casting and the miracle

of modern special effects combine to create a triumphant production of

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first of three

films.

Primordial landscapes fill the screen. The Enchanted Forest, the

shining elf city of Lothlorien, the dark mines of Moria and the realms of

terrifying demons are brought to life in breathtaking scenes.

Elijah Wood is Frodo, the small hobbit on whose shoulders falls the

task of bearing the Ring of Power at the center of the story. Ian

McKellan is outstanding as Gandalf, the wizard who shepherds Frodo on his

quest to reach the land of Mordor, ruled by the Dark Lord Sauron. His

volcanic pit of fire is the only place on Middle-earth where the evil

ring can be destroyed.

Frodo is accompanied on this mission by three hobbits, two brave men,

a majestic elf and a noble dwarf. In pursuit of their quest, this

fellowship endures incredible adventures in many lands beyond the Misty

Mountains.

If all this sounds like a child’s fairy tale, be forewarned. This is

definitely not “Star Wars.” The adult themes of betrayal and loss, the

presence of great evil and the carnage of the battle scenes render this

film much too intense for young children. But in the aftermath of two

World Wars and Sept. 11, this timely tale of small people standing up to

great evil has many modern parallels.

A potential nominee for Oscars in several categories, “The Lord of the

Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is a monumental achievement. It should

please the most die-hard fans of the book, and still entertain fans of

the “Sword & Sorcery” genre who never read Tolkien’s work. A must-see on

the biggest movie screen you can find and a definite candidate for best

picture.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is rated PG-13 for

epic battle sequences and some scary images.

* JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for

the Orange County public defender’s office.

Getting the ‘Royal’ treatment

Wes Anderson’s new film, “The Royal Tenenbaums,” is the highly

anticipated follow-up to his successful and original films “Bottle

Rocket” and “Rushmore.” As with the previous two, Anderson collaborated

with actor/writer Owen Wilson (“Meet the Parents,” “Shanghai Noon”) to

again explore the minds of some truly amazing characters.

“The Royal Tenenbaums” tells the story of the Tenenbaum family of a

mythical New York headed by patriarch Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and

his wife, Etheline (Anjelica Huston). Their prodigy children are tennis

ace Richie (Luke Wilson), financial guru Chas (Ben Stiller) and

playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow). The children were, as narrator Alec

Baldwin tells us, destined for greatness. Yet, through the disintegration

of the familial unit, the children never quite seem to progress from

their initial accomplishments.

The sadness that envelops their lives after the dissolution of the

family sets the stage for an attempted familial reunification by Royal,

who stages a terminal illness. Through his duplicity, Royal attempts to

enable his family to achieve some catharsis in their lives. The ensuing

lessons and events inevitably lead to many laughs, both poignant and

sorrowful, as the family attempts to reach some sort of emotional and

mental clarity.

The story is able to establish the emotional core of each character’s

pain through the wonderful dialogue provided by Anderson and Owen. The

dialogue enables the various actors to perfectly convey the psychological

and emotional nuances that make each character not only believable but

also memorable.

For example, when Royal advises his family that he is dying of cancer,

they either do not respond as anticipated or do not care. So, Royal

simply increases the pressure on the family by insisting on a visit to

grandmother, who has not been visited or acknowledged for several

decades. Royal’s appeal has quickly and ruthlessly turned from one of

sympathy to one of cruelty. The family’s reaction to this new prong is

quite memorable.

Kudos should be given to the large supporting cast headed by frequent

cast member Bill Murray, as Margot’s husband; Danny Glover as Etheline’s

love interest; and Seymour Cassel as the quack doctor in on Royal’s

scheme. As evidenced by his turns in “Rushmore,” “Kingpin,” “Hamlet” and

“Wild Things,” Murray has evolved into a reliable actor capable of

undertaking any role presented. The only complaint for “The Royal

Tenenbaums” is not really a complaint but a request for more screen time

for Murray. Hopefully, the DVD version may provide more insights into

Murray’s evolution.

The story continues the unique and original voice Anderson and Owen

have contributed to American cinema. The Tenenbaums resemble the other

great archetypal New York family, J.D. Salinger’s Glass family. Like the

Glass family, the Tenenbaums thrive in an environment of forced

introversion, an unpleasant family history and, perhaps, seeking to avoid

the ambiguity that their actions may have in the future.

The ability of Anderson and Owen, along with their collaborators,

enables “The Royal Tenenbaums” to be unique and relevant cinema in the

unfortunate age of mindless studio propaganda.

“The Royal Tenenbaums” is rated R for some language, sexuality/nudity

and drug content.

* ROB OROZCO is an attorney with Morris, Polich & Purdy. He lives in

Costa Mesa with his wife and two cats.