Today, the Criterion Collection is releasing Wes Anderson’s excellent 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums for the first time on Blu-ray.  A funny and deeply moving look at a dysfunctional family of former child prodigies who all reunite at the house of their father (Gene Hackman), the film was a genuine critical and commercial success that got the director a very deserved Oscar Nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

With an excellent supporting cast that includes Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson, this is a beautifully filmed portrait of a unique family that is filled with quiet humour and genuine heartache.  From his first feature Bottle Rocket to this year’s wonderful Moonrise Kingdom, I’m a huge fan of Wes Anderson’s work and this highly recommended Criterion Blu-ray edition of The Royal Tenenbaums offers his 2001 film in beautiful high definition.

The Blu-ray includes audio commentary with the director and interviews with the actors, as well as numerous other “behind the scenes” footage.  The film also comes beautifully packaged with an essay by critic Kent Jones and a map to the perfectly realized world of the characters.

The Royal Tenenbaums is 110 minutes and rated 14A.

-John C.