Enigmatic train-trip movie hard to gauge

JASON Schwartzman is sanguine about his latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, a fraternal odyssey through India.

JASON Schwartzman is sanguine about his latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, a fraternal odyssey through India.

"Like it or not, it's made by people and not by a bunch of jerks," said the star of Marie Antoinette and Shopgirl.

It's certainly a different sell, but Schwartzman, and his mentor of sorts, the film's director Wes Anderson, have always been allowed such luxuries.

Schwartzman is from a kind of Hollywood royalty, the son ofactor Talia Shire (Rocky's Adrienne) and nephew of Francis Ford Coppola.

Anderson, who brought Schwartzman to our attention in his second film, Rushmore, is a cinematic oddity. He's a director who, with The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, has disarmed critics and arthouse audiences without quite producing a hit.

The Darjeeling Limited, which the duo co-wrote with Schwartzman's cousin Roman Coppola, is similarly enigmatic - and that was how they wanted it, Schwartzman said in Sydney yesterday. "It's ambitious but the best thing is going around talking to people about the movie and hearing people asking questions about the characters," he said.

"I ask them to tell me what they think and I tell them, `That's right, whatever you say is right'. I think it's fun. To me it's exciting for people to see a movie where they can make up their own answers."

So people feel good about themselves? "No, no, no, I still hope people hate themselves," Schwartzman smiled.

The trio have admitted The Darjeeling Limited was at first an idea looking for a story. Anderson approached them about making a movie that featured brothers, trains and India.

So Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Schwartzman play three brothers brought together on a train journey through India after their father's death.

"There's not a real big message and I think that can frustrate people," Schwartzman said.

"But look, you see movies all year long, by this director, whoever he is, who thinks he's soawesome he has a message for you and thinks he's smart enough to enlighten you."

Schwartzman is drawn to US directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson of Boogie Nights, Alexander Payne of Sideways or Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton of Little Miss Sunshine.

"Their movies are different because they're clearly not made by committee, they're made by people, and I think that's why they have a real following. At best, our movie just wants to be one of those movies."

The Darjeeling Limited opens in Australia on Boxing Day.