jonnytaylor

How can I be impartial when it comes to "The Royal Tenenbaums"? I saw it with a great friend. It became 'our film', and if she'll put up with me that long, it always will be.

Leaving my emotions aside (which I can't), "Tenebaums" is an excellent movie: stylish, witty, mellow and humane. Just like my friend, in fact.

There are so many good scenes, but I was particularly moved by the flashback to Richie's tennis career. Having learnt that his beloved Margot has married Raleigh St.Clair, Richie goes to pieces in the middle of a crucial match, throwing his now-pointless life away in front of an audience of millions. I knew how he felt.

The soundtrack is a superbly eclectic blend: Dylan, The Velvet Underground, John Lennon, George Enescu, The Clash, Ravel, Nick Drake and Paul Simon. I even liked the instrumental version of "Hey Jude".

It must be love.

If you've ever weighed up your life and concluded that it's been something of a waste (and, let's face it, who hasn't?), you may be moved by this excellent film. When faced with the prospect of his imminent death, the bookish protagonist embarks on a short slide of narcotic and sexual pleasure that takes him to Amsterdam and Italy. I was with him all the way.

It's certainly pessimistic. If you don't feel like killing yourself before you see the film, you probably will afterwards.

Xavier Beauvois is a fine film-maker. Most critics, though, failed to see the quality of "Don't Forget You're Going to Die". Beauvoir's next film - "Selon Mathieu" - wasn't even released in the UK.