Review: Bottle Rocket [1996, by Wes Anderson w/ Owen&Luke Wilson]
By TheLawnWrangler 6 Comments
“He looks like a little banana!”
---First impressions are key in my book. This applies to everything really. New, up-coming directors must make a good first impression both on the audience and studios. Wes Anderson and the Wilson brothers manage to do so with precision and style. Bottle Rocket, their first full movie, is a unique one. The characters are hilarious and interesting, the story catches your attention pretty well, and everything just flows really well. With great work from James Caan, Robert Musgrave, Andrew Wilson (the third Wilson brother), and Kumar Pallana, even the secondary cast is teeming with power and humor. Wes introduces his style of directing, technically and story wise, as well as a few of his own motifs, like top down shots of reading material, drum solos, unique clothing/outfits, etc. And as actors in their first movie, Luke and Owen Wilson pull off great roles that are tragically true to human nature at times, as well as being so fresh and unique from other characters. Everything they throw at you is so unlike something you’ve ever really seen in a comedy that you can’t help but notice the lasting impression the filmmakers left.
My only real problem with Bottle Rocket is that it will get a little boring at points and bring on little sub plots that while they’re funny, they’re pretty pointless, and some of them don’t even play out to anything except for an excuse to bring in or out characters. Other than this flaw, the writing is superb, and everything flows like bright blue Bioshock hacking fluid (yeah… I went there), in this Quentin Tarantino-esque way. The dialogue is quick and sometimes lines trip over each other with ease. Kind of like moments in early It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes where everyone is talking over each other; controlled chaos, but less so, in a way. Almost all of the humor comes from the dialogue. Wes’ characters (I also acknowledge that Owen Wilson co-wrote the script) are known for their attitudes and he manages to create these wonderful people who you actually root or boo for. They especially get better with creating these characters as time goes by.
Then comes in what I love the most about this movie, it’s style. I am a huge Wes Anderson fan, even though he signed a petition warranting Roman Polanski’s release from prison (seriously?) While I don’t think he has fully found his footing in Bottle Rocket (he does so in Rushmore, I think), he manages to put in a lot of his quirkiness and cinematographic craziness. There’s the slow motion scenes, fun to obscure sixties and seventies music, as well as an original score from Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh, which has this charming bell set tone set with some latin feeling muzak and nice guitar work, keeping everything charming and a little cute, like the movie is at times. The unique characters and clothing, some dead pan humor, and moments of intensity that are portrayed as so are also presented in wonderful fashions with precision, leaving everything for the viewer to just bask in. Wes has also been known for depth in his comedy and placement of set pieces. It is clear as crystal in Bottle Rocket, with stuff in bed rooms, houses, etc. Sometimes not only the writing and acting will make you laugh, but the small things done so technically and through his editing/cinematographic work will bring up some humor, like quick pans and shots that just make you laugh. It’s such a unique style, and it’s pretty innovative in the sense that it’s inspired such directors like Jody Hill and Jared Hess. It’s the start of something new, and it’s pretty freaking brilliant. It gives you a chance as the audience to look for and notice such things. And when you do see them, I guarantee you'll chuckle because of how small and mundane such things end up being shown as. Also, bold futura font; Sexy.
I can describe everything in Bottle Rocket with one word: unique. Sure, I may be a devoted Wes Anderson fan, but I think this is the perfect film to start with if you want to check out his style. This is a film anyone can really enjoy, as opposed to his later stuff which is pretty genius, but mainly loved by specific crowds and "meh"d by others. There's comedy, a hint of openness, leaving it possible for the audience to relate with the characters no matter how strange or different they may be, and a straightforward plot that's easy to follow. Sure, it can drag on a lot and have some meaningless aspects pop in and out, but honestly it shouldn't be a problem looking over these, since the rest of the film is brilliant in it's own special way. Top notch comedic performances from a bright cast, complemented with great writing and an awesome technical aspect keeps the film ridiculously enjoyable, regardless of any flaws. This is indeed Wes Anderson's least ambitious film, but there is something very special about Bottle Rocket. Go ahead an seek this out at a Blockbuster, or a Boarders/Barnes and Noble... they usually have copies there. You're walking straight into a movie that you'll most likely never forget, even at any subconscious level, or at least want to.
4.5 start out of 5 for being so *hand movement* different.
I like this Criterion Collection poster better, since the original is a little boring and this one utilizes Wes Anderson's brother's art, which is used for almost all of his movies (that are in the Criterion Collection, at least.)
