Simply Perfect

Sadly Over-hyped

Admirable film.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

If you've come of age in the 21st century, then you know Wes Anderson as one of the most important indie directors. His oeuvre (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel) features quirky characters, scenes with centered action, and generally unusual plots. And he tends to cast Bill Murray in supporting roles.His debut, 1996's "Bottle Rocket", is a little different. Bill Murray is absent. There are a few scenes with centered action, but the emphasis is certainly on the characters and plot. Owen and Luke Wilson play friends who plan a series of heists. I found the best part of the movie to be the whole sequence in the motel; the heists themselves came across as secondary to the events in the motel.So, while it doesn't give that much of a hint of Anderson's later movies, "Bottle Rocket" is still an enjoyable one. James Caan's character struck me as an allusion to his most famous one. And Kumar Pallana accomplished something practically unheard of: he debuted in cinema when he was pushing eighty."Tell him I love him." Ha!

This is just a strange film! All 3 of the main characters seem either dumb, mentally unable, or just plain lame. There is a robbery, some hotel time, and then another robbery. In between, just lots of uneasy interactions between characters, especially Dignan and Anthony. I'm really not sure what to make of this, but James Caan is in it. Hmm...

With its bright colors, subtle sense of humor, and quirky characters, "Bottle Rocket" certainly contains the essence of Wes Anderson's later films. Although his style wasn't fully developed until "Rushmore" in 1998, "Bottle Rocket" works as a sort of glance at the development of this style. Perhaps the shots aren't as centered, and the soundtrack isn't as jam packed with classic rock, but its still a great, fun Wes Anderson movie. "Bottle Rocket" is mainly known today for being the feature length debut of popular indie filmmaker Wes Anderson, and perhaps it would not be nearly as interesting if Anderson did not have a subsequent career, but "Bottle Rocket" is still a pretty awesome movie nonetheless. The humor is, more often then not, really hilarious, clever, and subtle. The audience is not bombarded with clichés and predictable punchlines, but instead is given a feast of slight quirks and oddities that arise when these particular characters are put into these particular situations. The film also has plenty of heart and drama. The characters aren't just vehicles for jokes and slapstick, they are people with issues and goals, relationships and enemies. They argue, fight, hang out, and engage in small talk-it's a very refreshing comedy-and, simply put, a highly enjoyable one.

Anthony (Luke Wilson) is released from a mental institution and hooks up with his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) who hatches a scheme to rob his former boss Mr Henry (James Caan). Anthony falls for motel maid Inez (Lumi Cavazos).This is the first big screen attempt for director Wes Anderson. It has flashes of his unique style already. It has the camera work, some quirks and the music. However the story is a rambling mess of aimless people. While the group of friends have some quirks, they're not weird enough to be funny. The Wilson brothers are showing their charismatic banter. It's a charming indie where everybody is trying their best and having a bit of fun.