13 Oct The Wes Anderson Collection: Bottle Rocket

BOTTLE ROCKET

dir. Wes Anderson, starring Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, James Caan

Bottle Rocket, the 1996 crime comedy starring the Wilson brothers and directed by Wes Anderson marked the coming of one of Hollywood’s most confident directors as well as a pair of comedic actors that have (mostly) managed to stay relevant throughout the decades. While not commercially successful, it was the combined talents of Anderson’s direction, Anderson and Owen Wilson’s offbeat script, and Luke Wilson’s every man charm that cemented its place in the annals of cult classic history.

The film is centered around three men who loosely form an incompetent band of criminals: Dignan (O. Wilson), the “brains” behind the outfit and their main motivator; Anthony (L. Wilson), the up-for-anything lovestruck puppy, and Bob (Robert Muskgrave), the getaway driver (deemed as such because Bob is the only one with a vehicle). After Dignan “rescues” Anthony from a voluntary wellness clinic, the two team up with Bob to knock over a bookstore. After getting away with a small sum of money, the group go on the lam, hiding from the law in a motel in the middle of nowhere. There, Anthony meets Inez (the wonderful Lumi Cavazos), one of the hotel maids, and a relationship forms between the two, despite their language barrier. Eventually, the boys team up with local big time criminal Abe Henry (James Caan) to take on a bigger score.

Bottle Rocket’s charm comes from the earnestness of both the characters and the film itself. Wes Anderson’s initial outing, along with the script co-written by Owen Wilson, show the early stages of budding careers in front of and behind the camera. While parts of the film don’t work as well as others (the development of the love story between Anthony and Inez is clumsily handled and unwieldy as the second act drags on), the sum of its parts are enough to delight and entertain.

I’ll say it right here and right now: Bottle Rocket is Owen Wilson’s masterpiece. Is it the best movie he’s in? No, he’s in much better, as we’ll see in later Wes Anderson movies. But here, in Bottle Rocket, Wilson’s manic energy, mischievous nature, and his longing to belong to a group are portrayed wonderfully by Wilson and his ridiculous blonde hair. Luke Wilson, ever the more low key of the duo, plays the straight man who’s down for pretty much anything as the focus of the film, developing what would become his famous laconic style of delivery. Robert Musgrave’s Bob Mapplethorpe, possibly the most sensible character of the film, brings his own bit of heart and warmth as the sheepish third wheel of the gang, equally fearing and concerned for his abusive older brother. It’s a shame Musgrave didn’t go on to appear in other Anderson films; his work on Bottle Rocket made him a fun character to watch next to Wilson’s mile-a-minute performance and Wilson’s inch-a-minute delivery. James Caan, in the movie for maybe three scenes, is a delightful add to film, as well as the other members of Caan’s gang, showcasing Anderson’s love of quirky ensembles.

Directed by Wes Anderson, a man who frequently looks like a character from one of his own films, Bottle Rocket has the trappings of a freshman outing: static camera shots, odd editing, wonky line readings, and more. But, strangely, that adds to the flavor of the movie as it feels more natural, more like the audience is actually peeking in on these character’s lives instead of us just watching a movie. The signature Anderson style of framing characters perfectly center is there (wonderfully captured in a scene with Owen Wilson just off center until he shifts weight onto his other foot, placing him in the middle of the frame), and even while Bottle Rocket has a very college senior final thesis feel to it, it’s clear to see what sort of storyteller Anderson would become.

Overall, Bottle Rocket is a decent start to what would become a long a fruitful career for all the main players involved. While there’s obvious signs of rookie filmmaking, freshman mistakes, and room for growth, the film is still showcases Wes Anderson’s penchant for telling stories centered around broken characters. Owen Wilson commands the screen with a performance never seen again, while brother Luke’s subdued style of acting is born out of this film. Bottle Rocket, at a mere 91 minutes is bottom-tier Anderson, but that by no means is meant to discredit or throw shade at the movie. It proves that from here, he only got better.

Review by Darryl Mansel