Bottle Rocket is the first film by Wes Anderson. He has come a long way since. Bottle Rocket has none of the signature charm or visual style that came later. The obsessive symmetry is not noticeable here. But the film does serve to show how Anderson has evolved as a writer/director. It does have dysfunctional characters putting themselves into wild situations (or not so wild).
The film opens with Dignan (Wilson) breaking Anthony (Wilson) out of a mental hospital. A volunteer mental hospital where the patients are free to leave. The two then pull off a burglary. A burglary of Anthony’s own house. They are the masterminds of unnecessary crime.
Though it isn’t all for nothing. The two characters are building up to the big-time. It is all for practice, and all to impress a local crime organisation. The middle third of the film becomes a little confused. The character’s go on the run after pulling off a local library heist. The film slacks into a romance. Like most of the film’s internal crimes, it is unnecessary. It meanders, but comes together again for the end.
With such a low budget, everything rides on the script. Everything rides on the performances of the Wilson brothers. It rides on dialogue. Bottle Rocket is a great low-budget first film. But it pales in comparison to everything Anderson did after.
A light comedy movie full of quirky characters living in their own fanstasy world.The best part of the movie is its charming characters, fast screenplay and heart at its core, it is one of the movies it never take itself seriously and give us unforgettable charming characters( especially Owen wilson) and interesting
talks and comedic situations and characters study rather than throw jokes at the face. Kuddos to Wes Anderson for this underrated gem.
Bottle Rocket is Wes Anderson's first film (now well known for Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums). It's also Luke and Owen Wilson's first film. And James Caan's, uhm... 48th. It describes itself as "Reservoir Geeks", but I the characters aren't really geeks. I guess it made me think of Made... of the morons on a heist subgenre. Perhaps not a masterpiece, but solidely offbeat. And no, I don't know what that title means.
As @pernille said it, you can be certain that a Wes Anderson + Owen Wilson movie is gonna be great!
Loved the Wes Anderson way of storytelling, dialogues, the Wilson brother's accents and the artsy camerawork!
It's not as bad as I was expecting... but It's the worst movie made by Wes Anderson. I didn't have the amount of fun I was looking for. While his recent films are better, and lovelier, this one fails on being trascendent.
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Comments 1 - 14 of 14
lomonti
Few can put together some standard and trivial situations and tell a story.It is a reservoir geeks.
pernille
Owen Wilson in combination with Wes Anderson is actually perfect.sixteenmiles
https://16miles.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/bottle-rocket-1996/Bottle Rocket is the first film by Wes Anderson. He has come a long way since. Bottle Rocket has none of the signature charm or visual style that came later. The obsessive symmetry is not noticeable here. But the film does serve to show how Anderson has evolved as a writer/director. It does have dysfunctional characters putting themselves into wild situations (or not so wild).
The film opens with Dignan (Wilson) breaking Anthony (Wilson) out of a mental hospital. A volunteer mental hospital where the patients are free to leave. The two then pull off a burglary. A burglary of Anthony’s own house. They are the masterminds of unnecessary crime.
Though it isn’t all for nothing. The two characters are building up to the big-time. It is all for practice, and all to impress a local crime organisation. The middle third of the film becomes a little confused. The character’s go on the run after pulling off a local library heist. The film slacks into a romance. Like most of the film’s internal crimes, it is unnecessary. It meanders, but comes together again for the end.
With such a low budget, everything rides on the script. Everything rides on the performances of the Wilson brothers. It rides on dialogue. Bottle Rocket is a great low-budget first film. But it pales in comparison to everything Anderson did after.
devanshu257
A light comedy movie full of quirky characters living in their own fanstasy world.The best part of the movie is its charming characters, fast screenplay and heart at its core, it is one of the movies it never take itself seriously and give us unforgettable charming characters( especially Owen wilson) and interestingtalks and comedic situations and characters study rather than throw jokes at the face. Kuddos to Wes Anderson for this underrated gem.
Siskoid
Bottle Rocket is Wes Anderson's first film (now well known for Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums). It's also Luke and Owen Wilson's first film. And James Caan's, uhm... 48th. It describes itself as "Reservoir Geeks", but I the characters aren't really geeks. I guess it made me think of Made... of the morons on a heist subgenre. Perhaps not a masterpiece, but solidely offbeat. And no, I don't know what that title means.Joris B.
I was surprised to see that Owen Wilson could actually be this good after seeing all those horrible comedies he does nowadays.filmyjo
As @pernille said it, you can be certain that a Wes Anderson + Owen Wilson movie is gonna be great!Loved the Wes Anderson way of storytelling, dialogues, the Wilson brother's accents and the artsy camerawork!
Joker of Gotham
I like the movie, the Wilson brothers were great.The first movie of my second favourite director ever.
3.5/5
Rohit
I like the short more because it sounds impromptu. This is still good, not as good as other Anderson movies though.Practical
This is a very good film, but i agree with aussieflickfan that the character progression isn't quite as good as it is in his later films.aussieflickfan
The characters don't seem as interesting as those in his later films - perhaps it is too dark for my tastes. I prefer RUSHMORE.Amutairi94
I LOVE WES ANDERSONWilliamBravin
I expected quite a lot more.Rdgz_Dust_Speck
It's not as bad as I was expecting... but It's the worst movie made by Wes Anderson. I didn't have the amount of fun I was looking for. While his recent films are better, and lovelier, this one fails on being trascendent.