Bottle Rocket

Despite all my hype, last night was only the second time I’ve seen this movie. A lack of money for most of the summer got in the way of my quest to find the DVD — I’ll have to pick it up later. In any case, watching this the second time was even better than the first. It’s truly a fantastic film.

I find with Wes Anderson films that it’s hard to put my finger on what exactly I love so much about them. Someone once described him as the complete opposite of Paul Thomas Anderson, he who made Magnolia — my other great cinematic love. Paul’s direction is sweeping, shamelessly artistic and wildly emotional. Wes’s direction, on the other hand, is reserved. He keeps the camera steady, focuses on the actors, and instead works to really bring the script to life. And god, are the scripts good.

I watched The Royal Tenenbaums a few weeks ago. It features one of my most favourite movie moments. Ben Stiller — who gives a really really good performance — looks at Gene Hackman and says “It’s been a rough year, dad.” In a sense the entire movie just builds to that line and Stiller delivers it with such emotion that it just floors me every time. It’s a summation of the film as a whole delivered in one heartbreaking line. Rushmore, too, contains the memorable “She was my Rushmore, Max” line which, once again, stands as a summation of the film.

Bottle Rocket, not coincidentally another Wes Anderson film, delivers one of my other favourite moments, and it’s a moment that I think stays with most viewers after they watch it. Owen Wilson’s great “They’ll never catch me… because I’m fucking innocent” line. Once again, we get a single line that subtly yet beautifully sums up the film. Bottle Rocket is very much about the innocence of these characters, who haven’t grown up.

The film is underscored by a sort of offbeat yet charming morality. These characters are thieves, and yet for them that isn’t in and of itself wrong. Rather, it’s something cool — to be the outlaw or whatever. What IS wrong for these characters, however, is betraying your friends. Amongst Owen and Luke’s characters, particularly, there’s a need to stick by no matter what. Even if it means wearing a jumpsuit.

There’s so much to say about this film. Luke Wilson gives an incredibly laid back performance and still manages to come off as extremely likeable. Owen Wilson actually takes on a CHARACTER, instead of playing himself like he seems to in every movie these days. And yeah, there’s great music.

See it if you haven’t. If you have, see it again.