Details
Movie Description
Three criminally aspiring friends bungle their way through a series of misadventures in this oddball comedy from Austin auteur Wes Anderson. Brothers Luke and Owen Wilson play best friends Anthony and Dignan, two good-hearted though confused misfits who, along with their friend Bob (Robert Musgrave), attempt to find purpose in their lives by starting criminal careers. Though they make rather unimpressive criminals, the three guys shine in their unwavering sense of honor, friendship, and loyalty. BOTTLE ROCKET is an endearing, funny, and unique comic gem, featuring James Caan's adept turn as the local crime boss.
Synopsis
The debut feature film for director Wes Anderson and actors Luke and Owen Wilson, BOTTLE ROCKET is a kind-hearted yet quirky tale about three friends who fashion themselves into modern-day robbers. After leaving his voluntary confinement in a mental home, Anthony (Luke Wilson) joins his friends Dignan (the film's co-writer, Owen Wilson) and Bob (Robert Musgrave) in a bookstore heist. In need of direction, more so than money, the three guys prove to be polite, but rather inept, criminals. Nevertheless the job is a success, and the trio head out to a remote hotel, planning to lay low until they can return to join a gang of supposed professional criminals lead by the infamous Mr. Henry (James Caan).
Based on the 1994 black-and-white short, the expanded film is part buddy picture, crime caper, and slacker comedy. First-time director Wes Anderson displays a sure hand, creating carefully composed scenes full of rich detail (shot on 27mm film, to ensure greater depth of field), schematic use of color, and amusing, irreverent music (including a score by Mark Mothersbaugh, founding member of the punk band Devo). Full of sure-footed performances, BOTTLE ROCKET is a charming meditation on friendship, love, and innocence, conveyed with great humor and refreshing goodwill.
Industry Reviews
"...Full of surprising warmth and charm, unexpected plot turns and droll characters that bounce off each other in refreshing ways..."
Variety - David Rooney (02/05/1996)
"...Entertaining....The big-sky minimalism of the film's visual style is attractively spare....Mr. Anderson has chosen the right actors..."
New York Times - Janet Maslin (02/11/1996)
"...A confident, eccentric debut....BOTTLE ROCKET is wryly amusing from beginning to end..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (02/21/1996)
"...[A] funny, low-budget sleeper....This movie is like a bottle rocket itself: a big bang for the money..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - Mike Clark (02/21/1996)
"Wes Anderson's comic tale of wannabe criminals still seems fresh..." -- Grade: A-
Entertainment Weekly - Clark Collis (12/05/2008)
Quotations
"Hey Anthony, don't try to save everybody okay?"--Dr. Nichols (Ned Dowd) to Anthony (Luke Wilson)
"So did you enjoy your first visit to the nuthouse?"--Anthony
"Hey, hey...shh, shh, shh. Come on. Be sensitive to the fact that other people are not comfortable talking about emotional disturbances. Um, you know, I am...I'm fine with that, but other people..."--Dignan (Owen Wilson)
"You haven't worked a day in your life, how could you be exhausted?"--Grace (Shea Fowler) to Anthony
"On the run from Johnny Law, it ain't no trip to Cleveland."--Dignan
"Why is there tape on your nose?"--Bob (Robert Musgrave)
"Exactly!"--Dignan
"It's amazing how close you can get to a girl when you're not allowed to talk to her."--Anthony
"Man, I blew it. I blew it, man."--Kumar (Kumar Pallana)
"Kumar, what were you doing in the freezer?"--Anthony
"I don't know, man, I lose my touch, man."--Kumar
"Did you ever have a touch to lose, man?"--Dignan
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