Day 15: "Bottle Rocket"

"You look like a little banana."

A bunch of losers that try to prove to themselves that their capable of achieving something great in thier lives. Sound original? Not really. Yet, it's the perfect scenario for an hour and a half full of witty comedy, hilarious dialogue, and touching moments. Bottle Rocket is Wes Anderson's first motion picture and some say his most prolific. I've heard critiques of Anderson suggest that his plots are unoriginal and pretentious. In every Anderson movie, there's that character that holds himself on a high pedestal and is most of the time knocked off of it. The rest of the film follows that character in finding some sort of belonging and inner peace. What makes Anderson stick out as a director is that he does all of that while still being absolutely hilarious. Most actors in his films have impeccable comedic timing and understand that the film won't work unless everyone is synchronizing at the same pace, comically as well as dramatically. His constant use of primary colors and his patent one-shot technique is what makes it easy for viewers to point out a Wes Anderson movie.

In his first outing, Bottle Rocket revolves around three half-ass thieves that come together to perform a couple of heists. Dignan (Owen Wilson) and Anthony (Luke Wilson) have decided to become thieves after Anthony checks himself out of a voluntary mental institute. The overzealous Dignan has come up with a supposedly 75-year plan that involves them participating in several robberies with the help of a mysterious Mr. Henry. The two meet up with the third member, Bob (Robert Musgrave), and begin to plan their first robbery attempt. Throughout their journey, each member of the team is faced with personal obstacles that they've dealt with their whole life. Whether it be Anthony's constant search for some sort of tranquility, Dignan's delusional sense of superiority, or Bob's fear of his older brother, who allegedly beats him on a regular basis.

The film does an outstanding job at providing a childlike atmosphere. Owen Wilson shines in every scene and his journey is the one to focus on the most. Digan convinces himself that he's always in control and his need to always be in charge is what eventually leads him to his downfall. Anthony is aware of his instability and his constant search for calmness and it seems that he finds it in a cute Paraguay housekeeper that rejuvenates him in a way that no robbery ever can.

This film is a sleeper, which is surprising since Martin Scorsese named this film his favorite movie of the 90's. Take some time out of your day and enjoy this once short film comedy and witness a couple of losers try to steal a couple bucks. That's really what they all end up stealing in the end.

Trailer: