by, Josh Deakin
Netflix has a wide variety of films to choose from, but upon stumbling on this gem, it was an obvious must-see. The goofy 1996 crime movie, “Bottle Rocket,” gave many people their start in the film industry. To begin with, it was the first film of Wes Anderson. Anderson is now famous for his melancholy comedies such as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and, most recently, “Moonrise Kingdom.” “Bottle Rocket,” while at times displaying a dramatic tone that is found in many of Anderson’s more recent movies, is more comedy-based than anything else.
Along with Anderson, the film also marks the debut of Owen and Luke Wilson into the industry. Owen Wilson would go on to star in comedies like “Meet the Parents” and “Wedding Crashers.” Luke Wilson has also starred in a variety of movies from the Western “3:10 to Yuma” to the comedy “Old School.” Luke has also branched into television as well. He starred in the HBO show “Enlightened” which ran from 2011 to 2013. “Bottle Rocket” also guest stars actor James Caan. Caan is famous for playing Sonny Corleone in 1972’s “The Godfather.”
The film tells the story of two best friends who enjoy committing robberies. After a “heist” at a local bookstore, they take off into hiding at some motel off the highway. One of the best scenes in the movie is the opening scene that shows Anthony, played by Luke Wilson, leaving a mental hospital after a voluntary stay. What makes this scene great is that Anthony’s best friend, Dignan, played by Owen Wilson, believes that this is an elaborate escape from the mental hospital.
The dynamic between Anthony and Dignan is great. It appears as though they have been friends for a very long time and Anthony seems to take on the role of watching over Dignan. “Bottle Rocket” is, ultimately, about their friendship. These two friends are completely different people and yet they get along so well. Dignan is very impulsive in how he makes decisions, whereas Anthony is more prone to thinking things out logically.
James Caan plays Mr. Henry. Mr. Henry acts as sort of a criminal guru to Dignan while Anthony is in the mental institution. After his release, Dignan desperately tries to get Anthony under Mr. Henry’s guidance as well. Eventually, this leads to the two doing another robbery together. Mr. Henry is a relatively fun character who is also quite eccentric. Caan definitely does not slack on his performance.
One of the best qualities of the film is the dialogue. Though it is occasionally slightly predictable, it is very crisp in delivery and feels real all the way through. One could detect a Tarantino vibe in certain scenes. The only serious issue I have with the movie is that the ending feels a bit rushed. Due to the quick wrap-up, the resolution does not feel like a resolution. The last few lines of dialogue just don’t serve their apparent intended purpose of tying up all loose ends in the film. Overall, though, “Bottle Rocket” was an enjoyable film that will surely have you entertained.