Bottle Rocket

Finally writing an actual review of this because the discourse around it is disappointing. People love to say it’s not Wes Andersony enough or that it’s messy and poorly composed just because it doesn’t have the pristine, dry-cleaned aesthetic of his big-budget films. But this movie is full of beautiful, intentional shots. If you’re only watching for visual composition, you genuinely won’t be disappointed here either, but that’s also a super lame way to evaluate movies. You can see the seeds of what Anderson would go on to refine later. It’s his version of a Coen Brothers style 90s indie film, which I love. Wes Anderson is still Wes Anderson even when he doesn’t have a gazillion dollars. Bottle Rocket feels like the purest version of his strengths. The smaller scope works in its favour. With less production spectacle, the characters get more depth. They still have that slightly cartoony edge, but they feel more human than many of the characters in his later films. You can absolutely feel Owen Wilson’s writing and comedic voice running through it. This is his masterpiece, in my opinion. He’s so fun to watch and his line delivery is hilarious. Owen Wilson always elevates Wes Anderson. He co-wrote three of his best films, and you can feel the humor and emotion he brings. I feel his absence in Anderson’s newer writing. This movie is so funny and sweet and quirky and genuinely lovely. An insane debut. You can see so much of it echoed in everything Anderson made after. I completely get why it’s not his most popular, but it’s my favourite. It’s fast, short, tightly paced. The character arcs are satisfying without overstaying their welcome. It doesn’t waste time, but everyone feels developed, and exactly as much as they need to be. It’s perfect in the sense that it’s exactly what it needs to be. I wouldn’t change a thing.