BOTTLE ROCKET (1996) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Wes Anderson

Written by - Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson

Starring - Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson

"After leaving voluntary confinement in a mental home, a young man joins his friend in a bookstore heist. This marks the beginning of a casual descent of the two into a world of petty crimes. 

BOTTLE ROCKET marks the feature directorial debut of WES ANDERSON, and was created out of the short film by the same name which he had directed two years previous. But the style here is very different from its predecessor, and already shows a definite and meticulous style of symmetrical photography and vivid colour palettes that would continue to define more and more the works of the American filmmaker and win him a vast loyal fanbase. 

BOTTLE ROCKET is exciting for a number of reasons. Aside from its story being reminescent of early American independent cinema and the French New Wave, it is also quite an original take on the road movie genre, defined by an unusual and yet remarkable use of deadpan comedy to add poignance to the mature backdrop of its narrative and character development. 

At its core, this quirky tale, is also a tender story about friendship and relationship and the pacing of the film as well as its detailed creativity, though sometimes admittedly excessive, makes for quite an entertaining watch. 

Just like the short, the film stars WES ANDERSON regulars LUKE and OWEN WILSON, who in their youthful radiance stand as unlikely vulnerable figures of youthful rebellion, itself a compelling element in the movie. Their often blank, underpronounced stares contribute greatly to the cohesion of the overall final work."

Comedy, USA