Bottle Rocket

After viewing the short that led Wes Anderson into bonified auteur status, I decided to explore how Bottle Rocket made its way to the Sundance Film Festival, and on to become a feature film. Christopher Null from Filmcritic.com talks about the little film that could and the unlikely collaboration that blossomed between Wes Anderson (writer, director) and Owen Wilson (writer and actor). Null says the two went through a play writing class with each other, and didn’t say one word to each other until a hallway conversation ensued.

The venture was supposed to be a serious crime film, but they decided they were out of their league.

Null writes about the ripple effect that got Bottle Rocket a budget of $5 million, nine producers, backed by Columbia, and a small role for revered actor James Caan.  The first timers were new to the independent world of film, and having to deal with big egos on set made things interesting, if not a bit difficult.

For Anderson fans, Bottle Rocket may be the most stripped down of Anderson’s films, (some accuse him too much artifice) and perhaps the most raw fun.

The Criterion Collection is finally giving Anderson’s debut its proper due by entering it into the fancy pants CC lineup. With the clever artwork and tons of extra features, including a suped up new transfer, commentart, and deleted scenes, Bottle Rocket joins the ranks with Anderson’s other films.

Sources:

Null, C. (1996). Message in a Bottle (Rocket) – Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from Film Critic Web site: http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Message-in-a-Bottle-(Rocket)—Wes-Anderson-and-Owen-Wilson

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