BOTTLE ROCKET

US, 1996, 91 minutes, Colour.
Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave James Caan, Lumi Cavazos.
Directed by Wes Anderson.

Two years before this feature film, director Wes Anderson and writer-actor, Owen Wilson, made a short film of the same name, shot in black and white, starring Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson. The feature film marked the beginning of Wes Anderson’s very successful career. The Wilson brothers would also have successful careers, particularly Owen.

This is as a comedy about two men who aspire to be criminals, enjoy a criminal reputation, but are hopeless at the crimes, especially the robberies.

Apart from the situations of the dialogue has its moments of the humorous situations – and some romance.


1. A comedy of the 1990s?

2. The career of Wes Anderson, of Owen Wilson? Their particular style and humour?

3. The title?

4. Texas, mental institution? Homes, countryside, the store, the prison? The musical score?

5. Cast, screen presence of the two Wilson brothers?

6. Anthony, his breakdown, leaving, climbing down the sheets, Dignan, the plans, friendship, the details of the plans, Bob, his being slow, picked on by his
brothers, staying at the motel, meeting the the attraction, conversations? The robbing of the school, comic touches with the staff, the sense of triumph?
Going with Dignan to the restaurant, meeting Mr Henry, the other members of the? The intrusion of the brothers humiliating Bob? The plan, you, the details,
the execution things going wrong, and getting the, Dignan going back? Visiting Dignan in prison? The phone calls to find Inez? The response of love? At the end?

7. Dignan and urging Anthony to escape from the institution, his obsessions, fine details of plans, for many years? Wanting to be a criminal? The idea of being a criminal? His friendship with Bob, clashing with Bob’s brothers? Fired by Mr Henry, joining the vcrew in the restaurant the robbery of the store with the comic touches, the plan for the robbery, the uniforms, the disguise, the bungling, his going back inside to save the wounded man? Arrest and prison, making gifts for his visitors…?

8. The crew, the different characters, Mr Henry, dominant, his confronting the brothers and humiliating them? Not participating? Emptying the house?

9. Anthony and his finding Inez?

10. A zany comedy?