Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Luke Wilson | ... | Anthony Adams | |
Owen Wilson | ... | Dignan (as Owen C. Wilson) | |
Ned Dowd | ... | Dr. Nichols | |
Shea Fowler | ... | Grace | |
Haley Miller | ... | Bernice | |
Robert Musgrave | ... | Bob Mapplethorpe | |
Andrew Wilson | ... | Future Man | |
Brian Tenenbaum | ... | H. Clay Murchison | |
Jenni Tooley | ... | Stacy Sinclair | |
Temple Nash | ... | Temple | |
Dipak Pallana | ... | Bookstore Employee | |
Darryl Cox | ... | Bookstore Manager | |
Stephen Dignan | ... | Rob | |
Lumi Cavazos | ... | Inez | |
Julie Mayfield | ... | Wife in Motelroom |
Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony joins his friend Dignan, who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a hare-brained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry. With the help of their pathetic neighbor and pal Bob, Anthony and Dignan pull a job and hit the road, where Anthony finds love with motel maid Inez. When our boys finally hook up with Mr. Henry, the ensuing escapade turns out to be far from what anyone expected. Written by Marty Cassady <martyc@bev.net>
I was watching the Roger Ebert movie show when he was giving his best films of the decade of the 1990's with movie director Martin Scorsese. Scorsese picked Bottle Rocket as his seventh favorite movie of the decade. From that point forward, I had to search out and find this movie. Boy, am I glad that I did.
The movie Bottle Rocket is a joy. It is a caper comedy in one respect, but also an interesting look at how the bad brother can talk the good brother into doing the wrong thing. The second idea sets up some great comedy bits. Owen Wilson as the bad brother, Dignan, is absolutely hilarious. From this point forward, I will always be interested in seeing him in a movie. His brother Luke Wilson as the good, yet naive brother, is also very charming. James Caan shows up in the second half of the movie and is fantastic. The writer/director, Wes Anderson (Rushmore), does a great job of telling an off-beat story and gives his characters great lines to say.
All in all, Bottle Rocket was a pleasant surprise that I had never heard of. Thank you Martin Scorsese.