![bottle-rocket-owen-wilson~2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPFQksAYkWFx96BUk46ZXpeKspWaChms21WcvHsgrZSTE/bottle-rocket-owen-wilson~2.jpg)

This is one of the best character introductions I've ever seen.

Rewatching now I literally laughed seven times and almost cried.

Written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, directed by Anderson.

![1164610.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfC9drbtuF4sYXMCZausYHmeDv2sn14LuCqRqcCX86rZh/1164610.jpg)

Sure, I'm biased. This film's been a top influence and love since first viewing.

There's something perfect here.
We are setting up the tone for this entire film (and the tone for Anderson's entire career to a degree).

![1_imghJ6WDyfXM-NXTeBMCLg.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZVYerzya2x8cQfzLti3cyb5STD2WcTuvNM96LVnF9i5Y/1_imghJ6WDyfXM-NXTeBMCLg.png)

This is hilarious.
Who do we have?
Anthony and Dignan.

Anthony is our main character, a young man on his journey through life, trying to find out how to be, how to be happy. The first time we see him he is opening the window of his bedroom in a mental health institution.

![screenshot2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZfR8wApa3pGiUwytPagUoKy4uMKtFXpDRD7wbpR9WfUq/screenshot2.jpg)

Dignan is his best friend. We meet him crouched in the bushes with binoculars and a mirror for long distance reflection communication.

![wes2.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmV6UfuAu6eQNoN7moNgWXrjHyjaiY6G96eSv2nYqzVoM4/wes2.jpg)

Here we have one friend breaking the other out of the compound.

This is a heist film. Set that up. Check.

The immediate turn of events though reveals that this is a voluntary hospital. Anthony does not need to escape but doesn't have the heart to tell Dignan, who set up the plan with overwhelming joy.

![bottle3~2.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWNb1RWv7xrxHM8hcXuBTndXfS8ysGLJEuTmDPfXAJoRt/bottle3~2.png)

This is a comedy about "being something," be that a famous criminal or a regular person or both or neither. Set that up. Check.

And we set off, two best friends, one trying to keep his health and heart in balance, trying to be open to the world and connected to meaning, to a team, and the other friend trying to find excitement, life, danger, meaning, a team.

![BottleRocket2.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRCun4f4YuJ99J1j2yHrC8Yq1G3rLYNhBe5Mibxc8LUQE/BottleRocket2.png)

It's about the heist.
It's about the humor of not-so-great-criminals.
It's about needing a purpose.
It's about needing connection.

![59a4c935870c10420b1dfba7757a911a.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeF5sUtcJLvaNdGRq4ZhgxcPzMeoTgHRbdvP4NmjvAiK4/59a4c935870c10420b1dfba7757a911a.jpg)

And there you have it, Wes Anderson is not just balanced composition and strong defined color palette as so many people jump to assume. He is about characters who are finding meaning and connection, team, family, while often being their own enemy or completely misunderstanding that the escape plan they designed was for a voluntary clinic.

![vlc 2012-09-03 10-35-40-76.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeBVyx95CxZVLaMGmZ3maZBFuS9YBhMC6WKvkzstYjTqZ/vlc%202012-09-03%2010-35-40-76.jpg)

See this film more than once.
It's simple on the surface but upon a longer stare it reveals itself as packed.

![bottle-rocket-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNaesZbGje9JuEjx9jvF83FKdiUqHNjTpVKLzhQ8WNTqQ/bottle-rocket-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg)

It's a win for humanity.
At least we made this movie, when all is said and done.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PmTlaHaz9_o

Be well.
http://www.LionSuit.com