The last Wes Anderson Holdouts

A Wes Anderson Haiku

a true filmmaker

directs unique characters

appeals to hipsters

It's true, I haven't until now seen in their entirety Bottle Rocket and Rushmore. Thank goodness for Comedy Central, otherwise I may have never seen any part of them. I kind of think he's my favorite director, but I try not to be a fan of anything. (Even Weezer makes crappy songs, so why should I be a fanatic?) So because of that, it's hard for me to stand behind someone wholly. But I get awfully close to being a true fan of Wes Anderson. I just think his films are great. There is a silent artistic background to all of them. They're like dioramas that move. Plus, 2 of my favorite films are Wes Anderson films.
Rushmore had kind of annoyed me before, I never seemed to be able to get into it. But that's because I was always getting into the film halfway through on comedy central. Starting from the beginning, it's a better film.

Rushmore - Anderson takes on the high school setting. And it's a natural fit. High school can be such a fantastical environment that his characters fit right in. But this doesn't ever feel like a high school movie, and it kind of isn't. It's tone is so different, I think this set the train in motion of Wes Anderson's style. The main character is going completely against the grain, but yet bringing everybody with him. Royal Tennenbaums was a whole family, The Life Aquatic was an aging celebrity scientist, and then Fantastic Mr. Fox was a father, husband. Movies by definition are stories about someone different, or an incident that is unique, but Anderson really takes that aspect of film and runs hard with it. His films are just completely driven by unique characters, the plots are usually blanketed slightly at that expense, but there is still a plot, it's just not driven by events. Rushmore is driven entirely by the main character and his whims regarding school and relationships. Honestly, thinking back, I can't pinpoint what the plot exactly is. A kid...in school...he's got a crush on a teacher...he's expelled...? It's not exactly a coming of age. He grew as a character, and developed, but it was on his terms. This is typical Anderson story. What was the plot of Royal Tennenbaums? A family of geniuses...the dad comes back to reunite with the family, but then they kick him out...and a brother and his adopted sister love each other...and stuff...? The Life Aquatic...it's about an aging documentary filmmaker who finds that he has a son and goes on one last adventure...right? The Darjeeling Limited...about three brothers in India...on a train...finding themselves...and stuff kind of happens...or doesn't?
These films have plots. They're just masked behind character choices and characters living their lives, rather than reacting to incidents happening around them. That's why I say his films are like dioramas, beautiful set pieces where you immediately understand what's going on.

Bottle Rocket - But then there is his first major film. It doesn't seem like Anderson had got a hold of his style yet, so the film feels like a very well done college film. The film also has the biggest plot of all his films. But that's not saying much, the plot is so scant it's like it's pieced together with twigs. The film is about some layabouts trying to be crooks or something, and then there's one big heist. But most of the film is them hiding out in a seedy motel.
And there Luke Wilson falls for the cleaning lady. It's fun to watch these guys, kind of. The film isn't that funny, as usual, most of Anderson's characters are quirky, but in this film they aren't quirky enough to hold the film up. A film like Royal Tennenbaums, which is held up entirely with the characters, can sustain the jokes and you go with here. In Bottle Rocket, you're along for the ride, but you don't know why, since these guys aren't that interesting and neither is their dialogue.
In the end, it's a great first film, there's a few funny lines, but if you're going to watch an Anderson film, there's so many others to choose from. Including Fantastic Mr Fox, which I can't praise enough. Praise, praise, praise!!!!

Best 15 Wes Anderson Quotes

15. RT - Royal Tenenbaum's epitaph: Royal O'Reilly Tenenbaum 1932-2001 Died Tragically Rescuing His Family From The Wreckage Of A Destroyed Sinking Battleship
14. RT - What characters? There's a bunch of little kids dressed up in animal costumes....Good night, everyone....Well, sweetie, don't get mad at me. That's just one man's opinion.
13. RT - I don't think you're an a@#hole, Royal. I just think you're kind of a son of a bitch.
12. LA - I've never seen a bond company stooge stick his neck out like that.
11. FF - Demolitions expert...What? Since when?
10. LA - I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite.
9. DL - How can a train be lost? It's on rails.
8. FF - There's a lot of attitudes going on around here... don't let me get one.
7. LA - This is probably my son, Ned
6. RT - You probably don't even know my middle name....That's a trick question. You don't have one....Helen
5. RM - These are O.R. scrubs....O, R they?
4. LA - Not if I don't see you first, sonny.
3. RT - How long have you been a smoker?...22 years...Well, I think you should quit.
2. BR - And you're out, too. And I don't think I'm in, either. No gang.
1. FF - The cuss you are....The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me?...No, you cussing with me?....Don't cussing point at me!....If you're gonna cuss with somebody, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!