Top 100 Movies: No. 92 - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Posted on October 11, 2007
Filed Under Top 100 Movies | 2 Comments

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Wes Anderson + Bill Murray = Genius. It’s a simple equation and one that I hope is repeated again and again in future projects (yes, I know Bill Murray appears in The Darjeeling Limited).

The Life Aquatic is the second entry from Wes Anderson to make my Top 100 Movies list. Simply put, it’s a comedic gem. From Zissou’s red caps, to the Glocks that all team members must carry, to the three-legged dog running up on the beach. Not to mention the great “quotable” dialog. This flick just gets me every time (or is it I get this flick?) The more I think about it, I can’t believe I didn’t rank The Life Aquatic higher.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - No. 92 with a bullet. Anybody care to disagree?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbPUiaRnQkU

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Top 100 Movies: No. 94 - Bottle Rocket (1996)

Posted on October 5, 2007
Filed Under Top 100 Movies | Leave a Comment

Nose tape, yellow jumpsuits, wanna-be outlaws who are incredibly inept, and bird calls - sounds like a Wes Anderson movie to me.

Bottle Rocket was our introduction to Wes and the Wilson brothers - Owen and Luke. Andrew Wilson, Owen and Luke’s older brother, also appears in the movie as Future Man. Talk about a family affair.

Oh, did I forget to mention James Caan? Yes he is in the movie, no it wasn’t his first movie (duh), and yes, he plays a tough guy - “crime boss,” Mr. Henry. How did Wes and Owen (who co-wrote Bottle Rocket), get Mr. Caan to take part? Quite a coup if you ask me.

You really don’t know much about these guys except that they are in their mid-twenties, have nothing going for them, and really want something big to happen - preferably an adventure involving a heist, laughing gas, pole vaulting, explosions, etc., etc.

The beginning and end of this flick are are great. Owen really runs with his quirky character Dignan when they are preparing for and executing the heists. However, the movie drags a little bit in the middle when the guys are hiding out after robbing a bookstore (a bookstore!!), during which time Anthony pursues a housekeeper who speaks very little English. Overall though, Bottle Rocket is solid and a precursor for future greatness from Wes Anderson.

Check back next week for more of my Top 100 Movies and original movie lists. Have a great weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_twg7Jj_mqQ