WES ANDERSON

Bottle Rocket

So, here’s the flip-side of the Narayama coin. I assume that you, dear reader, cannot imagine what I could possible write next. Well, don’t worry, I’m here for you! This is the other way expectations can go. Unlike last time, where I waited ten years to watch a film, I’ve seen this one before. I saw it, and did not care for it.

I saw it twelve years ago, a couple years before I started this project. I saw it as a Wes Anderson fan, perhaps even a bit of a super-fan in those days. I saw it sixteen years after it was released, and with the full context of having seen and loved so many of his other films. And, as a result, I just wasn’t prepared to accept this for what it is. A fun, silly, not-particularly Andersonian, trifle.

And, because of that prior experience, I have delayed rewatching it for the last ten years. See how that ties in? Similarly, when I finally gave in, I found something quite a bit different than I expected. Rather than not enjoying this at all, I was able to appreciate it just for what it is, not for what it’s not. In that respect it’s not that dissimilar to other first efforts from favorited directors. Bergman’s Torment comes to mind strongly here.

I don’t know that I have any big lesson to learn from these last two films. Or at least not from the expectations game I’ve been playing. I guess... just don’t let summaries and memories determine my course of action? That feels a bit thin in terms of takeaways. For one thing, I literally only have summaries and box art by which to choose films to watch. And memories are often confirmed. But, still, I will endeavor to be a bit bolder moving forward, and less afraid of what I think might happen. - Nov 29th, 2024