The Darjeeling Limited premieres on Cinemax Thursday, September 4 at 8.30 p.m.
Criterion Bottle Rocket (updated)
Oh, glorious day (see below for update).
(link) (talk about it at the Yankee Racers forum)
Release date: November 2008!
Synopsis
Wes Anderson first illustrated his lovingly detailed, slightly surreal cinematic vision in this witty and warm portrait of three young middle-class misfits. Fresh out of a mental hospital, gentle Anthony (Luke Wilson) finds himself once again embroiled in the machinations of his best friend, elaborate schemer Dignan (Owen Wilson). With the aid of getaway driver Bob (Robert Musgrave), they develop a needlessly complex, mildly successful plan to rob a small bookstore—then go “on the lam.” Also featuring Lumi Cavazos as Inez, the South American housekeeper Anthony falls in love with, and James Caan as local thief extraordinaire Mr. Henry, Bottle Rocket is a charming, hilarious, affectionate look at the folly of dreamers. Shot against radiant southwestern backdrops, it’s the film that put Anderson and the Wilson brothers on the map.
Special Features
* – DIRECTOR-APPROVED DOUBLE-DISC SET SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
* – New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman
* – Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack
* – Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson
* – The Making of “Bottle Rocket”: an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
* – The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
* – Eleven deleted scenes
* – Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson
* – Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
* – The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
* – PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese
* – Original artwork by Ian Dingman (update)Film Info
1996
91 minutes
Color
1.85:1
Dolby Digital 5.1
Anamorphic
EnglishAbout the Transfer
is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Black bars at the top and bottom of the screen are normal for this format. Supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman, this new high-definition digital transfer was scanned on a Spirit 2K datacine from a 35 mm interpositive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System.
Update: After some debate over at the Yankee Racers forum, we have discovered, from the artist himself, Ian Dingman, that all of artwork is his:
Criterion has updated their Bottle Rocket information pages since there seemed to be confusion to exactly what you’re asking me about…
http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=450
So yes, the artwork for Bottle Rocket was done by me. Eric was unfortunately not involved – I’m a fan of his work as well.
Thanks to Ian for responding! He sells his original, affordable art at his website. We hope to have an interview with him posted soon. New friend of the site, we hope?
Reel Geezers: Pineapple Express and Man on a Wire
The Reel Geezers review Pineapple Express (warning: spoilers!) and Man on a Wire…
Guest Blogger: Derek Hill on The Darjeeling Limited
Derek Hill is the author of the new book Charlie Kaufman and Hollywood’s Merry Band of Pranksters, Fabulists and Dreamers, now available in the U.K. (Amazon | Waterstone’s | Blackwell ) and out soon in the U.S. ( Amazon ). He has agreed to write several pieces for the Academy. This is part 2; Derek has decided to offer the section of the book on TDL in its entirety. Enjoy!
‘Is that symbolic? We. Haven’t. Located. Us. Yet!’
– Francis Whitman (Owen Wilson) has his mind blown when he realises that the train he and his brothers have been passengers on is lost.
Anderson has never been averse to addressing mortality head-on in his films, specifically the death of a spouse (Rushmore), parent (The Royal Tenenbaums) or child (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou). Although all of his films are ostensibly comedies, there has always been an element of the impermanence of things, of people, that has delicately coaxed an emotional resonance forth from the wackiness. Not particularly original or groundbreaking, but when one considers the frequently bathetic treatment of death in much of American mainstream cinema, Anderson’s unsentimental and realistic treatment of grief is a commendable aspect and intrusion upon his lucid, intensely fabricated theatricality. As much as Anderson has become a master of the elaborate multi-layered mise-en-scene, he also astutely understands the moment to drop back, allowing his characters to feel the brunt of their sorrow without excessive ornamentation. The Darjeeling Limited is as waggish as any of Anderson’s previous work. But at its core is the black hole of loss, the invisible thread that binds us as profoundly (if not more so) than birth.
Continue reading “Guest Blogger: Derek Hill on The Darjeeling Limited”
Coming soon?
Guest Blogger: Derek Hill on Wes Anderson
Derek Hill is the author of the new book Charlie Kaufman and Hollywood’s Merry Band of Pranksters, Fabulists and Dreamers, now available in the U.K. (Amazon | Waterstone’s | Blackwell ) and out soon in the U.S. ( Amazon ). He has agreed to write several pieces for the Academy.
First of all, I want to thank Mr. Appleby for inviting me here to blog and for graciously mentioning my book, Charlie Kaufman and Hollywood’s Merry Band of Pranksters, Fabulists and Dreamers. The book is the first study of directors Richard Linklater, David O. Russell, Wes Anderson, Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola, and Michel Gondry as a movement of filmmakers despite their varied aesthetic approaches– a sort of (new) American New Wave in the direct tradition of the French New Wave filmmakers. It’s currently available in the UK and will be released in the US in September.
Perusing the Rushmore Academy message boards, I was taken with the thread asking “how long have you been a Wes fan?” So as a way to introduce myself to the Rushmore Academy, I’ll give my own rambling two cents, but also I’d like to talk about the film that did it… the one that sent me head over heels in love with Anderson’s work.
Continue reading “Guest Blogger: Derek Hill on Wes Anderson”
Rushmore an Entertainment Weekly “New Classic”
Entertainment Weekly ranked Rushmore #22 on its recent “New Classics” list of films made between 1983 and 2008.
Wes Anderson’s breakthrough comedy is, like its predecessor The Graduate, a mannered, idiosyncratic, and hilarious coming-of-age tale that makes amazing use of its rock soundtrack and features a decidedly odd love triangle: Bill Murray’s middle-aged businessman, Olivia Williams’ widowed teacher, and, of course, Jason Schwartzman’s ardent schoolboy.
We find the list objectionable on multiple fronts. Where are the other Wes Anderson films? And, Titanic and Die Hard both made the top 10. Hmm… but nice to see Rushmore recognized…
Recovery area (It’s not easy being green)
Kermit the Frog (not the real one) reenacts the “Needle in the Hay” scene from The Royal Tenenbaums. Brilliant or disturbing? You be the judge.
The original:
(link)
Fantastic We(in)spired prints
Bottle Rocket in HD
Bottle Rocket has been confirmed as a forthcoming Blu-Ray release by Criterion. (article)
Thanks to Tom, Micah, and Michael.
Michael adds:
I also double-checked with [Criterion] to make sure it will also see a standard DVD release, and they assured me it would.
How does an asshole like Bob get such a great kitchen?