If the names Dignan, Zissou or Tenenbaum sound like alien attributions, then Wes Anderson must be just as foreign. If these names are in fact familiar, you be familiar with this director’s work and at least have a vague idea of his contributions to the independent film industry.
The closing of the 20th Century marked the initiation of Anderson’s film legacy. At the beginning, he created low-budget pictures that audiences could laugh at and relate to. He contributed to the foundation of independent film making recognized today through these characters and how he portrays life in a quirky, off-beat manner.
Anderson’s interest in film started when he was a kid according to an interview with the British Publication, the Guardian. He started filming homemade thrillers and trying to create pieces like Indiana Jones, Star Wars and his favorite filmmker, Alfred Hitchcock.
His first film for the silver screen started out as a short, which he co-wrote with his friend from the University of Texas, Owen Wilson. The humble beginning included Wilson in the role of the heist-wannabe, Dignan, and his younger brother Luke played Dignan’s friend Anthony.
Less of a caper comedy and more of a movie that reflects the light-hearted nature of its creators, “Bottle Rocket” is about nothing more than three guys trying to fill their time in their hometown. The cinematography is nothing fancy nor are the scenes, but the simplicity of the piece is what makes the film so relatable.
It was initially released at festivals like the Sundance Film Festival until James L. Brooks saw it and fueled the full production, which was released in 1996. Critics were generally approving of Anderson’s fresh take on film making and accepted the sporadic storyline.
“ ‘Bottle Rocket’ is entertaining if you understand exactly what it is: if you see it as a film made by friends out of the materials presented by their lives and with the freedom to not push too hard,” Roger Ebert reviewed. “Its fragile charm would have been destroyed by rewrites intended to pump it up or focus it; it needs to meander, to take time to listen to its dialogue, to slowly unveil character quirks, particularly Dignan's.”
Ebert predicted the creators’ next movie would be better, but called this a good start and encouraging for would-be filmmakers.
From this humble beginning, Anderson went on to create the 1998 comedy “Rushmore,” which began the extensive partnership between himself and comedian Bill Murray. Three years later Anderson collaborated with Murray and the Wilson brothers again to create “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
In his signature fashion, Anderson created a series of events tied together with idiosyncratic dialogue and likeable characters. This movie does set a precedent for him in the realm of character development. He takes risks with allowing them to change in drastic ways throughout the movie and following their changing interactions with the environment
Tenenbaums marked his first Oscar accolade, being nominated for best writing directly for the big screen. Also notable is his acquisition of well-known names for this movie like Ben Stiller, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Danny Glover. The entire ensemble worked well together on screen to make each of the characters believable yet unique.
Many of these actors would continue to appear in future Anderson endeavors like “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou,” which casts Owen Wilson, Murray, and Huston.
The year 2007 marked his release of the full feature production “The Darjeeling Limited” and a short, “Hotel Chevalier,” which acts as a prologue to the first. Again, he staffs people he was familiar with and this time co-wrote with “Rusmore” star Jason Schwartzman.
Most recently, Anderson’s first animated feature, “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” in the 2010 Academy Awards. Based on a novel by Roald Dahl, Anderson again brings real-life stories to the screen in his charismatically odd way.
Though his career may not be as readily recognized as the works of Quentin Tarantino or Michael Moore for their riskiness, Anderson’s films bring just as much originality to the independent film industry. He covers dark subject matter, but in a light way and proved that quality humor can come in the form of a relaxed, easy-going movie. Anyone looking for a matter-of-fact series of movies that reflect a unique perspective on life should turn to Anderson and will be thrilled.
