Bottle+Rocket

Unsure of where their lives are taking them, main characters Dignan and Anthony think planning heists can be a good way of establishing a stable source of income. Although the excitement of both planning and going through with these robberies may momentarily fulfill the missing gaps within their lives, both characters need to realize there is more to life than making a living out of robbing others. They need to understand that the key to a happy life is not one that is composed of a 75 year plan, nor built up on the amount of money one makes. Instead, it is one that is built up of love and ones relationships with others.

Bottle Rocket is Wes Andersons first feature film, therefore it is not surprise that it fits well with the themes brought up in this other movies. Most often, Wes Anderson movies deal with interesting and eccentric characters. His movies bring up themes relating to inner piece and self fulfillment, and often have plots built on family problems. In Bottle Rocket, all the characters are struggling to find their way in life. Thus, the theme fits well within Anderson's work, as it highlights this idea of needing to establish self fulfilling life that has real purpose and direction.



The first scene of the film introduces both of the main characters, Dignan and Anthony. Anthony has voluntarily submitted himself into a mental institute, but his friend Dignan is not aware of that fact. Therefore, Dignan decides to create a "rescue" plan in order to get Anthony out of the mental institute. Not wanting to hurt Dignan's feelings, Anthony plays along and pretends as if he has to escape in order to leave. Insight is therefore provided into the theme of the film as we already get an idea of the different personality types we are going to encounter with throughout the film. Dignan is shown as an interesting character with a lot of determination. He enjoys making plans, and feels a great sense of authority and cleverness from doing so. By showing Dignan in this light, we are already learning that he doesn't perceive life in a serious light. Instead he is unrealistic, despite the pride he may have in his plans. Anthony on the other hand is an empathetic character that has no real desired purpose for his life. In fact, having voluntarily submitted himself into a mental institute for 'exhaustion' already indicates that there is nothing more worthwhile in his life to keep him out of there, or to have hindered him from doing so.
 * 1. Identify the first image (or scene) in the film and describe how it provides insight into the theme of the film **

The inciting incident of the movie is where Dignan and Anthony do a practice heist. This is the first time both characters are pushed into a unfamiliar 'world' by going through with a practice plan to steal a number of listed objects out of Anthony's house. It's the first time they truly put their plans to the test, which then gives them a sense of reassurance that they could go through with a real heist (Thus, leading them to).
 * 2.What is the inciting incident? **

Some major plot points of the first act include:
 * 3.What are the major plot points of the first act? **
 * Dignan took something that wasn't on the object list (Anthony's mothers earrings)
 * Bob is appointed as the driver, and it is also learnt that he is growing marijuana crops in his backyard
 * Anthony's little sister implies that she thinks Anthony's a failure
 * Dignan feels as if his authority is being undermined by Anthony and Bob

The balance is upset when the guys go through with their first real heist at a local bookstore.
 * 4.At what point is the balance upset? **

The set up for act 2 occurs after the first heist. Dignan is content with the work they have done, whilst Anthony and Bob aren't convinced that Dignan's 75 year plan will play out. To 'lay low' after their first official criminal act, the team checks in at a hotel.
 * 5. What is the Set up For Act 2? **


 * 6. What threshold guardians appear in the first part of act 2? **
 * Anthony sees Inez
 * Bob learns that his brother has been arrested for the discovery of his marijuana crop


 * 7. What other conflicts raise the stakes? **
 * Anthony falls in love with Inez
 * Bob leaves to go help his brother

Dignan gets beat up without Anthony even realizing because he is too focused on Inez. This leads Anthony to the realization that they need to leave the hotel, and that he wants Inez to come with him.
 * 8. What is the reversal of fortune that occurs about halfway through the film? **


 * 9. What conflicts / threshold guardians define the second half of act 2? **
 * Inez doesn't want to come with Anthony
 * A car Dignan steals breaks down in the middle of the road causing Anthony to suggest that they should just give up and go home

Dignan discovers that the $500 they stole was in the envelope he gave to Inez. Furious at Anthony, Dignan and Anthony fight which leads them to go their separate ways. Anthony goes back and stays with Bob, and gets into a new routine where he works 3 jobs.
 * 10. What event starts act three and propels the protagonist to face their greatest challenge? **

**11. What is the rising action of act 3?** The team conduct their heist at a factory, but plans do not go accordingly. Bob drops his walkie talkie which leads him to lose contact with the others. This forces the group together which results in chaos and disorganization. The team discover that workers are in the building, and scramble to re-organize their planned heist. They are unable to unlock the safe however, and due to the chaotic nature of the situation Applejack gets shot. The team try to escape from the building, but leave Applejack behind because the elevator breaks. This forces Dignan back into the building to rescue Applejack. Meanwhile, Mr.Henry is in the process of robbing Bob's house.

As the police make their way to the site of the heist, Dignan struggles to escape due to the fact that the escape vehicle is locked. Opting for other options he tries to run away from the police officers but reaches a dead end which results in his arrest. The choice to run back into the building and save Applejack, and then later attempt to outrun the cops shows how the Dignan chose to got with his want over his need. Dignan to feel control and some sense of accomplishment from the heist they did, which led him to make the decisions he did.
 * 12. How does the climax of the film define the choice that the character must make between what they __ want __ and what they __ need __ ? **

Anthony and Bob visit Dignan in jail. They inform him of the fact that Mr.Henry was not who they thought they were, as he robbed Bob's house. They also tell him about how they haven't heard anything from Applejack since he was released from the hospital. The world they were so focused on becoming a part of, shows to be a world they really shouldn't have wanted to be a part of in the first place. The people they looked up to and thought they could trust turned out to be the exact opposite, and instead used them for their own advantage. However, despite all of this, Bob and Anthony seem to be content with where they now are with their lives. The entire situation formed a relationship between Bob and his brother that Bob thought was never possible, and Inez and Anthony finally got to be together.
 * 13. What is the falling action of act 3, and how has the world changed and found a new balance? **

Dignan jokes about trying to escape from jail, which both Bob and Anthony take seriously at first. After realizing it was all a joke, Dignan says "Isn't it funny how you used to be in the nuthouse and now I'm in jail?". This perhaps implies that everyone is finally where they should be. Although jail was probably not what Dignan envisioned for himself, he does not hold it against himself that that is where he is. Instead, he still feels a sense of pride and achievement over what they did.
 * 14. What is the denouement? **