i started writing this as a response to mike in the “i heart huckabees” conversation but decided it merited its own thread:
anderson’s best movie is “bottle rocket”–the ne plus ultra of uncloaked, goofy sincerity. i love all his movies but none of them (or any of the later characters) move me the way anthony and dignan did. he needs to get out of his rut and write a new movie–everything since has been a new take on “bottle rocket” with the pleasures of a repertory company and a higher art direction budget taking the place of growth as a writer. though i must admit that he’s gotten better at writing women: inez in “bottle rocket” barely spoke, and olivia williams’ character in “rushmore” pretty much just raised her eyebrows–then again maybe its just angelica huston.
Well, I’ve liked all the films since, but I couldn’t agree more: Bottle Rocket is the funniest and most heartfelt and surprising (and often beautiful) of all his films. I could watch this–and do–about every six months. And I find myself yelling “Caw caw” whenever trouble strikes.
I think I agree about P.T. Anderson, your comment that he’s least likely to cloak his irony. Yeah–only in terms of structure is he at all ironic. Having his characters stop in the middle of a film to sing seems heavily ironic… but it ain’t in the working.
Gotta run. Max says hi.