Bottle Rocket (1996 First Feature)

Bottle Rocket (1996 First Feature)

Author: Awesome Movie Year April 29, 2020 Duration: 53:36

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket. Directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and Owen Wilson and starring Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Lumi Cavazos and James Caan, Bottle Rocket was an expansion of Anderson’s 1994 short film and also marked the film debut of both Wilson brothers.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bottle-rocket-1996), David Hunter in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bottle-rocket-review-1996-movie-1086888), and Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/21/movies/film-review-slackers-with-ambition-to-become-desperadoes.html).

Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring the year’s biggest flop, literary adaptation The Island of Dr. Moreau.


Ever wonder what makes a particular year in cinema truly stand out? Awesome Movie Year digs into that very question, one remarkable film at a time. Co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell alongside filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris, this podcast picks a single, noteworthy year each season and meticulously explores what made it so special. Rather than broad overviews, every episode zooms in on a different movie from that chosen year, offering a deep dive into its impact, its cultural moment, and its lasting legacy. The conversations blend critical analysis with a genuine love for the medium, thanks to the hosts' complementary backgrounds. Produced by David Rosen of Piecing It Together for the All Points West Podcast Network, the show has a polished yet conversational feel. You’ll hear about blockbusters and hidden gems alike, all through the lens of why they mattered then and why they still resonate. It’s for anyone who loves to look beyond the screen and understand the context that creates a classic. Tune in to Awesome Movie Year for a thoughtful and engaging tour through some of cinema’s most fascinating periods.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 375

Awesome Movie Year
Podcast Episodes
Chicken Run (2000 Animation) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features our animation pick, Aardman Animations’ Chicken Run. Directed and co-written by Nick Park and Peter Lord and starring the voices of Julia Sawalh…
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:36
The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features our foreign film pick, Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Directed by Ang Lee and starring Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-fat, Zhang Ziyi, Chan…
Wonder Boys (2000 Josh’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:38
The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features Josh’s personal pick, Curtis Hanson’s Wonder Boys. Directed by Curtis Hanson from a screenplay by Steve Kloves (based on the Michael Chabon novel…
The Gleaners and I (2000 Documentary) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:47
The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features our documentary pick, Agnes Varda’s The Gleaners and I. Directed by and featuring Agnes Varda, The Gleaners and I is considered one of the greate…
Dancer In The Dark (2000 Cannes Palme d’Or Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:33
The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark. Written and directed by Lars von Trier and starring Björk, Cath…
Battlefield Earth (2000 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:36
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features the year’s biggest flop, L. Ron Hubbard adaptation Battlefield Earth. Directed by Roger Christian from a screenplay by Corey Mandell and J.D. Sha…
Sexy Beast (2000 First Feature) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:41
The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast. Directed by Jonathan Glazer from a screenplay by Louis Mellis and David S…
Mission: Impossible II (2000 Box Office Champ) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:46
The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 2000 features the highest-grossing film at the box office, John Woo’s Mission: Impossible II. Directed by John Woo from a screenplay by Robert Towne and starri…
Broadcast News (1987 Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
This special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1987 features James L. Brooks’ Best Picture nominee Broadcast News. Written and directed by James L. Brooks and starring Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks,…
1939 Epilogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:33
In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1939, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about thei…