An Ode to Owen

“Wow.” Few actors' cinematic journeys can be encapsulated in a single sentence — and even fewer in a single word. Yet that’s what Owen Wilson has managed to accomplish in his 30-year career. From squalor to Sundance, his rise to prominence began in the late ‘90s where he turned from mischievous indie darling to charming, subdued stardom. In the last two decades, there are few who have been able to match his “Wow Factor.”

There’s a particular literary quality Mr. Wilson possesses, like a quixotic character out of a Hemingway novel, a man whose life could be best described as an odyssey. An odyssey which sets sail in Dallas and makes port at Austin with a brief layover at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, oddly enough a school of his own choosing following an expulsion for cheating from his private school—a scene later brought to life in the 1998 film Rushmore (Rushmore DVD commentary). 

In Austin, on the campus of UT, a serendipitous encounter led to his meeting of the equally enigmatic Wes Anderson. Anderson’s first awareness of Owen came from his captivation at watching Owen read a newspaper throughout an entire screenwriting class, hardly bothering to look up. After being properly introduced by a mutual friend, they connected on their mutual love of film and were soon creating short films together to air on Austin Public and (unsuccessfully) attempting to get on movie sets such as Dazed & Confused.  

However, their rogue antics would soon pay off. Shortly after graduating Anderson decided to move to Dallas, where Wilson was staying with his two brothers. Here they would brainstorm the idea that would eventually lead to their first short film, a black & white irreverent comedy called Bottle Rocket—a name much maligned at the time due to the lack of an actual bottle rocket in the movie. This film, inspired by a simple conversation about Starsky and Hutch—a delightful irony considering Owen’s later role as Hutch in the 2004 film—showcased their knack for dialogue and storytelling. 

At Sundance their short caught the attention of the esteemed filmmaker James L. Brooks. Brooks, a mentor straight out of a Joseph Campbell narrative, guided the young auteurs through the creation of the feature film version of Bottle Rocket. This blessing opened Hollywood’s doors, but what may come as a surprise was that the film was initially viewed as a bust - originally being one of the worst screen-testing movies in history. Now a cult-hit, this movie was originally received so poorly that Owen considered joining the military before he aged out. Thanks to extensive reshoots the film was eventually salvaged and led to Bottle Rocket becoming the publicly acclaimed cult hit we know today - inevitably setting the stage for the two Texas natives to leave their unique mark on film.

Wow. Three characters, two letters, one word—that’s all it takes to encapsulate Owen’s persona in this simple, yet profound expression—a verbal bonsai garden. This essence is a testament to his unburdened, pure approach to life and acting. As we celebrate the anniversary of "Life Aquatic," we honor not just a film, but the remarkable journey of a man who continues to wow us.

With wit and humor, he's replete

 Each role he plays, a comic feat

In laughter's echo, so complete

An Owen laugh, we'll always greet