I know beyond a doubt, ah
My heart will lead me there soon
We’ll meet (I know we’ll meet) beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again I’ll go sailing
I know this is an old post from @moldmoldfoldfold, but I found archives coming from a film research library that has press releases and physical files about Wes Anderson's work and his collaboration with Owen Wilson. I will continue to update this master list on their behalf.
of wes anderson and owen wilson
final edition (~23k)
* = transcriptions from video/commentary
** = archived newspaper/magazine excerpt
^ = retrospective editorials/reviews
(TWAC) 2013 = excerpt from The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz
The "Poison" short film is exceptional, primarily because of this scene. Initially, I thought it was an okay short film (I wasn't particularly fond of "The Ratcatcher"), but this bitter and painful exchange between the characters blew me away. After watching it, I discovered that while Anderson mostly stayed true to the original short story, he made significant changes to the ending. In the short story, Woods apologizes for Harry's behavior after the latter spews out horrible racist insults at Dr. Ganderbai. Ganderbai attributes Harry's behavior to the chloroform and recommends that he takes a long holiday. In the film, Woods apologizes for Harry and tries to convince Ganderbai that he saved Harry's life. However, Ganderbai responds coldly and tells Woods he cannot be sorry. It ends with, "Dr. Ganderbai started the engine and drove off." It was an abrupt, bitter, and sad ending to what initially seemed to be a very suspenseful, anxiety-inducing, fun story. Anderson brings the story's theme to the surface — racism is a poison that infects everyone around you with hate and darts out and striking when you least expect it. The story had an unexpected, bitter, and sad ending, despite the initial feeling of suspense and anxiety that made it enjoyable. Anderson emphasizes the story's theme - racism is a poison that infects everyone with hate and strikes when you least expect it. As soon as Harry is no longer in danger and is questioned by Dr. Ganderbai, his true colors come out. Woods and Ganderbai are left to deal with the terrible experience and are filled with sadness and pain. Pay attention to Dev Patel's eyes at the end of the scene. They are full of pain, anguish, and regret, common emotions in Wes Anderson's characters, which are always expressed through the eyes. The sudden and sorrowful ending of the story reminded me of the ending of "The Grand Budapest Hotel: It was an enchanting, old ruin—but I never managed to see it again.
“Yes, there might be insinuations of something there, but I haven’t acted on it. I tried to stay away from the idea that there is a romance going on between Ilsa and Ethan because it simplifies a relationship. The equality doesn’t take away from the idea of a romance, but for me, she’s so fierce and independent she doesn’t have time for [it], the same for him. There’s a bond between them that goes beyond love, or attraction or sensuality. It’s platonic, but it’s caring”
Rebecca Ferguson talking about how she does not view Ilsa and Ethan's relationship as a romance (LTF)
Charles: This special relationship between Ethan and Ilsa, it’s so fascinating, because between Rogue Nation, Fallout, and now Dead Reckoning Part 1, it’s this … quasi romance, I mean it is a romance, it feels romantic, but they’ve—they never kissed, once, in all three movies
Rebecca: Yeah, but I mean if you look at this film, would you also say there’s romance between Tom and, and Hayley Attwell?
(Drew and Charles don't answer, but indicate their disagreement)
Rebecca: So would we say that all women fall in love with Ethan? Or can we step outside the box and think there are moments where [there is] a rush of adrenaline, for a savior, for protection, for love, but it goes beyond it [I think she means the moment passes, the characters and the story moves on], it’s not meant to happen. We’ve had moments when I’ve kissed Tom in a scene, because I thought, I’m just gonna go for it and see what happens. And it didn’t make the film, because it made no sense. Because we would have lost—we would have lost what makes them interesting, individually and as, a unit.
Charles: So would you not characterize it as a romance, then?
Rebeccca: No, it’s too simple! It’s much more than that! They’re salt and pepper, they’re oil and water, they could never—their relationship, if was a relationship, it would never have lasted.
Drew: I always thought that maybe they—I thought they sort of found, sort of, safe harbor in each other. Because they are the only people that understand what their lives are like.
Rebeccca: Yes. But that doesn’t have to be romance.