Rushmore
1998
Director Wes Anderson's follow-up to the acclaimed BOTTLE ROCKET is a funny, warmhearted, and extremely sharp American response to the English Angry Young Man films of the 1960s, right down to its British Invasion soundtrack. Newcomer Jason Schwartzman creates a classic protagonist in Max Fischer, a sophomore at Rushmore .. Read more
| Starring | Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray, Seymour Cassel |
|---|---|
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Genres | Drama |
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Rushmore
Director Wes Anderson's follow-up to the acclaimed BOTTLE ROCKET is a funny, warmhearted, and extremely sharp American response to the English Angry Young Man films of the 1960s, right down to its British Invasion soundtrack. Newcomer Jason Schwartzman creates a classic protagonist in Max Fischer, a sophomore at Rushmore Academy. He excels at every extracurricular activity in school, from theater to beekeeping. Gradewise, however, he's failing. He has few friends outside school save for wealthy but depressed industrialist Herman Blume (Bill Murray), father of obnoxious twin boys who also attend Rushmore. Enter Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams), a beautiful young widowed teacher at Rushmore Elementary. While Max is immediately smitten with Miss Cross, she finds comfort in the company of the emotionally frazzled Blume. But Max won't let Blume have Miss Cross without a fight.
Anderson and cowriter Owen Wilson have created a script brimming with oddball humor at the surface, but at its core lies just enough realistic pain and disappointment to create an all-too-rare bittersweet edge, striking a subtle balance that few films ever achieve, and finally giving national treasure Bill Murray the chance to shine like never before. As director, Anderson displays his exceptional talents with careful choices in color palette, effective use of slow motion to comedic effect, and, most important, a brilliant selection of offbeat songs that are integral to the story. Easily one of the finest comedies since THE GRADUATE, RUSHMORE is a monument to brilliant filmmaking.
| Starring | Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray, Seymour Cassel, Mason Gamble, Brian Cox, Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson |
|---|---|
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Studio | BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 29 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 15 Jun 2006 Production year: 1998 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Director Wes Anderson and his co-writer Owen Wilson — who first caught the eye with their low-budget debut Bottle Rocket — score again with this unusual black comedy, which centres around an extremely unconventional teen hero. The boy in question is 15-year-old Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), one of the least popular pupils at Rushmore Academy, who nonetheless runs just about every club and school activity in a megalomaniacal effort to further himself. Schwartzman gives a superbly nerdy performance, but Bill Murray — playing a depressed millionaire — steals every scene in this quirky, edgy and very funny tale of an outsider who just might end up leading all those who laugh at him.
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"...RUSHMORE stands as the perfect comedy, with excellent characterisation happily skipping along hand in hand with pithy intelligent dialogue and plotting..." -- 5 out of 5 stars
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Most helpful member's review
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22 out of 22 people found this review helpful
Shares the same family tree as Election
Pie in the face it's not. A classy left of centre offering - from the same family tree as Election - charmingly skewed - deliciously dark in places -
Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman are both terrific - Schwartzman a revelation as he matches the dissaffected Murray at his desolate best. Much like Max - this won't be to everyone's taste.
It might not have made the Multiplex pass rate - but this is a worthy successor to Bottle Rocket and a precursor to Royal and his family.
Well deserving of its cult reputation.
Wry and vicious in equal measures - a gently humorous delight. -
Most recent members' review
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Kids weren't this eccentric in my day
Similar in tone and style to Wes Anderson's following feature "The Royal Tenenbaums", "Rushmore" is an attack on privilege and the American Dream from within.
Managing to be both very intelligent and utterly stupid, the story deals with Max Fischer, a student at elite school Rushmore.
Max, the bespectacled nerd, is a member of virtually every club at school, however his grades suffer and is in danger of being kicked out. He falls in love with teacher Rosemary Cross who can see Max's inner spark. Herman Blume, played exquisitely by Bill Murray, identifies Max's talents and becomes his mentor and later opponent for Rosemary's love. Murray displays the multi-faceted nature of the character that is at times tragic and wildly funny.
The film's central thesis deals with the way society places too much pressure on the young to become adults overnight. Max is an adult trapped in a 15 year old's body while his love rival Blume is almost childlike, despite being in his 50's.
Very post-modern in tone, it refutes the societal claims that you must work hard to succeed. It paints the children of the privileged as hollow robots. The film shows everyone has unique talents and these abilities should be nurtured in order to create a diverse society.
The film's distinct and vivid tone is aided by an excellent, predominantly, 60's soundtrack.
We need more risk taking filmmakers like Wes Anderson, who elevate the independent comedy to an intelligent level far above the usual Hollywood pap. -
News and features
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Charlie Bartlett
- 12 May 2008
What's a preppie to do when he's been expelled so many times his mom decides he's going to have to cut it in the public system? Charlie (Anton Yelchin) doesn't have an axe to grind, but he's clueless about his privileged background (he even wears a blazer to school) and genuinely shocked to find his head used as a toilet plunger. Despite his checkered record Charlie is no fool. Taking stock of his assets, he realizes that he can play his multiple therapists off against each other to ascertain... Read more
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