Rushmore
'Rushmore' is a story of a gifted, rebellious teenager named Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a 10th grader at elite Rushmore Academy. Editor of the school newspaper, captain or president of innumerable clubs and societies, Max is also one of the worst students in the school, and the threat of expulsion hangs permanently over his head.
Max's world is rocked when he falls for elegant 1st grade teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), and he plans to erect an aquarium in her honor - then finds himself competing for her affections with his friend, steel tycoon Mr. Blume (Bill Murray), the wealthy father of two of his classmates.
Member Reviews
Wes Anderson's finest film - eli_quincy
It's amazing to look back on "Rushmore" and realize the influence it's had. A generation of indie filmmakers were clearly affected by the film's clever dialogue, aesthetic punch and off-beat sense of humour, but "Rushmore" is still the best of the bunch. One of the finest, and truest, coming-of-age films in recent memory.Remarkable Rushmore - CharleyJames
Rushmore is a comic original. With its dry, throwaway humor and constant stream of chuckles, it creates its own category of stealth comedy. There's a sweet humanity about the picture, though it's anything but sentimental. It's odd, definitely odd.
Rushmore defies clichés and Jason Schwartzman isn’t a classic nerd. His grades are weak. He's not shy but confident to the point of obliviousness. He has the comic mannerisms of someone who seems to have molded himself after a 1920s theatrical tycoon. We don’t know anyone like him but recognise him as authentic.
Bill Murray plays Blume, a local industrialist who somehow, through the veil of his own middle-aged angst, finds himself responding to Max because Blume also is alienated.
Murray has the most emotionally layered deadpans on film. To look at him is to recognize a fellow who, at his age, became lovesick and pathetic. He knows it and is sad about it, yet sees the humor in his own sorry spectacle.
Rushmore revolves around Max and Blume's obsession with the same teacher at Rushmore. Miss Cross is a young, pretty widow, played with sensitivity and intelligence by Olivia Williams. She is the most telling example of the boy's ambition, which also manifests itself in a series of epic plays that he dashes off.
The question is whether Max's grandiosity will turn him into a stalker and menace or into a creative and appealing person.
Schwartzman, the son of Talia Shire, captures the comical self-absorption of a gifted teenager. In his best scene, he gets lavishly drunk on one drink and becomes insulting over dinner to someone he perceives as a rival.
Rushmore was Anderson’s second film. His first, Bottle Rocket, was awful. Yet one recognizes, in retrospect, that Bottle Rocket shares a family resemblance to Rushmore, particularly its skewed take on suburban life.Love. Expulsion. Revolution. - Paulzy
Wes Anderson, director of the indie classic Bottle Rocket, continues making his mark in the world of film with collaborator Owen Wilson in this witty ironic dramady.
All of the actors deadpan Wilson and Anderson's brilliant lines with perfect timing. In particular, Jason Schwartzman as Max Fischer is excellent in his first acting roll as he plays against Bill Murray. As Herman Blume, Murray easily puts in his best performance EVER. Forget Caddyshack, forget Ghostbusters Bill Murray found the type of roll he was born to play in this movie. His followup films have all leaned towards this type of performance. If you enjoyed Lost in Translation, or The Royal Tenenbaums, you will love this movie.
Herman Blume: Why did you ask me to come here?
Max Fischer: Oh, I was going to drop that tree on you.
Herman Blume: That big one?
Max Fischer: Yeah.
Herman Blume: It would've flattened me like a pancake.
Member Reviews
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Wes Anderson's finest film - eli_quincy
It's amazing to look back on "Rushmore" and realize the influence it's had. A generation of indie filmmakers were clearly affected by the film's clever dialogue, aesthetic punch and off-beat sense of humour, but "Rushmore" is still the best of the bunch. ...Remarkable Rushmore - CharleyJames
Rushmore is a comic original. With its dry, throwaway humor and constant stream of chuckles, it creates its own category of stealth comedy. There's a sweet humanity about the picture, though it's anything but sentimental. It's odd, definitely odd.
Rushmore ...Love. Expulsion. Revolution. - Paulzy
Wes Anderson, director of the indie classic Bottle Rocket, continues making his mark in the world of film with collaborator Owen Wilson in this witty ironic dramady.
All of the actors deadpan Wilson and Anderson's brilliant lines with perfect timing. ...