In association with

Rushmore [1999]
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox
directed by Wes Anderson

Features:

• PAL

Editorial Review:

Wes Anderson's follow-up to the quirky Bottle Rocket is a wonderfully unorthodox coming-of-age story that ranks with Harold and Maude and The Graduate in the pantheon of timeless cult classics. Jason Schwartzman (son of Talia Shire and nephew of Francis Coppola) stars as Max Fisher, a 15-year-old attending the prestigious Rushmore Academy on scholarship, where he's failing all of his classes but is the superstar of the school's extracurricular activities (head of the drama club, the beekeeper club, the fencing club...). Possessing boundless confidence and chutzpah, as well as an aura of authority he seems to have been born with, Max finds two unlikely soulmates in his permutations at Rushmore: industrial magnate and Rushmore alumnus Herman Blume (Bill Murray) and first-grade teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). His alliance with Blume and crush on Miss Cross, however, are thrown out of kilter by his expulsion from Rushmore, and a budding romance between the two adults that threatens Max's own designs on the lovely schoolteacher.

Never stooping to sentimentality or schmaltz, Anderson and cowriter Owen Wilson have fashioned a wickedly intelligent and wildly funny tale of young adulthood that hits all the right notes in its mix of melancholy and optimism. As played by Schwartzman, Max is both immediately endearing and ferociously irritating: smarter than all the adults around him, with little sense of his shortcomings, he's an unstoppable dynamo who commands grudging respect despite his outlandish projects (including a school play about Vietnam). Murray, as the tycoon who determinedly wages war with Max for the affections of Miss Cross, is a revelation of middle-aged resignation. Disgusted with his family, his life, and himself, he's turned around by both Max's antagonism and Miss Cross's love. Williams is equally affecting as the teacher who still carries a torch for her dead husband, and the superb supporting cast also includes Seymour Cassel as Max's barber father, Brian Cox as the frustrated headmaster of Rushmore, and a hilarious Mason Gamble as Max's young charge. Put this one on your shelf of modern masterpieces. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Just perfect
  I found this film on VHS in my local bargain bin for £2, being a sort of on the spot compulsive buyer, I went for it.
  As soon as 'Making Time' by Creation came on during the opening montage i knew i was going to love this film. The characters and interplay between them is superb (my particular favourite is the awkwardness between Ms.Cross and Max Fischer) and in my opinion, this is Bill Murray at his best (even better than lost in translation which I thought was brilliant).
  The soundtrack is... more info

• Unwatchable
  I love pretentious films but I find Wes Anderson self-indulgent and unfunny. I didn't know that this film was done by the Tenenbaums director, but the style soon gave it away. I really tried to like Max, the high school plonker, but I found the whole scenario unconvincing and tedious.

• ooh la la
  I completely love this film and never get tired of watching it. Its one of the most charming and engaging things I've ever seen. All the performances are fantastic, from Bill Murray's jaded industrialist (his 'I'm a little lonely these days' line is heartrending!) to Dirk Calloway's faultless comic turn as Max's sidekick. I also think Jason Schwartzman is incredible as Max, and i was so surprised to hear it was his debut performance. It could be easy to dislike Max but the way Schwartzman plays it, Max is... more info

• Such an original sense of humour and style
  Rushmore I feel is the quintessential Wes Anderson film. As much as I enjoy his other work Rushmore will always stay with me for its dry and original sense of humour combined with an excellent script and excellent cinematography.
  Even though Bill Murray's performance and legendary status may attract some viewers to this film, yet I think that it is Jason Schwartman's (of the Coppola clan) debut role as the misunderstood youth, that truly holds his own and makes this film what it is.
  This film is... more info

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