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Rushmore [1999]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk 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

Editorial
Video Description

DVD Special Features

Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1: Eglish* in Dolby Surround: Czech
Subtitles: Italian/Portuguese/Hebrew/Greek/Icelandic/Croatian/Polish/English for the hearing impaired
89 Mins approx

Editorial
Synopsis

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.
Editorial
-Premier Magazine, New York Daily News, Village Vioce

Best Film Of The Year

Just perfect
Review date: 2007-10-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

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 great, even the smallest cameos are well performed, and the director's idiosyncratic style shines through; if anything with more swagger and fun than any of his other films I've seen.

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Reviews


Unwatchable
Review date: 2007-07-11 Rating: 2 out of 10

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
Review date: 2007-06-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

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 just totally endearing and hilarious. You can't help but root for him.
The film is different and has an absurd slant, but not self-conciously so, which I feel the life aquatic and the royal tennabaums suffered from. The plot flows very well in Rushmore whereas I feel in the other two the narrative is hampered by the style. However here Anderson creates an incredibly stylish film with a great plot and dialogue. Everytime you watch it you notice another detail that you hadn't before. Its a great take on relationships and is unashamedly nostalgic and romantic, but somehow not in a cheesy way. Max gradually coming to terms with the reality of his own life, and his acceptance of his father, whilst still retaining all that ambition to create the 'best play ever man' just touches you and makes you feel all warm inside. The soundtrack is also perfectly judged and has some great tracks on it - I can't even listen to the Faces - Ooh la la anymore without thinking of that incrdible slow-mo last scene and getting a bit misty eyed.
So in conclusion - you should buy it. Its an amazing work of art and i wish all films were like this!

Such an original sense of humour and style
Review date: 2007-03-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

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 so unbelievably watchable, every viewing leads to the discovery of a gem of a line, a gesture or a set piece that you've missed before.


Good, but just something lacking
Review date: 2006-12-27 Rating: 8 out of 10

I saw tenenbaums first - then life aquatic - then rushmore - maybe i saw them in the worng order.

Rushmore is without doubt a great film - but after having seen the other 2 they just all seem a little 'samey'.

His characters are unique, quirky and full of idiosynchracies, but before I even saw this film I was ready for that - so when the joyous character of max fischer was put upon me i felt like i was already prepared for his keen attitude and eager intelligence - which is a shame coz he is a great and probably the best one out of the 3 movies.
(max must be autobiographical for wes anderson- for such an 'nerd' at school to be portrayed soooooo confidently it had to be a case of the 'nerd at school comes good for anderson' personally. -i know exactly what he feels and would be something i would do too should i be writing a screen play.)

I just cant help but feel that from here on - (life aquatic onwards) he must need to diversify a little (which he did do to an extent with L Aquatic with some animation and a little more action gun fights to iggy pop in the background is always a good thing!) as the whole scenario of children and adults with very unusual behaviours and personalities from very well to do backgrounds - who are all gifted and successful - but never actually seem to do anything exciting in the film - is getting a little tired.

There is a lot of father-son relationships in his films, and always a love interest that is shared between 2 people. The central figure is always a male. And the lady in question is always a mild mannered, soft featured, waif like but strangely attractive woman.

I'm sure wes anderson could continue for years making films with a father/son plotline - a 2 men fighting over a pretty, and well mannered woman, intelligent children and wildy eccentric people, but i just feel it may be time for him to use his excellent dialogue and script writing skills to a different scenario.

maybe he should write a film about eskimos or something? or maybe life in the city slums of Rio? This would take him out of the comfortable realm of well to do suburban america, where he could apply his skills to another culture of people.

just a few thoughts - out of the main 3 films he did - i actually think i prefer Life Aquatic, then Tenenbaums then rushmore - but all 3 are fantastic.

It would definately depend on how much action you want in a film and which one you see first that will define your opinions on each.

Anyway just a few thoughts for you - but enjoy if you havent already.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Brian Cox
Jason Schwartzman
Bill Murray
Olivia Williams
Seymour Cassel

Creators:
Jason Schwartzman (Primary Contributor)
Bill Murray (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
EAN: 5017188882576
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-06-15
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 89 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-02-05
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Latin (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Croatian (Subtitled)
Language: Polish (Subtitled)

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