Rushmore
Since making his directing debut with the 1996 cult caper film Bottle Rocket, Wes Anderson has established himself as one of film's most exciting young directors. Most recently, he delivered the superb comedy The Royal Tenenbaums, about an aging father (brilliantly played by Gene Hackman) trying to reconcile with his family. In between, he delivered Rushmore, a witty, heartfelt and often amusing film that features a hilarious performance by Bill Murray.
Anderson wrote the quirky script with his right-hand man, actor Owen Wilson (Shanghai Noon, Meet The Parents), with whom he also collaborated on Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums. The story follows the trials and travails of high school student Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a sharp kid who focuses his attention on a plethora of offbeat extracurricular pursuits (fencing club, Latin, playwriting) rather than his studies.
In between attending to his various activities at Rushmore (the name of the private school he attends), Max develops a crush on Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), an elementary school teacher at his school. He also befriends Herman Blume (Bill Murray), an eccentric millionaire whose two sons attend school with Max.
Things soon fall apart for Max: The school expels him, Miss Cross denies his flirtations, and Blume begins courting Miss Cross himself. That sets up an extremely funny tete-a-tete between Max and Blume, highlighted by the scene in which Blume runs over Max's bike with his car.
As the intriguing love triangle of Max, Blume and Miss Cross plays out, Max finds solace in his caring father and a female student at his new school. The ending, which features all the characters coming together to watch Max's newest play, is entirely satisfying without being hokey or cynical.
Rushmore was one of the most original and entertaining comedies of the '90s. Take the scene in which Max expresses some hostility to Miss Cross' date, Dr. Peter Flynn (Luke Wilson), while they dine at a fancy restuarant:
Max: I like your nurse's uniform, guy.
Dr. Flynn: Actually, these are my O.R. scrubs.
Max: Oh, are they?
Schwartzman, the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), exhibits a great knack for comedy in this scene and throughout Rushmore. But Murray steals the show with a masterfully funny turn that scored him a Golden Globe Nomination and Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor. In one unforgettable scene, Herman suggests that his sons invite Max to their birthday party. "There's gonna be girls there," replies one. "Yeah," adds the other, "Get your head out of your ass." Murray's initial deadpan reaction will have you howling; his subsequent reach into the back seat to pummel his son will have you rolling on the floor.
Anderson, who captured the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, exhibits a sense of craft that's rare for comedic directors. Rather than depend solely on physical gags or even amusing one-liners, Anderson uses set direction, art direction and music to enhance his vision. Even if your sense of humor doesn't jive with Anderson's, you'll walk away from Rushmore with an appreciation for his careful attention to detail.
"Wes Anderson, at age 30, has a very special kind of talent," wrote legendary Director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Gangs of New York). Check out Rushmore, and see that talent in action.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
The (way) underage Max boozes it up and gets belligerent at a swanky restaurant. Consider that your cue.
The love stories here may be unusual, but they're touching nonetheless.
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