Rushmore

MOVIE #1,304 •🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿• 12.31.23 WES ANDERSON: DIRECTOR FOCUS What can I say about this film? A movie I’ve seen probably a dozen times and know frontwards and backwards. I love it and — SPOILER ALERT — it’s going to be #1 in my ranking of Wes Anderson’s filmography. I know so much more about cinema now than when I saw this on DVD in the early 2000s (I think this was the first time I ever watched a movie with the director’s commentary) but it will forever be a landmark moment in my movie life. Everything that’s great about Anderson is here. It’s funny, because I almost feel like I need to apologize for (still) liking this as much as I do, but you know what? Fuck that. Rushmore rules.

These characters are so rich. I can understand the cynical dismissal of this (and most/all of Anderson’s work) as twee. It is ‘twee’ but it lives inside that aesthetic without limitation. This is why Anderson is so often imitated but never duplicated.

There are a number of subtle yet amazing performances here — I think Seymour Cassel is my favorite — from a plethora of big names and ‘nobodies’ alike (from the young Mason Calloway as the friend Dirk Calloway and the Scotsman Stephen McCole as the foil Magnus Buchan, to Brian Cox and Olivia Williams in their only Anderson film to date ) but, let’s be honest, this is Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray’s movie and they both give performances of their career (the former of which in his debut screen role).

I mentioned this in a previous review, but Schwartzman is the ultimate Anderson actor. He simply exists on the wavelength, making these crazy and colorful characters feel real. And of all the later period dramatic Murray roles, this one is the best. He transitions from big and funny, to contemplative and dour at the drop of a hat, without ever taking the audience out of it.

Another aspect I’m sure I’ve noted before but is worth reiterating is just how economical Anderson’s pictures are. His best work all seems to clock in just north of 90 minutes. This is really neither here nor there, and perhaps his style is simply more suited for a shorter run-time, but I’m still amazed by it.

Also out today: my final feature review in this Wes Anderson D.F., his debut film Bottle Rocket.

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Rushmore is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Wes Anderson about a teenager named Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman in his film debut), his friendship with rich industrialist Herman Blume (Bill Murray), and their shared affection for elementary school teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). The film was co-written by Anderson and Owen Wilson. The soundtrack features multiple songs by bands associated with the British Invasion of the 1960s. Filming began in November 1997 around Houston, Texas, and lasted 50 days. It was released on September 17, 1998.