Rushmore (The Criterion Collection): Amazon.ca: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Sara Tanaka, Stephen McCole, Connie Nielsen, Luke Wilson, Dipak Pallana, Andrew Wilson, Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson: DVD

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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 Fischer, 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

Video Details

Wes Anderson's dazzling sophomore effort is equal parts coming-of-age story, French New Wave homage, and screwball comedy. Tenth grader Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is Rushmore Academy's most extracurricular student-and its least scholarly. He faces expulsion, and enters into unlikely friendships with both a lovely first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) and a melancholy self-made millionaire (Bill Murray, in an award-winning performance). Set to a soundtrack of classic British Invasion tunes, Rushmore defies categorization even as it captures the pain and exuberance of adolescence with wit, emotional depth, and cinematic panache. Criterion is proud to present one of 1998's most acclaimed films in a Director Approved special edition.

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Ten stars if it was allowed Jan 26 2001

By Blake

Format:DVD

By far one of the best films that has come out in recent film history. I don't even know where to begin. From the amazing script that is just one long enjoyable ride of dark humor to the incredible performances of Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams et al to even the music which pulls from classic Brit Invansion tunes. Considering that I bought the Criterion Edition, I feel that a review of that edition is in order.

This is why DVDs were invented. It includes the movie, of course, but a great commentary from director Wes Anderson, coscreenwriter Owen Wilson and actor Schwartzman. It also has a great behind the scenes documentary, by Anderson's brother. The 1999 MTV movie awards clips, where the Max Fischer plays reproduce scenes from Truman Show, Armageddon and Out of Sight is brillaintly, and a great addition to this DVD. There are even interviews with Murray and Wes Anderson from the Charlie Rose show! Even after watching the movie this DVD kept me completely engrossed for hours. It even includes a section called color bars...those lovely "this is only a test of the emergency broadcasting system" bars that we all grew up to love.

So if you haven't scene this movie yet, you are missing out on an American classic. And if you have seen it and are looking for the right way of adding it to your movie collection the Criterion Edition is the perfect choice.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

My review of rushmore April 27 2004

By Lucy W

Max is a dedicated student, putting effort into all after school activies. However his world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new female teacher. In which he and his new friend (bill murray) both fall for and compete for her affection.
I think the main theme to this movie is obsession, as max moves from one to another. The other theme could be commitment, because it shows the amount of effort max puts in to everything he does and tries to see it to the end.
I think it was acted out well, in showing the tourment each character was put through. I believe the soundtrack helped to movie progress, helping to emphase the mood within the scene.
I think it was a typically enjoyable movie in which has an originality to it, yet the story of trying to win over love has been done before. The style was very different, although it ran smoothly, it wasnt predicable as you weren't quite sure how it would end. I think the film was a success, would deffinatley recommend it to others to watch. The only thing I wished to see more of was the vengeful competition between max and his friend.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

One of my favorite films about adolescence May 1 2011

By K. Gordon TOP 50 REVIEWER

The film that established Wes Anderson as a major independent
filmmaking voice, after his very promising debut with 'Bottle Rocket'.

Quite simply one of the most original films about adolescence ever
made. An unlikely love triangle between a unique oddly brilliant 'cool geek'
teenager, his teacher and a local business tycoon that's
simultaneously funny, absurd and heartbreaking.

Jason Schwartzman is great, and Bill Murray may do his best work ever -
side-splittingly funny, but with a damaged, sad, sometimes dangerous
edge just under the surface.

As in all of Anderson's films, terrific use of songs as score,
wonderfully inventive transitions and visual framing. And a lot of fun.

The Criterion version has notably better
picture quality, and some terrific extras (the regular release is
pretty bare bones). It's more expensive, but worth it for a film
you're likely to return to repeatedly.