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Movie Description
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.
Synopsis
A bittersweet comedy more akin to British mod sensibilities and the French New Wave than traditional American teen flicks, Wes Anderson's film is an engaging, compassionate look into the life of 15-year-old Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a poor scholarship student at the posh Rushmore Academy. An extracurricular overachiever with grand schemes, Max believes he can accomplish anything--including winning the love of the beautiful teacher, Miss Cross (the luminous Olivia Williams). Max's dauntless pursuit of her love and the subsequent conflict with his friend and rival Herman Blume (Bill Murray, in a stellar performance) make for a witty and insightful exploration of the joys and frustrations of adolescence.
Film Notes
Limited theatrical release: December 11, 1998.
Major theatrical release: February 5, 1999.
The film was shot on location in Houston, Texas. The school used was St. John's School, director Wes Anderson's own prep school. While in Middle School at St. John's, Anderson put on plays based on films such as THE ALAMO, STAR WARS, and THE GAMBLER. One of Anderson's St. John's classmates, Michael Maggart, played the concierge at the hotel that Herman Blume stays in.
Anderson and Owen Wilson wrote the role of Herman Blume with Bill Murray in mind.
Anderson initially wanted a "young Mick Jagger," or Noah Taylor (FLIRTING, THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE)-type, for the role of Max but upon meeting Jason Schwartzman thought him perfect for the role, as sort of a "young Dustin Hoffman."
Jason Schwartzman is the son of Talia Shire and the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola. He also is the drummer for the band Phantom Planet.
Max's list of club positions include: Editor in Chief of the yearbook, the RUSHMORE YANKEE; Publisher of THE YANKEE REVIEW; French Club President; Russia, in the Model United Nations; Vice President of the Stamp and Coin Club; Captain of the Debate Team; Manager of the Lacrosse Team; Caligraphy Club President; Astronomy Society Founder; Fencing Team Captain; Track and Field, J.V. decathalon athlete; 2nd Choral Choirmaster; Bombardment Society Founder; Kung Fu Club Yellow Belt; Trap and Skeet Club Founder; Director of the Max Fischer Players; a flyer in the Piper Cub Club (with 4.5 hours logged); Backgammon Club Founder; and Wrestling Team alternate.
Max's mother's tombstone reads: Eloise Fischer/1942-1989/Beloved wife of Bert/And mother of Max/The paths of glory lead/But to the grave.
Anderson wanted to include a helicopter scene with Max and Mr. Blume, but Disney refused to pay for it. Murray, in a charitable spirit, gave Anderson a blank check, but Anderson never cashed it, and the scene was never shot.
Herman Blume's plunge into the pool was inspired by THE GRADUATE and meant to indicate his self-isolation.
RUSHMORE was selected as Best Film of 1998 by Premiere magazine.
Bill Murray won Best Supporting Actor honors from the L.A. Film Critics, N.Y. Film Critics Circle, and the National Society of Film Critics for his performance in the film.
In 2000, Jason Schwartzman supplied the voice of the monkey Julius in the online cartoon JULIUS & FRIENDS.
Industry Reviews
"...RUSHMORE stands as the perfect comedy, with excellent characterisation happily skipping along hand in hand with pithy intelligent dialogue and plotting..." -- 5 out of 5 stars
Total Film - p.80 - Nick Hunt (03/01/2000)
"...RUSHMORE is made to be treasured....An immediate American classic..."
Sight and Sound - p.54-5 - Richard Kelly (09/01/1999)
"...[Murray] is at his off-kilter best in this quirky coming-of-age caper..."
USA Today - p.15E - Susan Wloszczyna (12/11/1998)
"...Bright, spiky....[RUSHMORE] includes a sweet turn by Seymour Cassel..."
New York Times - p.E31 - Janet Maslin (12/11/1998)
"...RUSHMORE feels like a miracle -- a movie whose imaginative audacity is matched by perfect execution....There is so much to admire and adore in RUSHMORE..."
Premiere - Glenn Kenny (02/01/1999)
"...Like the best filmmakers, director Wes Anderson has an idiosyncratic sensibility, the rare ability to create a world that is completely his own..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (12/11/1998)
"...Anderson and Wilson are good offbeat filmmakers. They fill the corners of their story with nice touches..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (02/05/1999)
Quotations
"When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself."--a quote by Jacques-Yves Cousteau that is written in DIVING FOR SUNKEN TREASURE, a book read by Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman)
"What's the secret, Max?"--Herman Blume (Bill Murray)
"The secret?"--Max
"Yeah, you seem to have it pretty figured out."--Mr. Blume
"The secret...I don't know. I think you just gotta find something you love to do and then do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore."--Max
"We both have dead people in our families."--Max to Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams)
"Has it ever crossed your mind that you're far too young for me?"--Miss Cross
"It crossed my mind that you might consider that a possibility, yeah."--Max
"I like your nurse's uniform, guy."--Max to Dr. Flynn (Luke Wilson)
"These are O.R. scrubs."--Dr. Flynn
"Oh, are they?"--Max
"I know about you and the teacher."--Dirk Calloway (Mason Gamble) to Mr. Blume
"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?"--Max to Mr. Blume
"Rushmore was my life. Now you are!"--Max to Miss Cross
"She's my Rushmore, Max."--Mr. Blume to Max
"Yeah, I know. She was mine too."--Max
"Although I will say that Edward has more spark and character and imagination in one fingernail than Herman Blume has in his entire body."--Miss Cross
"One dead fingernail."--Max
"Sic Transit Gloria" (Glory fades).--Max to Miss Cross, also in Max's play, HEAVEN AND HELL
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