Rushmore **** (1998, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel) – Classic Movie Review 608

Unusually for a teen movie, writer-director Wes Anderson’s 1999 offering found the critics falling over themselves to praise this splendidly quirky comedy drama. It showcases a stunning performance by newcomer Jason Schwartzman (then 19) as Max Fischer.

He’s a gifted, rebellious 15-year-old teenager, a 10th grader at the elite Rushmore Academy  private school. Editor of the school newspaper, captain or president of innumerable clubs and societies, Max is his school’s brainiest kid by a long way. He’s king of extracurricular activities from the beekeeping society to writing and producing plays. But he’s also one of the most difficult students and the threat of expulsion permanently hangs over his head. And now he  finds out he’s on academic probation.

But then Max’s world is rocked when he falls for elegant first grade teacher Miss Cross (English actress Olivia Williams) and he plans to build an aquarium in her honour. He next finds himself competing for her affections with his friend, steel tycoon Mr Herman Blume (Bill Murray), the wealthy father of two of his classmates, Ronny and Donny. Max’s fate becomes inextricably tied to this odd love triangle, and the story unfolds as he sets about trying to resolve it.

Terrific as Schwartzman is, it is Murray, in his best work since Groundhog Day, who walks off with the movie as a parent who provides solace then competition for our lovelorn hero. One of that rarest of things – a teen movie with a brain and heart. Anderson writes the witty screenplay with actor Owen Wilson.

The veteran character actor Seymour Cassel plays Bert Fischer.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 608

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