Rushmore sings the praises of the ambitious misfit who can't get out of his own way, a love letter to a teenage boy who is just as ignorant as he is smart. You can find Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) insufferable if you want, but this movie succeeds in making a 15 year old boy - hard to admire, rarely cool, often a hard person to love - our hero.
Bill Murray delivers maybe his best-ever performance as Herman Blume, another school parent wallowing in a midlife crisis, and finds in Max the joy for life that he's missing.
Olivia Williams is the kindergarten teacher at Rushmore that forms the third player in the would-be love triangle. By 2024 standards, the friendship she allows to grow with a 15-year-old is completely inappropriate. By 1998 standards she should have known better, and she is unable to push Max away and keep him away. A thankless role, but necessary.
We watched it again in November 2024 after The Criterion Collection had one of their 50% off sales, and I bought the Blu-Ray. All I have to add is that the ending of Rushmore is an excellent example of a happy ending that ties all the characters together and satisfies the viewer, without pandering or feeling to pat. Also "Ooh La La" is an amazing needle-drop, literally.
Wes Anderson is a Generation Xer, the movie is full of 60s and 70s rock, movies, and style choices, but our generation was already graduating from college when it came out in 1998. The late 90s were the Millennial formative years, Rushmore must be a keystone work for them?
If you haven't seen it, and you're weary of Anderson's rigid, stifling moviemaking, try and put those feelings aside and give Rushmore a chance. On Prime Video, I guess we don't have Emily's old VHS tape anymore?