| | | Love. Expulsion. Revolution.
Features: DVD
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). 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 1998’s most acclaimed film in a Director Approved special edition.
"The best comedy of the year." Spin Magazine
"Magnificent! The best and most beautiful movie of 1998." New York Daily News
Editor's Note
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.
Plot Summary
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.
| Features | Props, posters, photos, and other graphic ephemera | | English 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital | | Cast Audition Footage | | Wes Anderson's hand-drawn storyboards, plus a film-to storyboard comparison | | Theatrical Trailer | | Interviews | | Special Collectible Poster insert a map of Rushmore's key events | | Widescreen Version | | Documentaries | | Audio Commentary by Wes Anderson, co-writer Owen Wilson, and actor Jason Schwartzman |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Buena Vista |
| Release Date: 1/18/2000 |
| Running Time: 93 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1998 | | Catalog ID: 1845503 | | UPC: 00715515010429 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Golden Globe (1999) | | | Bill Murray, Nominee, Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture | |
Independent Spirit (1999) |  | Wes Anderson, Winner, Best Director | | Bill Murray, Winner, Best Supporting Male |
| Memorable Quotes| "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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| | Professional Reviews | Sight and Sound
"...RUSHMORE is made to be treasured....An immediate American classic..." 09/??/1999 p.54-5Total Film
"...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 03/01/2000 p.80 USA Today
"...[Murray] is at his off-kilter best in this quirky coming-of-age caper..." 12/11/1998 p.15E New York Times
"...Bright, spiky....[RUSHMORE] includes a sweet turn by Seymour Cassel..." 12/11/1998 p.E31 Premiere
"...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..." 02/01/1999 p.30 Los Angeles Times
"...Like the best filmmakers, director Wes Anderson has an idiosyncratic sensibility, the rare ability to create a world that is completely his own..." 12/11/1998 p.C9 Chicago Sun-Times
"...Anderson and Wilson are good offbeat filmmakers. They fill the corners of their story with nice touches..." 02/05/1999 p.32 |
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