Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3348 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, Latin
• Subtitled in: Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, Greek, Icelandic, Croatian, Polish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 89 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 Fisher, 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 Description
DVD Special Features

Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1: Eglish* in Dolby Surround: Czech
Subtitles: Italian/Portuguese/Hebrew/Greek/Icelandic/Croatian/Polish/English for the hearing impaired
89 Mins approx

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

A comedy like no other
Wes Anderson showed no sign of a sophomore slump with his second film. That film was cult classic "Rushmore," a coming-of-age romantic-comedy-drama that actually seems halfway plausible. Wittily-written, well-acted, and solidly-directed with plenty of amusing quirks.

Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) attends the elite Rushmore Academy, and is perhaps the most unusual student there -- he's part of every club and team in Rushmore, but failing all his classes. He encounters an odd friend of sorts in the unhappy magnate Herman Blume (Bill Murray), who is impressed by Max. At the same time, he befriends the smart, pleasant teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams).

But Max's world is turned upside-down. When he tries to build a magnificent aquarium in honor of Miss Cross, he's expelled from Rushmore. Worse yet, he learns that she's having an affair with Blume, who's every bit as attracted to her as Max is. Will Max, having lost what defined his life (namely, Rushmore), be able to bounce back?

"Rushmore" is one of those movies that Wes Anderson does really well -- it doesn't fit neatly into any one category, it's smart, it's funny, and the characters are endearing in a weird, quirky sort of way (especially when engaging in a sort of revenge one-upping, for the love of the teacher). It somehow manages to be sweet and pleasant without being schmaltzy or boring.

The writing is humorous, but not the sort of snort-hee-hee comedy that most movies have. (The limpest humor in here is the "O.R. scrubs" joke, and then it's clearly meant to be lame). Max's particular brand of dynamic brilliance is outlined best in the Vietnam-based school play, a mediocre idea raised to amazing levels. And unlike most movies of any kind, it leaves you thinking. Are the places we WANT to be the best places for us to be? Or would we really be happier elsewhere? Are the people we adore the people we should be with?

Max is an unusual character -- smart and mature, but somehow not quite as mature as he thinks he is. He always aspires to climb higher and higher, and clearly sees no end to how far he can go, and Schwartzman does an excellent job without being obvious about it. Bill Murray does a fantastic job as the depressed magnate who doesn't like his life as it is. Williams does a less amazing job, but is good as the center that the other two revolve frantically around.

"Rushmore" is a different but fully worthy follow-up to "Bottle Rocket," and it definitely won't disappoint Wes Anderson fans. A wonderful movie by a fantastic director.

An original classic in its genre
Wes Anderson's movie is a near masterpiece in the romantic comedy genre. It is moving yet witty, thoughtful and thoroughly enjoyable. The acting is superb, with Murray giving perhaps his best role to date. As far as the directing and production goes, it is quite simply one of the most original movies in recent times. It also manages to skirt the line between emotional and cheesy almost perfecly. It has been compared to 'Election', a movie with a similar setting and certain plot similarities. But unlike Election it remains a brilliant movie right until the curtains close (literally). Although the DVD is a let down in terms of extras, the film itself makes it impossible to give anything but 5 stars. A modern near-classic.

Good, but just something lacking
I saw tenenbaums first - then life aquatic - then rushmore - maybe i saw them in the worng order.

Rushmore is without doubt a great film - but after having seen the other 2 they just all seem a little 'samey'.

His characters are unique, quirky and full of idiosynchracies, but before I even saw this film I was ready for that - so when the joyous character of max fischer was put upon me i felt like i was already prepared for his keen attitude and eager intelligence - which is a shame coz he is a great and probably the best one out of the 3 movies.
(max must be autobiographical for wes anderson- for such an 'nerd' at school to be portrayed soooooo confidently it had to be a case of the 'nerd at school comes good for anderson' personally. -i know exactly what he feels and would be something i would do too should i be writing a screen play.)

I just cant help but feel that from here on - (life aquatic onwards) he must need to diversify a little (which he did do to an extent with L Aquatic with some animation and a little more action gun fights to iggy pop in the background is always a good thing!) as the whole scenario of children and adults with very unusual behaviours and personalities from very well to do backgrounds - who are all gifted and successful - but never actually seem to do anything exciting in the film - is getting a little tired.

There is a lot of father-son relationships in his films, and always a love interest that is shared between 2 people. The central figure is always a male. And the lady in question is always a mild mannered, soft featured, waif like but strangely attractive woman.

I'm sure wes anderson could continue for years making films with a father/son plotline - a 2 men fighting over a pretty, and well mannered woman, intelligent children and wildy eccentric people, but i just feel it may be time for him to use his excellent dialogue and script writing skills to a different scenario.

maybe he should write a film about eskimos or something? or maybe life in the city slums of Rio? This would take him out of the comfortable realm of well to do suburban america, where he could apply his skills to another culture of people.

just a few thoughts - out of the main 3 films he did - i actually think i prefer Life Aquatic, then Tenenbaums then rushmore - but all 3 are fantastic.

It would definately depend on how much action you want in a film and which one you see first that will define your opinions on each.

Anyway just a few thoughts for you - but enjoy if you havent already.