Rushmore (1998)
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The story
Eccentric 15-year-old scholarship student Max Fischer participates extensively in extracurricular activities at the prestigious Rushmore Academy in Houston, but struggles academically. Max's middle-class background, which contrasts with the wealthy and privileged lives of most Rushmore students, feeds his determination to make his name known. Headmaster Nelson Guggenheim places him on "sudden death academic probation", warning him that if he fails one more class, he will be expelled. At a school assembly, Max meets Herman Blume, a disillusioned parent and local industrialist who despises his twin sons Ronny and Donny, both students at Rushmore. Blume befriends Max and takes him under his wing.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After discovering a note in a library book, Max becomes obsessed with Rosemary Cross, a widowed teacher. He attempts to woo her, leading to a public declaration of love which she rejects due to their age difference. Max's actions cause friction with other students, and he is eventually expelled after a failed attempt to build an aquarium on the school's field. He then enrolls at a local public school, where he meets Margaret Yang. Meanwhile, Blume and Rosemary begin a secret relationship. A falling out between Max and Blume leads to a period of mutual hostility and legal trouble for Max. Eventually, the two men reconcile at the grave of Max's mother. Max returns to school and eventually helps Blume and Rosemary reconcile. The film concludes with Max and Margaret becoming a couple, while Max and Rosemary share a dance.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Anderson
- Writers
- Wes Anderson · writer; Owen Wilson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jason Schwartzman · Max Fischer; Bill Murray · Herman Blume; Olivia Williams · Rosemary Cross; Seymour Cassel · Bert Fischer; Brian Cox · Nelson Guggenheim; Mason Gamble · Dirk Calloway; Sara Tanaka · Margaret Yang; Connie Nielsen · Mrs. Calloway
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- coming-of-age; mourning; identity
- Tone and mood
- quirky; whimsical; melancholic
- Premise and plot tags
- unlikely friendship; academic setting; romance
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman and the unique visual style. It was noted for its quirky tone and was eventually selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · scale: percentage · review count: 107; Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Independent Spirit Award · Best Director · 1999 · Win; Independent Spirit Award · Best Supporting Male · 1999 · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2016.; The soundtrack was originally intended to be entirely made up of songs by the Kinks.; The character of Margaret Yang was originally intended to have a wooden finger.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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