Rushmore (Film Review)

'Rushmore' could easily fall in many ways. Especially when you're incorporating the story with Wes Anderson's quirky approach on the process. It is a film that is cleverly written, gorgeously framed, and it's quintessential Wes Anderson that started it all. There's something odd about it that reminds me of Mike Nichol's "The Graduate". Our lead Max Fischer could easily be compared to a slightly older Benjamin Braddock in the making. Both wore the obvious suit and tie outfit most of the time, and participated in an affair with a mature woman.

At first glance, Max Fischer could be clearly identified as one of Rushmore's prized whiz students. He is an activity jock, a member of a plenty number of clubs: fencing, director of school plays, you name it. But in reality, he's lesser than that. A scholar who's done poor at school and his father was a barber. Until he met Miss Cross, a Rushmore English teacher and found a friend within steel tycoon Herman Blume. Max fell in love to Miss Cross, not knowing Blume felt the same way.

The thing about Wes Anderson's films are that it belong in an exclusive genre. Nobody makes a film like Wes Anderson. If you look at any other coming-of-age dramas, nothing comes close to be same as this film. The performances in this film gave it real justice. This is Jason Schwartzman's acting debut. There is an uneasy feeling on his performance that truly fits at this genre Anderson created. No wonder, he's givong the same exact performance in future Wes Anderson films. But this is really Bill Murray's breakout work. Might be his best performance on his career. Through his eyes, you can tell that he's morphed in this bizaare character on the state of depression.

Typical Wes Anderson, the framing of this movie was elegant, and symmetrical ( if you know what I mean). Not to mention, the soundtrack, fantastic. Beyond it's great characters or the many nods to 'The Graduate', this is a coming-of-age story that has too many depths beyond it. There is a Max Fischer in all of us, and a Rushmore that we all fight for.

The geek rates it 7.6/10.