Rushmore review

 Number 537 on the top 1000 films of all time is Wes Anderson's comedy, coming-of-age drama 'Rushmore.'

Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is an upstart private school student who is a chronic under-achiever. Under threat of expulsion, he befriends local industrialist Herman Blume (Bill Murray) while developing an attraction to teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams.) However, Fischer doesn't realise that Blake is also attracted to her.

Rushmore was Wes Anderson's second film before he gained his established reputation as an auteur. That much is clear in Rushmore's visual aesthetic. The symmetrical composition and vibrant colours reminded me of Anderson's later coming-of-age drama Moonrise Kingdom. It's just a shame that Rushmore lacked the same interesting or charming characters.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with the rather annoying Max Fischer. He very much embodied the misunderstood genius who is far too clever for everybody else except he isn't clever at all. If he was, then he wouldn't be threatened with expulsion from school. Instead he became been more annoying and tedious especially when a love triangle develops between him, Frume and Cross.

This isn't to disparage Bill Murray or Olivia Williams. Their characters were far more interesting and their performances more likeable. Murray brought some much-needed humour to the film, while Williams brought the gravitas. It's just a shame that the main character was so annoying.

In my review of Moonrise Kingdom, I had described it as substance AND style. However, Rushmore was style over substance.