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.

Moonrise Kingdom review

 Number 467 on the top 1000 films of all time is Wes Anderson's coming-of-age drama 'Moonrise Kingdom.'

Scout Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and theatre star Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) are both social outcasts and pen pals. Upon meeting for the first time, the two quickly fall in love and run away on the New England island of New Penzance. They are pursued by a slieu of adults including policeman Captain Duffy Sharp (Bruce Willis,) Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton,) Suzy's mum and dad, Laura (Frances McDormand) and Walt (Bill Murray) and an unnamed social worker played by Tilda Swinton.

I think it can be all too easy to dismiss Wes Anderson's films as style over substance. He is well-known for emptying distinct colour patterns and symmetrical compositions. Academics Stephanie Williams and Christen Vidanovic said that almost every frame could have been a beautiful photograph. They weren't wrong. Moonrise Kingdom looked gorgeous on-screen with its visual style complimenting the whimsical nature of the film.

Was it style over substance? I'm not so sure. Underpinning the visual flair was a charming and heartwarming love story between Sam and Suzy. Anderson intended to depict a fantasied young love with all its innocence and idealism. That's what he did. Despite being acting novices, leads Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward were both great. They served as emotional anchors in an otherwise zany film.

Nowhere is it zanier than with the adult characters who were all just a little bit peculiar. This is especially true of Suzy's parents and Captain Sharp. While Suzy and Sam's relationship is blossoming, Walt and Laura's marriage is falling apart, least of all, because of Laura's affair with Captain Sharp. This was a nice distorted mirror image of young love even if it could have used a little more screentime.

Overall, I really enjoyed Moonrise Kingdom. Rather than being an example of style over substance, it was style AND substance with its distinct visual style contributing so much to the fantastical, timeless nature of the film.

Groundhog Day review

 Number 266 on the top 1000 films of all time is Harold Ramis' 1993 fantasy comedy 'Groundhog Day.'

Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a journalist reporting the famous Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvannia when he finds himself trapped in a time loop. Forced to relive the same day over and over, the cynical and irascible Phil has to rethink how he wants to live his life. Andi Macdowell co-stars as Phil's producer and love interest Rita Hanson.

Since its release, Groundhog Day has become a cultural phenomenon with its fans celebrating it every year. It's certainly a satisfying watch as we see Phil complete a nice character arc. We see him start a miserable, grumpy reporter who hates how he has to report nonsense stories like the Groundhog Day into a man who starts to appreciate life more.

Much of this was down to Bill Murray. Harold Ramis was determined to use Murray, as all the other choices seemed too nice. But Murray turned what could have been an unlikeable Phil Connors into a likeable character. Granted he's still a hit of a jerk, but he is a likeable one. Although he is in a very undesirable situation.

Ramis' direction was very good as well. Time-loop films by their very nature can have a tendency to be repetitive, but Ground Hog never felt particularly monotonous. not for me anyway, as for Phil, it was a very different story.

I was a little confused about Andie Macdowell's accent. at times, it was standard American and at others, it reverted to her native Georgian accent. Andie Macdowell specifically asked to do this, but I don't understand why. it was very jarring.

Nevertheless, Groundhog Day was a very enjoyable and creative film with lots of humour and lots of heart.