RUSHMORE (1998) **** Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Luke Wilson. Hilarious comedy a la `Ferris Bueller's Day Off' as written by John Cheever: enterprising young Schwartzman (in a memorable acting debut; son of Talia Shire) as Max Fischer,a prep school student at the titular institution whose ambitions are only mired by his lack of decent marks, with even higher set goals in wooing a second grade teacher played by the sexy Williams. But it is Murray who (rightfully) steals the film as a rich philanthropist who befriends Schwartzman only to betray him by also falling for his love-to-be, with a truly funny turn pulling out all the stops including slapstick falls and a great scene of depression in action at a family poolside party (one for the archives). Written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson (who also directed and both teamed up for their freshman gem, `Bottle Rocket') the film is smartly executed and makes even a sometimes unlikable character an empathetic symbol of adolescent anomie. Brilliant filmmaking of the high order and Murray was robbed of a justifiable Oscar nomination for supporting actor !
Review of Rushmore
