Rushmore (1998)

Rushmore (1998) is a quirky, bittersweet coming-of-age comedy-drama about ambition, obsession and unlikely friendships. You follow Max Fischer, an overconfident 15-year-old prodigy of extracurriculars at the titular prep school who is suddenly put on academic probation. When he falls for the gentle elementary teacher Miss Cross and befriends disillusioned industrialist Herman Blume, a strange love triangle and rivalry ignite that push Max into increasingly elaborate, self-destructive schemes. The film mixes deadpan humor and genuine melancholy, anchored by vivid, eccentric characters (a breakout turn by Jason Schwartzman as Max and a memorable Bill Murray as Blume) and a razor-sharp script. Visually stylized and rhythmically edited, with an eclectic soundtrack and precise, whimsical framing, Rushmore delivers both laughs and emotional payoff: you’ll experience brisk comic set pieces and awkward, wrenching moments of real feeling as the protagonist learns about limits, responsibility and how to find a place in the world.

Actors: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams

Director: Wes Anderson

Runtime: 93 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

6.8 /10 87 /100 7.6 /10 7.7 /10