Rating: 
Summary: Artsy, Beautiful, and Original. A Masterpiece!
Review: Rushmore has to be one of the best movies I've seen in my 15 year history. Not only is it funny, well-acted, and eccentric, it is also one of the best LOOKING films of all time. Those who are interested in aesthetics and are open-minded will find this movie to be very entertaining. Not for everyone, though. As the many 1 star reviews might have suggested that the world is plagued with many closed minds.
Rating:
Summary: So this is where it all goes down
Review: This is a brilliant movie, and as multiple viewings prove, a more complex movie than one would initially believe. The themes in the movie: love, death, inspiration, destruction, attachment, teen-angst are well-explored and the dialogue is unique and brilliant. "The best ever, man." Outstanding soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: A breath of fresh air
Review: I began watching this movie after a few months of trawling my way through the endless chasm of "teen" movies. This included such films as the rather dull Cruel Intentions and the frankly dire American Pie. I admit I am usually hard to please, so at the end of my tether this would need to be superb to return my faith in the Amercian movie industry.I was not disappointed. This was an absolute gem of a movie - perfect in execution, consistently witty, often moving, and always thoroughly enjoyable. I rarely watch a film again immediately after finishing it. This film, I watched three times over the two days I rented it. The acting was spot on. The love-struck,geeky, selfish - yet strangley likeable hero, Max, was played to perfection by Schwartzman, and Bill Murray gave a wonderfully underplayed performance as the lonely, sullen, somewhat lost businessman who befreinds Max. Williams turns in a great performance as the love-interest, and though still a slightly stereotyped Englishwoman, in Rushmore Williams makes it somehow more charming than annoying. The soundtrack is also perfectly matched to the movie. I always believe a good soundtrack adds depth to a movie - hightens your emotions, and Lennon, Stevens and co. do just that. When this film finished you knew it was a classic. From start to finish it is perfectly executed, avoiding cheesy moments, and constantly enthralling. Perhaps most strangely, it is not necessarily a new plot idea, its just been done here so well, that it deserves a place among the finest movies of the last few years. Classic.
Rating:
Summary: Wish I could Give this Remarkable Movie More than Ten Stars
Review: Did you ever see a movie that stayed in your heart for a lifetime? Expect this movie to find room there. I know that sounds really corny, but I mean it. On the other hand, this movie is incredibly funny so don't expect to be sobbing into your beer or anything. It's just that it gets to you every which way. It is funny, touching, and honest-- and it doesn't matter what your age is. You will identify with Max, you will love him in all his bravado and his frailty, you will understand his drives and want everything for him to be perfect, just as HE does. Of course, we all know life isn't perfect, and Max learns a few lessons, but teaches a few himself to the adults around him. It doesn't hurt that Bill Murray is fantastic as one of those adults: jaded, drinking too much, experiencing the loss of youth in a perfect portrayal of rich messiness; Olivia Williams is sublimely understated in her portrayal of the widowed dream teacher you would easily fantasize about at Max's age--non threatening, beautiful, something there that exists that is real, just for you, but that is out of reach, for now...and Jason Schwartzman is so wonderful I can't imagine anyone else in the part. I expect that he is going to become a truly great actor...oh, what the heck--he ALREADY IS.
Rating:
Summary: Something ever so slightly special.
Review: Every once in a while, a film comes along that's not only blissfully ignorant of temporary fads, but damn fine to boot. Such films usually get labelled "cult classics" and get shelved for 10 years, then rediscovered, re-examined, and re-praised (See also "Eraserhead", "Withnail & I", "The Wicker Man" et al). "Rushmore" is doomed to such a fate, while allowing Bill Murray possibly his finest performance ever, and some fine support from Jason Schwartzmann and Olivia Williams. Try as I might, I can't pinpoint exactly what's so great, so eerily timeless and so damn watchable about this film. At first, I thought it might have been the acting. Then, I thought, perhaps it's the wonderful story, which wraps so many seemingly disparate themes into its delightfully characterized narrative. There are deeply realized observations and statements about teenage angst, unrequited love, revenge, death, sub-oedipal behaviour, friendship, education, money-as-source-of-happiness, and above all, simple human interaction that raise this way above the level of any pedestrian "rom-com". Then there's the characters themselves. Max is the kind of teenager deeply ignored in typical "high school" films. Creative, intelligent, popular-yet-geeky, he spends much of his time participating in extra-curricular, out-of-school activities. There's never before been a more complex teenage character in an American film. Director Wes Anderson is also not afraid to reveal the darker side of his characters. The teacher, Miss Cross, for the most part, comes across with the same warmth of Roald Dahl's "Miss Honey", but when driven to frustration by Max's declarations of love, she adopts the kind of language most favoured by Jennifer Jason Leigh in "Short Cuts". Bill Murray's character is also brilliantly written, if anything, a slightly richer, less-detailed descendent of Kevin Spacey in "American Beauty". A middle-aged steel tycoon unhappy with his family and wealth, who is intrigued by Max's wit and seeks solace in the aforementioned Miss Cross. There's something ever so slightly special about "Rushmore", a film that avoids clichés at every turn, yet by the end credits, it feels like a timeless masterpiece. There really hasn't ever been a film like it. An absolute must-see, if only to figure out why it's so damn special.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Solid - Never a False Moment
Review: Rushmore is one of those movies that I had been meaning to see for awhile. I had read great things about it when it was in the theater and never got around to seeing it. Then I planned on renting it on DVD and checking it out. Finally, a couple nights ago, I did. And I found that this is one of the best, consistent movies I had seen in a long time. Jason Schwartzman absolutely nails the part of Max Fisher. Bill Murray is funny and breathes life into his dying--yet living--character. Olivia Williams gives Ms. Cross the perfect pitch. The rest of the cast is damn near perfect. This is truly the perfect cast for the movie. And as for the actual movie, it is quite funny. It carries a very sardonic, deadpan tone that works perfectly with these characters. Every moment seems true for this world and never does the writing fall weak or ring falsely. This is one of the most solid, consistent movies I have seen in a long time. This is also a beautifully shot movie. It benefits from great framing and some very effective use of the 2.35:1 ratio. This is a movie that truly must be seen in its widescreen format (though, of course, I believe ALL movies should be seen in their original ratio.) Bottom line, this is a hugely entertaining film that will undoubtedly be seen as a classic. As soon as I can afford it, I'm going to pick up the Criterion DVD. I recommend you do the same, because this is a movie you will be wanting to appreciate again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Pure pleasure.
Review: It is a rare treat to watch this movie. As much as I would like to talk about it, you must see it to experience its wonder. But to help you make the decision to buy, I offer a few words. This is a coming-of-age story about Max Fisher played by a very talented teen actor; it also stars a lovely actress playing Max's first crush/teacher/supervisor in a work-study program at his prep school. You will see Bill Murray at his BEST here as Max's buddy, confidant, and chief competitor. Along the way watch beekeeping, fencing, backstabbing, a high school play about Vietnam, and along this track comes the most compassionate portrayal of an intelligent high school male in film I have seen. All the while you will laugh until you cry. It is not a "girl movie" or a "guy movie." It is simply a very good movie which has made its way into my Top Ten of all time. Pretty stellar company.
Rating:
Summary: Funny & Creative -- I Was Happily Surprised
Review: I loved this film. It keeps you guessing and delivers many good laughs where you might not expect. It was a nice departure from all the formula films out there. The characters are interesting and well cast. Everyone I know who has seen Rushmore has loved it. If you're thinking of buying the DVD, do it, you'll want to watch it several times.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie stunk
Review: I cannot belive that I managed to sit through the entire movie. I did not find it funny or even amusing. Murray was bland and Schwartzman was irritating. What was the plot anyway? How did Max end up with so much influence over Murray's character? What was the purpose of this film? I cannot believe it was in the comedy section- it should have been in horror for how terrifying it was in it's blandness. Don't waste your time or money on this one folks.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent film... for some
Review: I have told countless people that "Rushmore" is my favourite film, and the responses I've received have ranged from "what the hell are you on" to "I totally agree with you". This is simply a movie that you either love or hate. Also, I'm a teenager and the stuff that we're fed (movie-wise) is, for the most part, junk. I resent that Tommy Hilfiger ads disguised as teen-slasher flicks are directed towards my generation by the truckload. It's wonderfully refreshing to see Rushmore, that is a so-called "teen movie", be so bloody well made. Kudos to Wes Anderson for making a teriffic movie and for releasing the superb Criterion Edition.
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