Some films create an entire world with its own rules and its own geography. Rushmore is one of the greatest of these.
The grounds and environs of Rushmore Academy are at once familiar and strange, populated by bored millionaires and Scottish vagabonds, lost aquatic heroes and their grieving lovers, gruff headmasters and winsome Asian teens – and of course, 15-year-old Max Fischer (newcomer Jason Schwartzman, the son of Talia Shire and nephew to Frances Ford Coppola), part Ferris Bueller, part Jay Gatsby and arguably the most complex, original, loveable but infuriating movie creation of the past three decades.
His grades are so poor he risks being thrown out of school, but Max – a scholarship student who tells people his father is a neurosurgeon (he’s actually a barber) – isn’t about to let his academic performance cramp his career at Rushmore.
He’s the editor of the student paper, president of the chess, stamp, beekeeping, astronomy, German, and French clubs, captain of the fencing and debate teams, founder of the Dodgeball Society, and the creative force behind The Max Fischer Players.
Then there’s his unreciprocated passion for Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), the new first-grade teacher.
With the help of his wealthy industrialist friend Mr Herman Blume (Bill Murray), Max reckons he can win her heart by constructing an aquarium on the school baseball field.
The tycoon and Max fall out when Herman also develops a crush on Miss Cross, and an extended battle ensues.
This is a peculiar, poignant comedy with an outstanding character turn from Murray.
Max Fischer
Jason Schwartzman Herman Blume
Bill Murray Rosemary Cross
Olivia Williams Bert Fischer
Seymour Cassel Dr Nelson Guggenheim
Brian Cox Dirk Calloway
Mason Gamble Margaret Yang
Sara Tanaka Magnus Buchan
Stephen McCole Mrs Calloway
Connie Nielsen Dr Peter Flynn
Luke Wilson Mr Adams
Dipak Pallana Coach Beck
Andrew Wilson Mrs Guggenheim
Marietta Marich Ronny Blume
Ronnie McCawley Donny Blume
Keith McCawley Alex
Hae-Joon Lee Mr Obiomiwe
Adebayo Asabi Ernie
Al Fielder Boy Portraying Frank Serpico
Colin Platt O’Reilly
George Farish Burnum
Francis Fernandez Fields
McCauley Penderdast Willie
Eric Weems Mrs Blume
Kim Terry Kim Terry George
Thayer McClanahan Mrs Whitney
Patricia Winkler Mr Halsted
Manning Mott Woody
J.J. Stonebraker 40 Ounce
Donny Caicedo Benjamin
Ali Ktiri Isaac
Robbie Lee Bellman
Morgan Redmond Tommy Stalling
John Killalea Mr Yang
William Lau Mrs Yang
Lucille Sadikin Coach Fritz
Danny Fine Regis
Kyle Ryan Urquhart Mr LittleJeans
Kumar Pallana Reuben
Stephen Dignan
Director Wes Anderson
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The grounds and environs of Rushmore Academy are at once familiar and strange, populated by bored millionaires and Scottish vagabonds, lost aquatic heroes and their grieving lovers, gruff headmasters and winsome Asian teens – and of course, 15-year-old Max Fischer (newcomer Jason Schwartzman, the son of Talia Shire and nephew to Frances Ford Coppola), part Ferris Bueller, part Jay Gatsby and arguably the most complex, original, loveable but infuriating movie creation of the past three decades.
Then there’s his unreciprocated passion for Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), the new first-grade teacher.
