Rushmore
1998
****½
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Sara Tanaka, Connie Nielsen, Luke Wilson, Stephen McCole
Max Fischer is a clever and resourceful high school student who is involved in every imaginable extra-curricular activity at the expense of his academic performance. Now he falls in love with a first-grade school teacher and befriends a local business tycoon, and makes the mistake of introducing the two to each other. Wes Anderson's breakthrough is a quirky, original and disarming comedy, which reminds me of The Graduate, not only because of its themes but because of its dated feel and wonderful oldies soundtrack. Great performances all around.
