O R They: A Review of the 1998 film Rushmore
The hit movie, entertaining all age groups, Rushmore was released in the December of 1998. The film was directed by Wes Anderson and was written with the aid of Owen Wilson. After its debut, the Worldwide Box Office Totaled to almost $20 million. Jason Schwartzman, in the role of Max Fischer, and Bill Murray, playing Herman J. Blume, depict the story of a teenage adolescent who falls in love with an elementary school teacher, played by Olivia Williams.
Max comes across his love one day, in the midst of failing his classes and participating in an overwhelming amount of extracurriculars. Simultaneously, he becomes close with Herman, a wealthy industrialist. As life goes along, the boy attempts to proclaim his love for the teacher, who goes by the name of Rosemary. He does this by making grand changes to her environment, those which he thinks she would enjoy. As he works on his largest proclamation, building an aquarium based off of her small classroom fish tank, Max discovers that Rosemary is having an affair with his dear Mr. Blume. Emotions are true between the two of them, and Max is lost in a sea of despair.
The film's characters can be applied to many people of different generations. In particular, the character of Max could connect to many teenagers, even now. Something about teenagers and exploring where they fit in seems to always be a prevalent movie theme. Wes Anderson does a great job depicting Max's journey in his intriguing, personal shots and mellow colors. As the director does through most of his films, the costumes and specific wardrobes for each character only buttress the story and how Max grows as a person through these confusing and juvenile times in his life. Though a youth in this day and age might not be in his exact position, Max represents the struggles of being a high school student, and finding one's way in life. Focusing on school, friendships, love, and even simply just interests, the movie turns out to be a feel good film for all.
In addition, parts of the movie were filmed at a fellow SPC and ISAS member school, St. Johns, in Houston, TX. Anderson himself attended this school as a child and his fellow writer Owen Wilson attended St. Marks. Most shots of the school were just external, but the pleasant campus, and its older style architecture supports the idea of the exclusive institution in which the film is set. This setting, in contrast to other scenes, such as the Mr. Blume's place of work, or the hotel in which he stays, changes with the mood of the movie. As it is used across film, changes in color, style of architecture, or landscape, go along with what is happening to the characters within the movie. Rushmore is a great example of this. Even the simplest aspects of a scene can change, and without the viewer even thinking about it, the feeling changes more intensely as well. This film is humorous, intriguing to the eye, and can spark self reflection in some just by the characters' witty choices in what they make of themselves.