Top 100 Movies Of The 1990's: #22 Rushmore
Box Office: $17.1 Million
Oscar Nominations: None
Oscar Wins: None
MovieRankings.Net: 90/100
Available To Stream: Hulu
The soul of Rushmore is enthusiasm. Max Fisher isn't especially bright or handsome. But he's wildly enthusiastic. I'm guessing he grows up to be a pretty successful guy based on that ability alone. He also always has the confidence to do whatever it takes to do whatever he wants. That's why Bill Murray's Herman Blume admires Max so much. It seems that Herman always took the path most traveled. He got married and had kids despite not liking his wife or his kids. He's rich but doesn't seem all that passionate about his work.
That's why neither Max nor Herman can handle Miss Cross being in their lives. For Max, he can't grapple with not getting something he wants. He can't see the difference between forcing Latin class down everyone's throat and a human being. For Herman, he can't process the idea of having anything good in his life.
Rushmore (and later The Royal Tenenbaums) show the best of what Wes Anderson can do. It's not a coincidence that they are both co-written by Owen Wilson. Anderson's movies have such a rich distinct look and feel, he can fall into the trap of not being able to leave his own world. Rushmore works because we see Max go to a public school. We meet Max's dad (played with gentle perfection by Seymour Cassell) is a normal barber. If it's all the weird, quirky world of Wes Anderson, you end up with shitty movies like The French Dispatch or Isle Of Dogs.
The charisma of both Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman are incredible in this. They are both play incredibly selfish people but I can't help but root for both characters. Rushmore began a new act of Bill Murray roles where he played depressed and lost late middle aged guys. He was great at it too whether it be this, Lost In Translation or St. Vincent. I'm not sure what Bill Murray's final act will be. He's 73 now. It feels like he only does Ghostbuster or Wes Anderson movies now. He also seems like a nightmare on set and a lot of people don't want to work with him. I'm sure he's not a great guy but I really hope he gets that last great role.
Re-watching this again last night was very enjoyable but also frustrating. His last movies have been so bad, I don't think I can call myself a Wes Anderson fan anymore. But watching Rushmore, you can see all that promise. I remember seeing this and Royal Tenenbaums in the theaters and really enjoying the odd yet clean quirkiness. 25 years later, I roll my eyes and instead appreciate when he focuses on these unique characters he creates as opposed to the production design.
Maybe one day Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson will write together again. Until then, I'll keep going to see his movies looking for the same magic you get here even if we never get it again. That's the funny thing about enthusiasm. It can propel us like it does Max Fisher. It can also fool us too.
22. Rushmore
23. Fight Club
24. Saving Private Ryan
25. True Romance
26. Dumb & Dumber
27. Kingpin
28. Donnie Brasco
29. Heat
30. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
31. Rounders
32. Unforgiven
33. Trainspotting
34. The Game
35. Out Of Sight
36. Carlito's Way
37. Seven
38. L.A. Confidential
39. Speed
40. Gattaca
41. Misery
42. Tombstone
43. Ransom
44. Wayne's World
45. The Insider
46. Back To The Future Part III
47. A Bronx Tale
48. The People Vs. Larry Flynt
49. Eyes Wide Shut
50. The Sandlot
51. Happy Gilmore
52. Contact
53. The Green Mile
54. Man On The Moon
55. Boyz N The Hood
56. Grosse Pointe Blank
57. Independence Day
58. The Rainmaker
59. Go
60. The Firm
61. Magnolia
62. The Talented Mr. Ripley
63. Tommy Boy
64. The Usual Suspects
65. In The Line Of Fire
66. My Cousin Vinny
67. Awakenings
68. JFK
69. Toy Story
70. Home Alone
71. Jerry Maguire
72. Titanic
73. Billy Madison
74. Apollo 13
75. Braveheart
76. Edward Scissorhands
77. Cape Fear
78. The River Wild
79. What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
80. 12 Monkeys
81. Stir Of Echoes
82. Mission: Impossible
83. Total Recall
84. Quiz Show
85. For Love Of The Game
86. Being John Malkovich
87. Men In Black
88. Scream
89. Alive
90. Three Kings
91. Glengarry Glen Ross
92. Die Hard With A Vengeance
93. The Blair Witch Project
94. Twister
95. Dirty Work
96. Election
97. Tremors
98. Any Given Sunday
99. The Wedding Singer
100. Clerks