Rushmore is another fantastic character study of Wes Anderson. If you haven’t met with his cinematography yet, you should try this movie first. There is this sharp and very colorful main character at the center of the movie, performed by Jason Schwartzman. You’ll remember Schwartzman in The Darjeeling Limited and Hotel Chevalier (both directed by Wes Anderson again) and Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. He’s also cousins with Sofia Coppola and a musician, playing in a band called “Coconut Records” (check the songs 'West Coast' and 'Any Fun' !!! ;)).
There is also Bill Murray in this movie whom I admire in general and whom I think goes well in independent movies, in interesting, withdrawn, loser characters (like the one in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums and most of the Jim Jarmusch movies).
Rushmore is definitely one of my favorite independent movies now. Jason Schwartzman was only eighteen years old when he performed as the fifteen-year-old main character in this movie ('Max Fisher') which was his first acting performance! It is obvious that he got what Anderson was trying to give in this movie through this character 'Max'. Now, I feel like there is, somewhere, a person like him; it’s not a fiction, but a real story of 'Max' with an unending energy, curiosity, lots of emotion and looking for answers to his questions in adults’ world. Other than Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, supporting roles are very brilliant and well performed (Olivia Williams, Brian Cox...)
The soundtrack of the movie is very nice also. I love the part when "The Rolling Stones - I Am Waiting" and "Cat Stevens – Here Comes My Baby" appear at the background :)
Rushmore is a funny and a remarkable movie with a great screenplay, acting performance, soundtrack, imagination, decors and colors…"When one man, for whatever the reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself." -Jacques Cousteau
