Rushmore (1998)

The film is an offbeat and off-centre high-school comedy that turns the genre on its head with a unique protagonist and acerbic one-liners. It features a superb cast, including standout turns from Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Williams, and is likely to attract a cult following.

The critic praises Anderson and Wilson as among the best things to happen to American film, highlighting the film's unsettling self-assured protagonist, lovely romance, and inspired offbeat soundtrack. Rushmore is called an immediate American classic with terrific performances, especially from Schwartzman, Williams, and Murray.

The critic calls Rushmore a sublime comedy and Anderson's first masterpiece, praising its sincere, personal take on ambition, grief, and coming-of-age themes told from the ghost's point of view. He singles out the robust performances, especially the battle between Murray and Schwartzman, for evoking varied inner lives amid the humor and emotional depth.

The critic calls Rushmore a genre-defying marvel that switches between outrageous humour and genuine pathos. It is praised as a finely-judged parable on the line between self-delusion and reality, aided by outstanding performances from Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray.

The critic praises the film's bright, spiky portrait of an ambitious schoolboy tycoon-wannabe and its skewed, hilarious take on cutthroat boyhood rivalries and comeuppance.

The review celebrates the film's short, smart comedy and its model of economy, highlighting the touching performance of the nerdy prodigy protagonist and the inspired pairing with Bill Murray's character.

The critic calls it a wickedly funny and bracingly fresh high school comedy with precise writing, shooting and performances, singling out the lead turn by Jason Schwartzman and the distinctive visual style.

The critic praises the inventive, offbeat world-building and strong performances, especially Bill Murray's, but finds the story loses momentum when the plot turns contrived and mean-spirited.

The review praises the film's stylish, quirky comedy and strong characterizations, especially Jason Schwartzman's arrogant Max and Bill Murray's deadpan performance as Blume. It notes some preciousness but highlights the witty screenplay, visual gags, and appealing supporting cast.

The review describes a peculiar, poignant comedy with an outstanding character turn from Murray as Blume. It questions the bemusing nature of Max, part Ferris Bueller and part Jay Gatsby, whose romantic yearning edges toward psychosis.

The review highlights Wes Anderson's distinctive sensibility and the film's ambitious eccentricity along with excellent supporting turns, particularly from Bill Murray, but criticizes the central character as ultimately too repellent to engage with fully.

The critic views Rushmore as one of the preeminent coming-of-age films of the 1990s that has aged well due to its wisdom about young and old men, its blend of dark comedy and melancholy, and its understanding of the protagonist's self-obsession and anger. It highlights the film's influence, stylistic hallmarks like the score and photography, and its portrayal of growing up without easy answers.

The critic initially found the film merely okay but upon revisiting appreciates it as an authentic portrait of lonely, brokenhearted people. He praises its surreal yet honest take on adolescence compared to later teen films.