Review of Rushmore (1998) by Kylie P — 30 Jan 2010

From November 5, 2007:

Rushmore is incredibly witty but not laugh-out-loud funny. It is almost satirical in its way. Bill Murray is fabulous; he really has mastered the art of subtlety. His best scene is when Mr. Blume first engages in battle with Max, visits the public school, and deliberately runs over his bicycle. That scene inspires belly laughter, if for no other reason than the situation and reaction seems so quintessentially Bill Murray and his comedic style; yet, it fit perfectly within the odd framework of this film.

Jason Schwartzman is also pretty fantastic. He maintains a faintly disturbing pathos of obsession while also seeming sweet and misunderstood. It is as if he broaches the line of creepy without really crossing it, and that lends itself well to the eccentricity of the character.

The entire film is very original and fresh. In many ways, there are similarities to a later film, Napoleon Dynamite, so it's clear where similar films might have drawn inspiration.

Still, this film has an offbeat quality that potentially undercuts its brilliance. Max, a potentially relatable character experiences a coming of age, a difficult trail off the beaten path of regular maturity, and his journey could also have been unsuccessful, even tragic, though his myopia was meant to be the heart of comedy here. As a result, there is a troubling strain of melancholy, and the film is so absurd, the melancholy seems out of place, even as commentary.