1998's Rushmore

This week on Off the Shelf with Phil and Dave, we head back to 1998 for Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. Phil has loved it for years, but can Jason Schwartzman’s endlessly ambitious—and occasionally insufferable—Max Fischer win Dave over?

We dig into Schwartzman’s unforgettable debut, Bill Murray’s surprisingly sad and layered Herman Blume, Olivia Williams as Rosemary Cross, and the soundtrack that first made Phil fall in love with the movie. Along the way, we debate Max’s questionable decisions, the escalating war between Max and Blume, Wes Anderson’s distinctive style, and how Rushmore manages to be funny, strange and genuinely melancholy at the same time.

Dave’s first viewing was a little touch-and-go—but a second watch changed things considerably. Is Rushmore worthy of a permanent spot on the shelf?

Rushmore (1998) | Wes Anderson | Jason Schwartzman | Bill Murray | Olivia Williams | Movie Review | Film Discussion | 90s Movies