![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/r/rushmorecriterion.jpg)
Rushmore: The Criterion Collection
Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is an ideal student, except that his grades suck. As president of Rushmore Academy's French, calligraphy, and beekeepers clubs, captain of the debate and fencing teams, and founder of the astronomy, and trap and skeet shooting clubs, the last thing the 15-year-old needs is another distraction. That's when he falls naively in love with widowed first grade teacher Ms. Cross (Olivia Williams). His adolescent crush brings out the best and worst of Max's vaulting ambitions when she turns him away in favor of his new friend, self-loathing millionaire Herman Blume (Bill Murray). Rushmore re-invents adolescent angst so wondrously and hilariously that it puts all other teen comedies to instant shame. Films like this — so pure, unique, and unpredictable — are a wonderful thing to behold. Also with Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Luke Wilson, and one of the best soundtracks in recent memory, with a memorable score by Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh. Directed by Wes Anderson and co-written by Anderson and Owen Wilson. Criterion's DVD edition of Rushmore features an excellent anamorphic widescreen transfer; a commentary by Anderson, Wilson, and Schwartzman; "The Making of Rushmore" documentary; Anderson's storyboards and a storyboard-to-film comparison; audition footage with Schwartzman and others; an appearance on "The Charlie Rose Show" by Anderson and Murray; excerpts from the 1999 MTV Movie Awards; and numerous other supplements.
—Gregory P. Dorr
(Editor's note: Rushmore is also available in a movie-only edition from Buena Vista at a lower price.)