Top 100 Movies Of The 1990's: #22 Rushmore

Box Office: $17.1 Million

Oscar Nominations: None

Oscar Wins: None

MovieRankings.Net: 90/100

Available To Stream: Hulu

The soul of Rushmore is enthusiasm. Max Fisher isn't especially bright or handsome. But he's wildly enthusiastic. I'm guessing he grows up to be a pretty successful guy based on that ability alone. He also always has the confidence to do whatever it takes to do whatever he wants. That's why Bill Murray's Herman Blume admires Max so much. It seems that Herman always took the path most traveled. He got married and had kids despite not liking his wife or his kids. He's rich but doesn't seem all that passionate about his work.

That's why neither Max nor Herman can handle Miss Cross being in their lives. For Max, he can't grapple with not getting something he wants. He can't see the difference between forcing Latin class down everyone's throat and a human being. For Herman, he can't process the idea of having anything good in his life.

Rushmore (and later The Royal Tenenbaums) show the best of what Wes Anderson can do. It's not a coincidence that they are both co-written by Owen Wilson. Anderson's movies have such a rich distinct look and feel, he can fall into the trap of not being able to leave his own world. Rushmore works because we see Max go to a public school. We meet Max's dad (played with gentle perfection by Seymour Cassell) is a normal barber. If it's all the weird, quirky world of Wes Anderson, you end up with shitty movies like The French Dispatch or Isle Of Dogs.

The charisma of both Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman are incredible in this. They are both play incredibly selfish people but I can't help but root for both characters. Rushmore began a new act of Bill Murray roles where he played depressed and lost late middle aged guys. He was great at it too whether it be this, Lost In Translation or St. Vincent. I'm not sure what Bill Murray's final act will be. He's 73 now. It feels like he only does Ghostbuster or Wes Anderson movies now. He also seems like a nightmare on set and a lot of people don't want to work with him. I'm sure he's not a great guy but I really hope he gets that last great role.

Re-watching this again last night was very enjoyable but also frustrating. His last movies have been so bad, I don't think I can call myself a Wes Anderson fan anymore. But watching Rushmore, you can see all that promise. I remember seeing this and Royal Tenenbaums in the theaters and really enjoying the odd yet clean quirkiness. 25 years later, I roll my eyes and instead appreciate when he focuses on these unique characters he creates as opposed to the production design. 

Maybe one day Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson will write together again. Until then, I'll keep going to see his movies looking for the same magic you get here even if we never get it again. That's the funny thing about enthusiasm. It can propel us like it does Max Fisher. It can also fool us too.

22. Rushmore

23. Fight Club

24. Saving Private Ryan

25. True Romance

26. Dumb & Dumber

27. Kingpin

28. Donnie Brasco

29. Heat 

30. Terminator 2: Judgement Day

31. Rounders

32. Unforgiven

33. Trainspotting

34. The Game

35. Out Of Sight

36. Carlito's Way

37. Seven

38. L.A. Confidential

39. Speed

40. Gattaca

41. Misery

42. Tombstone

43. Ransom

44. Wayne's World

45. The Insider

46. Back To The Future Part III

47. A Bronx Tale

48. The People Vs. Larry Flynt

49. Eyes Wide Shut

50. The Sandlot

51. Happy Gilmore

52. Contact

53. The Green Mile

54. Man On The Moon

55. Boyz N The Hood

56. Grosse Pointe Blank

57. Independence Day

58. The Rainmaker

59. Go

60. The Firm

61. Magnolia

62. The Talented Mr. Ripley

63. Tommy Boy

64. The Usual Suspects

65. In The Line Of Fire

66. My Cousin Vinny

67. Awakenings

68. JFK

69. Toy Story

70. Home Alone

71. Jerry Maguire

72. Titanic

73. Billy Madison

74. Apollo 13

75. Braveheart

76. Edward Scissorhands

77. Cape Fear

78. The River Wild

79. What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

80. 12 Monkeys

81. Stir Of Echoes

82. Mission: Impossible

83. Total Recall

84. Quiz Show

85. For Love Of The Game

86. Being John Malkovich

87. Men In Black

88. Scream

89. Alive

90. Three Kings

91. Glengarry Glen Ross

92. Die Hard With A Vengeance

93. The Blair Witch Project

94. Twister

95. Dirty Work

96. Election

97. Tremors

98. Any Given Sunday

99. The Wedding Singer

100. Clerks