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Rushmore
review by Zach B.
Rated R
Studio: Disney
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murrary, Olivia
Williams, Seymour Cassell, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Sara
Takana
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
Directed by Wes Anderson
Retail Price: $29.99
Features: Theatrical Trailer
Specs: 1.85:1 Non-Anamorphic Widescreen, 5.1 Dolby
Digital Surround English, English Subtitles, Chapter
Search
Hot off the successful cult film "Bottle Rocket", Disney
made sure the duo of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson would make
their next film for them. Anderson, director and co-writer,
and Wilson, co-writer, came up with "Rushmore", which, in my
opinion, is one of the best movies ever made (critics loved
it tremendously, but some of the audience did not feel the
same way). Rushmore did debut for one week in December of
1998 in New York (where I originally saw it) and Los Angeles
so it could be considered for the Academy Awards™. It
then went to a more wide release during February 1999, where
it grossed a little over fifteen million dollars. Not bad,
considering "Bottle Rocket" made less then a million.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Rushmore follows the
story of Max Fischer (Schwartzman), a sophomore at the elite
Rushmore Academy. Max is soon threatened with expulsion, due
to him failing all his classes. Max is also on scholarship.
But where Max does not succeed in school he does succeed in
everything else: Max soon meets up with Herman Blume
(Murray) The two become friends. Soon the madcap zaniness
begins, with nice sediment and zany comedy.but slowly become
enemies when they both fall for Rushmore's elegant first
grade and recently widowed teacher, Rosemary Cross (a
fantastic Olivia Willams).
Disney's DVD release of "Rushmore" is nothing to scream
about. Even if you don't like extras, the
Criterion
edition is truly the way to go with an improved
presentation.
While the Criterion offers an anamorphic transfer, the
Disney version does not. Still, this transfer delivers for
the most part. There is grain and dirt which pops up now and
them, as well as some artifacts. Colors tend to smear a
little too. Yet the detail is nice, and images are pretty
solid. Still, the Criterion delivers an anamorphic transfer
supervised by director Wes Anderson himself, with many
noticeable differences.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital is decent, yet I do think the 5.1
on the Criterion sounds a lot better, clearer and louder.
Anyhow, the music sounds soft (in a good way) and nice using
all the speakers. The .1 LFE is kept to a mininum, but when
used, it does provide a punch. Nothing, bad, nothing great.
Still, go with the Criterion on this one.
Finally, while the Criterion made my dreams come true
with some wonderful supplements, Disney only includes the
trailer. Worse, the trailer is edited. Meaning this trailer
is shorter than the one that was actually used. The trailer
is in widescreen, and it does look pretty nice. The
Criterion, though it's really grainy, has the extended
trailer.
Rushmore is one of my favorite films of all time, and
when this release came out, I was really disappointed.
Luckily, Criterion saved the day with an improved
presentation and a rich amount of supplements. Even if you
don't like extras, for an extra 10 dollars at retail with
the Criterion, you get a crisp anamorphic transfer and some
improved sound. And it's worth it for this movie. Hands
down, the
Criterion
is the one to get.
 (5/5, NOT included in
final score)
 (3.5/5)
(3.5/5)
 (.5/5)
 (2.5/5, NOT an average)
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