Rushmore (1998) Dir: Wes Anderson

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In my roundabout way of exploring the popular filmography of Wes Anderson, I have inadvertently left some of his earliest films until last. I finally got around to watching this 1998 comedy; the sophomore feature film effort by the acclaimed filmmaker, shortly after visiting an excellent Anderson-centric exhibition in London. The film is considered a cult hit, and another very solid step on the path to iconic status for one of this century's most well-known directors.

In regards to the cinematography, this was, in many ways, a far cry from Anderson's intensely stylised, highly symmetrical, very deliberately unique frames, but it was still possible to see the beginnings of that oh-so-familiar style starting to bubble up through the cracks. I guess one could say that this film looked fairly typical for its time, and didn't stand out too much, as far as shot selection, but it was clear that there was a definite vision behind it.

As much as there was a definite story to this film, it felt, in a way, more like a great character study of a young narcissist, as opposed to a standard narrative film. All the characters had that Anderson feel to their writing - and the actors playing them were evidently directed to deliver dialogue in the dry, almost monotone, way that is so typical of the director's films. Considering the nature of the story, it could have gone very 'Licorice Pizza' - uncomfortable and problematic - but I think Anderson actually handled it pretty well, all things considered.

A young Jason Schwartzman did a really decent job of playing the quirky and awkward protagonist. I thought he produced an extremely memorable acting performance, which set up what has been a pretty successful career in the decades since. I also thought the performance of Bill Murray - a Wes Anderson staple - was really enjoyable. His brand of dry wit and quiet charisma simply mixes so perfectly with Anderson's directing style.

The other standout performance was produced by Olivia Williams, whose acting was tender, consistent, and, generally speaking, very likable. I was very impressed with how well she worked with both Schwartzman and Murray - they all had natural chemistry together. I also thought that Seymour Cassel and Brian Cox also deserved quick mentions for their small but memorable appearances.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty strong character study, wrapped in a neat little Wes Anderson-style bow. This was the real marker that Anderson was going to be something, albeit he didn't reach that kind of acclaim until a little bit later. Regardless, I enjoyed this fun little comedy, made even more enjoyable by its decent leading performances and the natural wit of its writer and director.