“Rushmore” is a truly unconventional film with a genuinely fresh take on the coming of age formula. It does not sit comfortably in any one genre but that characteristic seems to be a calling card of director Wes Anderson (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “Bottle Rocket”). This is a very interesting film that is incredibly hard to explain.

Meet Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”), he’s the extracurricular king of Rushmore preparatory school and facing expulsion for his low grades. He loves his life at the school but with the arrival of a new teacher (Olivia Williams “The Sixth Sense”), his life starts to change.

Max Fischer is one of the most complex characters I have ever seen in a movie. He’s complex because he is not quite a nerd, not conventionally awkward, by no means shy and there are just so many aspects to this character that I was just astounded at how developed he is. Bill Murray (“Groundhog Day”) plays Herman, a man that befriends Max and the two end up developing a rivalry and he is entertaining to watch. Olivia Williams is good as Miss Cross. Brian Cox (“Super Troopers”) is also really good. The other characters in the movie are enjoyable too.

“Rushmore” is pretty short film but it somehow manages to fit a lot into it. With all the subplots, you could have easily made this film twice as long but it manages to get a lot of content in there without becoming overwhelming. The finale of the film involves a staging of a play and I do not want to spoil it by giving too much information but I will say that is a completely spectacular sequence. There are moments that will make you laugh, moments that will make you think and moments that will make you feel. “Rushmore” is a sophisticated movie.