MovieChat Forums > Rushmore (1999) Discussion > This crap bugs me...

This crap bugs me...


The first review of this film that I read here on IMDB rates it a full ten stars. The reviewer goes on to say that this movie will "not appeal to those out there who want clichéd Hollywood fodder."

How is Rushmore not typical "clichéd Hollywood fodder"? The story made no sense at all, the cast was full of celebrities, and the movie lurches along until the contrived happy ending for all of the characters.

Just because the movie you're watching doesn't have transforming robots or superheroes doesn't make you an intellectual watching an art film. Sometimes a boring movie is just a boring movie. Go ahead and call me a philistine who just "didn't get it", but I bet you can't back up your argument.

reply

What about the story made no sense to you?


"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

reply

What about the story made no sense to you?
I think it might save time if you told me how any part of the story made sense to you.

reply

Seems fairly straightforward.

"That's what a gym teacher once told me."

reply

What parts made sense to me? Let's see the part where it begins, the parts in the middle, the part where it ends, and pretty much any and every other part in between. I can't think of a single scene or a single thing that happened in any scene that didn't make any sense to me what so ever. What are you even talking about? What didn't make sense to you. I've seen this movie about 57 times. I'm sure I'll be able to walk you through it. Go right ahead.

reply

Okay, well...it's been great talking with you.


"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

reply

Okay, fine. Here's the most glaring example. Why the hell is Herman Blume even friends with Max? (Spoilers Ahead) And why does he stay friends when Max does everything he can to destroy Herman's life? A normal person in Herman's situation would at least be tempted to hire somebody to kill Max, but what does Herman do? He gives Max the remainder of his fortune so Max can realize his fantasy of building an aquarium. And when the woman they both love doesn't even show up to the opening of the aquarium, Herman shrugs it off and says "I just spent 8 million dollars on this", the way a normal person would say "I just spent 3 dollars on that!" if their gelato ice cream fell on the sidewalk.

If any of this crap makes sense or seems believable to you, you probably watch too much television. Try reading a book, or at least go outside and experience reality once in a while.

reply

Why the hell is Herman Blume even friends with Max?

Because he sees himself in him, having been not born with a silver spoon, yet surrounded by those that have been. Kindred spirits. And I suspect he just admires the kid's passion. Something lacking from his life.

And why does he stay friends when Max does everything he can to destroy Herman's life? A normal person in Herman's situation would at least be tempted to hire somebody to kill Max...

In point of fact, he has him arrested.

He gives Max the remainder of his fortune so Max can realize his fantasy of building an aquarium.

After having reconciled, and the aquarium was more to do with getting back Rosemary.

And when the woman they both love doesn't even show up to the opening of the aquarium, Herman shrugs it off and says "I just spent 8 million dollars on this", the way a normal person would say "I just spent 3 dollars on that!" if their gelato ice cream fell on the sidewalk.

Minor gripe. He wont be going to the poor house or anything. Some rich guys take huge hits and shrug it off. It's part of the personality type.


If any of this crap makes sense or seems believable to you, you probably watch too much television. Try reading a book, or at least go outside and experience reality once in a while.

Settle down. And who said anything about reality?


"That's what a gym teacher once told me."

reply

Sorry, I'm not buying any of it. None of it made any sense at all, especially the reconciliation between Herman and Max.

Herman: "Hey, you broke up my marriage and no doubt enabled my wife to take me to the cleaners in divorce court, destroyed my relationship with Rosemary, got her fired from the school, and tried to kill me by sawing through the brake lines in my car. But let's let bygones be bygones, okay?"

Max: "Okay. Can I have ten million dollars so I can build an aquarium?"

Herman: "Sure pal!"

Max: "Oh, and if you have any money left over after that can you finance this school play I'm doing? It's set in Vietnam. I'll need a couple hundred thousand dollars for costumes and sets."

reply

Sorry, I'm not buying any of it.

Never had the slightest expectation you would. It's forgone that this, as most all internet threads, will accomplish nothing. You need to vent and chose an indie darling film as the object of your weird aggression.

So be it.

"Hey, you broke up my marriage and no doubt enabled my wife to take me to the cleaners in divorce court, destroyed my relationship with Rosemary, got her fired from the school, and tried to kill me by sawing through the brake lines in my car. But let's let bygones be bygones, okay?"

Except that Herman misbehaved as well. He blew up his own marriage by cheating. He ran over the kid's bike, he lied to Max as he was seeing Rosemary behind his back. He enabled the kid's unhealthy impulses. Etc.

Just because you may not be able to; see things from someone else's POV, see fault in yourself, or are unable to forgive easily, doesn't mean that such behavior is outside the realm of plausibility. It most certainly isn't.

And as I alluded to, this film isn't going for strict realism. It's a "flight of fancy". The whole rivalry between them was straight Bugs Bunny. You're no more justified in calling for realism than you would be from a Marx Bros film.


But I can't make you like a movie, and any movie can be picked apart if one chooses to do so. So whatever.


"That's what a gym teacher once told me."

reply

You need to vent and chose an indie darling film as the object of your weird aggression.
Get over yourself, fanboy. This is an internet forum where people express their opinions on movies. It is not your personal fansite. Don't go getting all butthurt because I don't think this sappy romantic comedy is as wonderful as you think it is. If you can't take people criticizing your beloved movie, maybe IMDB isn't the place for you.

reply

Get over yourself, fanboy. This is an internet forum where people express their opinions on movies. It is not your personal fansite. Don't go getting all butthurt because I don't think this sappy romantic comedy is as wonderful as you think it is. If you can't take people criticizing your beloved movie, maybe IMDB isn't the place for you.

Well, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Now I'm your enemy (for no real reason) and you can get out even more aggression on me, with no pretense. And for what? The slightest offense?

You can't honestly tell me you haven't had a chip on your shoulder from the start.

Honestly, read your posts in this thread and ask yourself if your approach was more likely to elicit discussion or arguing, and if they represent you well at all. If you came into a discussion at a party like this you'd alienate yourself immediately.

I tried to be polite and to the point and maybe it was a mistake to bring up your attitude, but I think what I said was self evident, and frankly I've done it myself, so I'm really not trying to judge. In fact I think the majority of people come to IMDB (and most all public forums) so they can be a$$holes without any real consequence. It's better than getting into a bar fight, but still...

I'm kinda over it, myself, or at least am trying to.

So any offense, I apologize for. I really didn't mean it as a shot. Internet or not, there's no reason we shouldn't be polite to one another.

And it's more than okay that you don't like the movie. I've made peace with that fact.


"That's what a gym teacher once told me."

reply

It's no use - as you indicated, the OP already had his mind made up for him and no amount of convincing is going to give him a different perspective. Just another antagonistic, stubborn poster.





The password is Fidelio.

reply

Just another antagonistic, stubborn poster.

So I'm not allowed to not like this movie? Typical fanboy behavior.

reply

Cash_carstar 1
Vampyrebat666 0

reply

From an outsider's perspective who wasn't involved in the back and forth: You are allowed. Absolutely. Nobody here is telling you are wrong for not liking it. Somebody took the time to explain why the parts you claimed didn't make sense did, in fact, make sense to them.

You're the one who has resorted to name calling and anger.

Dude, sorry...but you have a chip on your shoulder. The other poster was just expressing their opinion. You made it personal for some odd reason. That indicates he's not allowed to like the movie in your eyes.

reply

Because something is atypical doesn't make it unbelievable. Maybe Blume is lonely, or just likes the kid. Over the years I've become more forgiving of others, so maybe Blume has, too. But this is just one example. I now get why you first suggested we find something that did make sense. I admit, by your definition, it's tough. It's called quirk. And Anderson is the master. You just don't like quirk. And if we weren't in a church right now, I'd punch your lights out, you anti-quirkite bastard!

reply

I didn't find the overall story to be all that, and some of the character motivations were a little muddled.

But if you look at the film as a whole, Max goes through such a massive change in character arc, this film is a wonderful coming of age tale, as are all of Wes' films.

Anyway, how can you say the scene where Herman Blume runs over Max' bike, and Max fits the breaks I. His car, all set to the Who's A quick one, not be entertaining?

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

reply

Blume has a wife who cheats on him (watch the twin birthday party scene where she's feeding another man with her spoon and not even being discreet about it); he has two spoilt sons who treat him like crap, if any son of mine in future made some comment to me like that "pull your head out of your ass", it will end very badly for him. Basically Blume was very rich but his life just sucked everywhere else.

Along comes Max and Miss Cross, Blume being quite unusual himself found Max a bit intriguing and unusual himself and the feeling was very mutual from the looks of it. Max was like a son he never had, which is probably why he was friends with him. Miss Cross was his ticket out of his miserable life, she was his Rushmore as he puts it to Max. Was he willing to squander his fortune for her or keep his fortune and his pathetic life!

Max knew she loved fishes but the real point of him advising Blume to build the aquarium was to let Miss Cross know that he would trade anything and everything he had for her..
Blume: I paid 8 million dollars for this.
Max: and is that all you are prepared to spend...

reply

He sent 'em to military school. "They love it." Classic.

reply

See, it's all funny. The reasoning behind all of the dialogue and scenarios that obviously don't make sense to you is "because it's funny". That you don't understand why it's funny is why you don't understand the movie. But that's the deal. It's all funny.

reply

What do you mean funny?

reply

Its just a quirky little story. Slightly dull!

Its that man again!!

reply

I feel badly for you

I'll take Punctuality

reply

The OP claims this movie is "full of celebrities" ... Um... I count one celebrity.

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

reply

And even then, he's an actor first and a celebrity second.

Can't stop the signal.

reply

after the OP used the term "butthurt" he lost whatever shred of credibility he had left. He was dealt with in an intellectual manner and ran away like a scolded child.

reply

I agree with you. I am proud to admit I gave this movie a 1/10 rating on IMDB.

The movie is overall boring and lifeless. The main character isn't likeable and I didn't come close to even grinning throughout the whole movie.

I would happily watch 'Hollywood fodder' like Die Hard, Sherlock Holmes or Star Wars any day over Rushmore.

Kid on bike "Where you going?"
Charlie Bright "Somewhere".

reply

Philippine!

Damn auto correct.

reply