Well, it's a Wes Anderson movie, and that alone is usually enough for most people to draw their own conclusions. He's a divisive filmmaker and it doesn't seem like there's much middle ground between those who love him and those who loathe him. Count me in the former camp. For what it's worth, _Rushmore_ is probably Anderson at his most accessible. All the hallmarks are here - the cast is thoroughly quirky, the cinematography obsessively detail-focused, the soundtrack firmly planted in lyrically-appropriate 60s and 70s rock - but it's all somewhat toned down from his usual level; less in-your-face, take-it-or-leave-it.

The film's subject, an insular private school and the odd, hyper-focused youths who proudly call it home, lends itself to such idiosyncrasies. Here we find all manner of brilliant young minds, developed well past their years in some respects but stunted in many others. That essential duality is interesting, amusing, understandable. They've been taught to solve for x and y, to adapt mature films for the stage (example: _Serpico_ for kids), but remain remedial students of human interaction.

Max, the focus of this personality-driven black comedy, is a perfect exhibit. At fifteen, it looks like his best days are already behind him and he struggles to compensate with a flood of strangely specific extracurriculars and, later, a sadly misguided reach for forbidden fruit: a smart, attractive, widowed first-grade teacher. He's accompanied by a colorful fabric of supporting characters. Plenty of amusingly unbalanced students, sure, but also a curious batch of equally dysfunctional adults. Bill Murray works magic with one of these roles, a tough mix of frustrated parent, self-loathing businessman, unexpected mentor and hopeful suitor. He and Jason Schwartzman (Max) share instant chemistry and the film wisely sticks them together like glue, even when their characters are at each other's throats.

In all, _Rushmore_ is a well-tuned, somewhat downplayed, dose of the Anderson style: funny, driven, melancholy and genuine. His films might not speak to everyone, but they usually hit the mark for me. This is one of the best.