Tuesday, January 5, 1999
Screenscene
FILM:
"Rushmore"
Starring Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray
Directed by Wes Anderson
Rich with humor, quirk and charm, "Rushmore," the sophomore
effort of filmmaker Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket) succeeds with
flying colors in telling the skewed coming-of-age story of Max
Fischer: the world’s most precocious 15-year-old.
A student at the prestigious Rushmore Academy prep school with a
passion for extracurricular activities – and the academic
motivation of a slug – Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) and his partner
in crime – middle-aged, multimillionaire Herman Blume (Bill Murray)
– are two of the most gloriously eccentric characters ever brought
to the screen.
Tackling a contorted love triangle between Fischer, Blume and
first-grade teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams) this oddball
comedy, co-written by Anderson and Owen Wilson, toys with notions
of love, adolescence and revenge.
With seamless dialogue and biting wit, "Rushmore" manages to
remain accessible without seeming the least bit vacant or devoid of
substance. With comedic elements ranging from occasional sight gags
to subtle nuance, Anderson has created a film overflowing with
whim, merriment and a surprising bit of tenderness.
Aside from its stellar script, the impeccable acting in
"Rushmore" makes this film like no other. Schwartzman (in his first
film role) brings the intensity of Fischer to the screen with a
vast repertoire of subtle expressions and a keen sense of comic
timing. Murray delivers a brilliantly understated performance (one
of his best to date), hilarious in its lackluster delivery.
Accompanied by an impressive collection of British Invasion
music, "Rushmore" is equipped with a compelling soundtrack housing
everything from a ballad by Chad and Jeremy to the driving beat of
Creation.
The most original film of the year, this quirky masterpiece is
so completely devoid of all pretense that it is rendered utterly
enchanting.
Elena Powell
Rating: 10
"Payback"
Starring Mel Gibson and Maria Bello
Directed by Brian Helgeland
Perhaps no Hollywood actor manages to fake physical pain more
adeptly than Mel Gibson. From the agonizing draw-and-quartering
that provided the denouement of "Braveheart" to the torturous
treatment awaiting tender cabbie Jerry in "Conspiracy
Theory,"Gibson has mastered the art of the pained grimace and
bulging forehead veins.
His skills at showing pain (as well as his ability to shed his
goofy, good guy typecasting) are on display heavily in "Payback,"
the fun and frenetic directorial debut from "Conspiracy"
screenwriter Brian Helgeland.
Helgeland (who also won an Oscar for 1997’s brilliant film noir
"LA Confidential") made a wise choice in "Payback" for his first
film. The movie, despite a tendency to fall back on some
predictable plot turns and stock characterizations instead of real
invention or ingenuity, nevertheless proves an engaging, if
somewhat thin, popcorn flick.
From the first shot of small-time thief Porter (Gibson) having
several slugs removed from his back without anaesthetic, "Payback"
aims to shock the audience with its blunt treatment of violence and
immorality. Porter, you see, is on a desperate hunt to find the
$70,000 stolen from him by his ex-wife (Deborah Unger) and best
friend (Gregg Henry). He’ll stop at nothing, including kidnapping,
robbing from the homeless and shooting mob bosses at point-blank
range to retrieve his stolen goods and his dignity. "Lethal Weapon
4" it’s not.
The film is wall-to-wall violence, cruelty and immorality, and
while some movies would try to shy away from these aspects of the
story, "Payback" seems to revel in it. Like any noir worth its
salt, "Payback" finds in Porter a true anti-hero, a bad guy that
people are attracted to any way, if just because they can
vicariously act dastardly through him. Gibson pulls it all off,
with a knowing wink here and a snide remark there, and manages to
infuse some humanity into Porter where other actors might have only
found spite.
All of this bad behavior is highlighted by the film’s
wonderfully bleak, nearly black-and-white look, achieved by
director Helgeland and cinematographer Ericson Core by bleaching
the film, which perfectly compliments the film’s subject
matter.
What makes "Payback" stand slightly above its peers in the
action/thriller crowd is it’s subtle sense of humor, especially
evident in the gleefully sadistic performance of Lucy Alexis Liu as
Pearl, the dominatrix who turns the Asian mob on to Porter’s
tail.
"Payback" actually fares rather well when stacked up against the
usual celebrity action vehicle. Though more of a focus on Porter
himself rather than the extensive, and sometimes silly, action
sequences would only have bolstered the movie’s rare appeal, it
does mark a rather exciting new direction in the multi-faceted
career of Mel Gibson and proves a decent breakout feature from
Brian Helgeland.
Lonnie Harris
Rating: 6Touchstone Pictures
Bill Murray (left) stars as Mr. Blume who takes charismatic
student Max Fischer, played by Jason Schwartzman, under his
wing.
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