I saved Latin. What did you ever do?

Rushmore was the first cult hit, introducing Jason Schwartzman as enthusiastic private school student Max Fischer and garnering rave reviews for Bill Murray as the older businessman whom Max befriends. Max isn't very good academically, but this is a tribute to those who give to student life at the expense of their studies. Part quirky comedy, part impossible love triangle (Olivia Williams is charming as the woman both male leads covet), part coming of age story (or ages, because it's thematically Murray's film as much as Schwartzman's), part buddy picture where the older character isn't a mentor figure, it already showcases Anderson's idiosyncratic style, creating tableaus and portraits in cinematic language, and exploring a nostalgia that isn't dependent on pop culture referencing.

Hilarious and heartwarming. Max is one of the greatest teenage protagonists ever!