I can't say that this is my favourite Wes Anderson movie. Honestly, I would give this 3.9 stars for its aesthetics and execution but for the amazing stage plays within the movie itself, I would rate it a 5/5 and for the emotional execution, I would give it a 4/5.
Watching Rushmore, you would find the movie lacking in the familiar colourful and retro aesthetics of Wes Anderson in his 2000s glory. This movie has a grittier feel to it, down to the suburban plainness of the locations and the primary shades of grey, dark blue and black. The themes of delusions of grandeur, unsuccessful love affairs and the second-hand humiliation/awkwardness of Max were hard to watch at first and I couldn't help cringing. I initially found the love affair and fixation with the female teacher slightly absurd but in the end, it was an integral part in Max's emotional maturity and one can clearly see why it was important because he would have been a very unpleasant individual if he did not get shaken up truly by this.
Max grows from a teenage big fish in a little pond with no regards for the emotions of others to a slightly more humble guy who finally has real joy in creating what he loves and owns up to the lies he made in the past. It is his journey from becoming a jerk relentlessly pursuing his big dreams to a kinder person with a single dream he loves that ends up being so relatable and realistic. Max in the beginning ends up taking his very own advice he gives to Mr Blume: "Find one thing you love and do it well the rest of your life."
Like all Wes Anderson movies, there are some recurring themes like family and unlikely friendships that are executed wonderfully. The friendship between old Mr Blume and Max should have been absurd but the movie makes it work in a poignant, hilarious manner where both are hurt by each other and both rescue each other in a very matter-of-fact way. You may find it difficult to like this movie if you badly miss the candy-coloured aesthetics we all love about his films but Rushmore makes us realise Wes Anderson's true ability in making friendships and relationships matter on screen without any bells and whistles is the real reason why we stayed to watch this long.