Rushmore 

The movie Rushmore revolves around an odd high school student, Max Fischer. Max is 15 years old, but is a precocious character who appears to act and think much like an adult. Although creating the illusion of being a mature and wise guy, he is in fact not. He often makes irrational decisions, and handles situations immaturely more often than maturely. He attends one of the best schools Rushmore, but rather than putting his intellectuality to bettering his grades, he devotes most of his time to a number of clubs and activities he has started or joined. He befriends an older man, Mr.Blume, as well as falling in love with school teacher, Ms.Cross. Both Rushmore and Ms.Cross become his life. He believes Rushmore needs him, and more strongly believes he can woo a grown woman. However, Max needs to accept the reality of things. He needs to realize that things can't always go his way, nor can he get everything he wants. He needs to realize that Ms.Cross can't love him like he loves her, that Rushmore doesn't need him, as well as many other things.

One scene which greatly exemplifies the theme in Rushmore is the scene where Max has a meeting with Dr.Guggenheim after having sent him a package with images of Ms.Cross and Mr.Blume. The scene is short, and Max is asking Mr.Guggenheim if he received his package. He had planned to reveal that Ms.Cross was having an affair with Mr.Blume in order to get her fired, but much to his dismay, she had already resigned earlier that morning. As a result, his plan did not go accordingly. A lot of tension is built in the scene, illustrating how Max isn't always in control even though he may think he is. Not only does this confirm that he doesn't always make the best decisions, but also that his decisions aren't very wise or mature.

The first shot in the scene is Max and Dr.Guggenheim sitting beside one another. Max confidently asks him if he had received his package which is what leads into the build up of the scene. After this point, the camera moves in close on Dr.Guggenheim and quickly pans back and forth between the two characters as they are having their conversation. As Dr.Guggenheim hints to Max that his plan didn't work, tension is created by the quick movement on screen that goes back and forth between the two. The fast movement makes the viewer feel as if they are sitting in between the two characters, caught in their discussion. However, perhaps more significantly, it makes the viewer feel like Max does. Max is confused and feels as if he has lost control, which we as viewers do as well as we try to keep up with the quick switch from one character to the other. To further add to this feeling is the way in which the scene is edited.

Two cuts are made within the scene: a cut to the picture of Ms.Cross and Mr.Blume, and a cut to the painting behind Max and Dr. Guggenheim revealing only their shadows as they fight. Besides that, the entire conversation between Max and Dr.Guggenheim is filmed in one shot. The purpose of filming this all in one shot is to build up the tension further. It makes the viewer feel as if they have been apart of their conversation, as they watch the entire thing as it happens start to end. The two shots that are cut to are additives to the scene. The photograph is shown to show what was in the package, whilst the cut to the shot of the painting is meant to leave it up to our imaginations as to what Max and Dr.Guggenheim are doing, as all we see is the painting and their moving shadows.

The scene is set in Dr.Guggenheim's office in Rushmore Academy. Not only is it significant that it is set in the office, but it is also significant that it is set in the school itself. Rushmore was a place where Max felt he was 'needed'. Rather than trying to make his way back into the school, he is back at the school in order to get Ms.Cross fired as a way to try and 'win her back'. Not only does this (combined with the fact that he still wears their uniform) show his unwillingness to let go of Rushmore, but it also perhaps shows his resentment towards getting expelled from there. Furthermore, Dr.Guggenheim's office alone holds great importance within this scene. This place was once a place where Max felt as if he was important and in control. In previous times, he would sit in the same chair and ensure himself a spot in the school. In this instance, Max isn't getting his way like he is used to.

Anderson uses low key lighting in this scene. The colors are dark, with dark greens and reds prevalent. The use of this type of lighting and color results in a very serious mood to the scene (which it is). Furthermore, one shot is lit in such a way that casts shadows in the background. Once the shot cuts to the image of the painting, the shadows are all we can see, juxtaposed with the painting of an old man. We see that Max and Dr.Guggenheim are fighting, but through their shadowed silhouettes. The purpose of this is to leave it up to us to infer what happens. As we see the still man in the painting, a great contrast is created with the bickering that is going on in the foreground. It is clear that things have been taken to far, as things get aggressive between Max and Dr.Guggenheim. This is obviously the result of Max's inability to realize that things will not always go his way.

In terms of sound, a quiet sound of thunder is heard prior to start of the pan shot between Max and Dr.Guggenheim. When Max and Dr.Guggenheim are fighting the sound of breaking glass is accompanied by a louder sound of the thunder. The purpose of playing it quietly as first is to foreshadow that something bad is about to occur. By playing it again when the two are fighting it shows how the situation has built up from the first time it was heard. Often, the sound of thunder indicates that a terrible storm can be expected. Perhaps the purpose of using the thunder sound was to indicate that things like thunder are uncontrollable, much like many of the things that Max tries to control.