Wes Anderson brings wit and emotional depth to this offbeat coming-of-age tale chronicling a year in the life of wunderkind Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a tenth-grade scholarship student at posh Rushmore Academy. Max is Rushmore's least scholarly pupil, but also its most extracurricular. He's editor of the school newspaper and yearbook, captain of the fencing and debating teams, founder and director of the Max Fischer Players, and president of the French Club, German Club, Chess Club, and almost everything else. His world is thrown into turmoil when he's put on academic probation and falls madly in love with widowed first-grade teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). To win her heart, he enlists the help of self-made millionaire industrialist and Rushmore benefactor Herman J. Blume (Bill Murray). But when Max learns that his friend is dating Rosemary, he declares all-out war.