WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Rushmore
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 34 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Sara Tanaka, Stephen McCole, Connie Nielsen, Luke Wilson

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Touchstone Home Video
(Catalog Number): 15998AS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 93
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Wes Anderson
(Screenplay/Written By): Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
(Story): NA
(Music): Mark Mothersbaugh
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): David Wasco
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Karen Patch
(Editor): David Moritz
(Supervising Sound Editors): John Nutt
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Owen Wilson & Wes Anderson
(Co-Producers): John Cameron
(Producers): Barry Mendel & Paul Schiff

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Max Fischer (Schwartzman) is one of the busiest 10th graders at Rushmore Academy. Founder or president of scores of campus clubs and societies, he’s also one of its worst students. Further complicating his academic career is his compulsion for lying to improve his importance in life, but his self-esteem grows when he is befriended by wealthy Academy patron, Mr. Blume (Murray). That is, until he discovers Mr. Blume is in love with the woman he loves, lovely first-grade teacher Miss Cross (Williams).

LaserDisc Picture:
Picture quality on 2.35:1 LaserDisc exhibits generally pleasing quality throughout. While sometimes softly focused and lacking fine definition, images are generally sharp and detailed. Color fidelity is nicely rendered with naturally balanced hues and fleshtones as well as deep blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered throughout. The picture is artfully filmed, with little to distract. Noise and edge enhancement are occasional.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack and matrix PCM soundtrack are nicely produced with a generally holosonic presence, though some dialogue scenes are completely spatially flat. But when the sound design is fully engaged the spatial dimension is superb, aided by a wonderfully expansive music score. Surround is often aggressive and discrete sounding at times, which enhances envelopment. Bass energy is at times powerful with aggressive .1 LFE that delivers effective impact. This is, overall, an enjoyable sonic experience.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No