Wes Anderson Host Guide

For this guide I'll use Rushmore as an example.

Mike Nichols’ The Graduate has always been a favorite of Wes Anderson’s. He even admitted to stealing a couple of Nichols’ shots for use in Rushmore, but reversing them so they were subtle.  

Wes Anderson Trademark Symmetrical Composition ✨

• Play Scenes: In 'Rushmore,' several scenes from Max's plays are framed symmetrically, with the stage in the center and the audience or characters on either side.
• Library Scene: When Max (Jason Schwartzman) is in the library, the shelves and books are symmetrically arranged behind him.

🕰️ Vintage Flair 🕰️

• Retro Soundtrack: 'Rushmore' has a vintage soundtrack featuring classic rock from the 1960s, giving the film an older, nostalgic feel.
• Props and Settings: The school and its classrooms have an old-fashioned feel, with wood-paneling and dated décor, reminiscent of the mid-20th century.

3.  👨‍🦳💰: Herman Blume - Max befriends the wealthy industrialist and school benefactor.

In Herman, he finds the father (and resources) he's always wanted.

In Max, Herman finds the son he'd rather have.

• Jason plays a 15 year old version of the Bill Murray of 10 years prior, the arrogant wiseass of films like 'Stripes' and 'Ghostbusters 1.
• Schwartzman just kills it as Max in all his insecure and arrogant glory. He makes the now infamous exchange of “These are O.R. Scrubs.” “Oh, are they?”

In Miss Cross, Max finds the Mother he never knew, but is provoked by bullies and his own narcissism to make her more than that.

In Max, Miss Cross finds the gift son she never got to have, which reconnects her to her lost husband, who Max reminds her of a young version of.

Act 2: The Crush

1. 💌💔: Love Letter - Max writes a love letter to Miss Cross.

Handwritten Letters & Notes 📝

• Correspondence: Max frequently writes letters in 'Rushmore'. The handwritten correspondence and notes are a recurring theme in many of Wes Anderson’s films. In 'Rushmore', they help to convey character emotions and intentions.

Heavy Themes, Lighthearted Exploration: Family, Love, Life Death

• Family is, among other themes, a very recurrent trademark in Anderson's films. Aside from dysfunctional families, friends, love, and death frequently play a part in his movies, too.

Forbidden Love

• As a filmmaker who is very keen on exploring human connection, the quirky director loves to showcase the importance of bonds in his films, for better or for worse. Forbbiden love seems to be a very prominent topic, as well as the importance of personal space.

2. 🕵️💘: Investigation - Herman investigates his feelings for Miss Cross.

😐 Deadpan Humor 😐

• Max's Dialogue: Max Fischer delivers many lines with a straight face and seriousness, despite the absurdity of what he's saying. For example, when he says, “I saved Latin. What did you ever do?”
• Facial Expressions: Bill Murray’s character, Herman Blume, is often expressionless even in hilarious or absurd situations, adding to the deadpan humor.

🚁🎁: Grand Gesture - Max attempts to build an aquarium for Miss Cross.

1. 🚫🏫: Expulsion - Max is expelled from Rushmore for his unauthorized project.

Wes was influced by the film "400 Blows"

Its a french film by Truffant where the main character plays hooky, runs away from home, steals a typewriter, gets busted trying to return it, is booked by the cops and winds up in reform school.

Act 3: Life After Rushmore

1. 🏢📚: Public School - Max transfers to a public school.
2. 🎭🎬: Playwriting - Max continues his passion for writing and directing plays.

🎨 Thematic and Bold Colour Scheme 🎨

• Red and Yellow: 'Rushmore' makes prominent use of reds and yellows. Max's school Rushmore has a deep red curtain in the theater and the yellow of Miss Cross’s classroom creates a warm and nostalgic atmosphere.
• Green: The frequent use of green, especially in the school’s uniform, represents the school's atmosphere and a coming-of-age theme.
• 🌳👫: Friendship - Max befriends Margaret, a classmate from his new school.
• 💔😢: Heartbreak - Max discovers Herman and Miss Cross are dating.

Act 4: Revenge

1. 🐝🚗: Bees - Max releases bees in Herman's hotel room.

British Invasion Music: 'Rushmore' incorporates a soundtrack featuring British Invasion bands like The Who and The Kinks, setting the tone and complementing the story and character arcs.

1. 🚫🎈: Birthday Ruined - Max ruins Herman's birthday party.

The war of pranks that comes out of Max and Blume’s rivalry over Rosemary, which includes Blume driving over Max’s bike and Max getting him back by putting bees in his hotel room

1. 👨‍🦳👦👊: Fisticuffs - Herman and Max have a physical confrontation.

Act 5: Rock Bottom

1. 💔🏥: Hospitalized - Max is hospitalized after a minor accident.
2. 🏠👩: Mother's Memory - Max visits his mother's grave.

Parent-Child Relationships 👨‍👦

• Max and His Father: The complex relationship between Max and his father with the loss of his mother is a theme in 'Rushmore'. Anderson often explores family dynamics and parent-child relationships in his films.
• 👫🙅‍♂️: Friendship Breakup - Max and Herman's friendship breaks apart.

Complex Characters 😎 Wes Anderson often creates characters with complex personalities and backgrounds. In 'Rushmore', Max Fischer is a prime example, as he's ambitious and creative, but also flawed and at times socially awkward.

Title Cards: 'Rushmore' is divided into chapters with title cards, which is a common narrative technique in Anderson’s films. This gives a literary and structured feel to the storytelling.

Act 5: Reevaluation

1. 🏛️👦👨‍🦳💔: Grave Visit - Max meets Blume at his mother’s grave and realizes that revenge is pointless as Rosemary loves Blume.
2. 🤐🏢: Reclusive Max - Max withdraws, skipping school to work at his father's barbershop.

Act 6: Turning Point

1. 🎁👨‍🦰: Dirk's Apology - Dirk visits Max, apologizes, and brings a Christmas present.
2. 🏥👴: Hospital Visit - Dirk tells Max about Guggenheim’s stroke; Max visits him and runs into Blume.
3. 🗨️👨‍🦳: Blume's Revelation - Blume reveals Rosemary ended things as she still loves her late husband.
4. 📚💪: Academic Turnaround - Max returns to school and starts improving his grades.

Act 7: A Helping Hand

1. 🚗💥😢: Fake Injury - Max pretends to be injured in a car accident to win Rosemary’s affection but is rebuffed.
2. 🐠👷‍♂️🙅‍♀️: Aquarium Attempt - Max tries to reconcile Blume and Rosemary through an aquarium ceremony, but she doesn't show.
3. 🎭💣: Vietnam Play - Max invites Blume and Rosemary to his Vietnam War-themed play, which moves Blume.

Act 8: Resolutions

1. 💑🕊️: Reconciliation - Blume and Rosemary appear to reconcile after the play.
2. 👦💃: Max & Margaret - Max reveals to Blume and Rosemary that he’s dating Margaret.
3. 🕺💃: Dance - Max and Rosemary share a dance at the after-party.

Thematic Reflection

1. 🎨🔄🕰️: Contrasting Past - Anderson’s meticulous mise-en-scene contrasts with the fast pace of modern life, showing a longing for a flawed, unpredictable past.
2. 🌌🌟: Hope & Transformation - Through accidents, incidents, and unseen forces, Anderson captures themes of hope and transformation.

Final Scene: At the end of the movie, during the post-play celebration, the characters are shown in slow motion. This is a common Anderson technique, often used to emphasize the emotional depth of a scene.