ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)
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Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR01999
Rushmore (1998), R
CAP Score: 39, CAP ID: 1.65

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President
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Executive Summary / Commentary
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:

"Rushmore" (G) -- was a school, a stupid school. This was a dumb show, an unimportant show, an easily forgotten show. I don't know if I need to say any more, but I will.

Though not necessarily a violent movie in the vein of most R-rated movies, there were a lot of bully tactics, vengeful actions, threats, and airgun/dart shooting of a kid. The heart of this movie was in lies, arrogance, manipulations of fair authority because of personal failures, and foul language. In one case, a teen took pleasure in insulting a bed-ridden patient of a stroke. In another case, the teen took delight in attempting to murder his adult friend-turned-rival by disabling the brakes of his car. Though not likely in real life, the central teen obtained dynamite.

The central teen tricked himself into a female teacher's bed then the teacher kissed him, but that was as far as it went as if that were not too far. Items of sexual arrogance, innuendo, suggestion, accusation, and talk dragged the Sex/Homosexuality score to well within the R scoring range of 1995/6 movies. Oh, yeah! There was lots of teen drinking.

I suppose there is a lot more I could and should tell you about "Rushmore" in this summary/commentary but there were so many of the same type stuff that to tell you of any is essentially to tell you of all. The above items are the only stand out" I can remember. I normally do not make a suggestion of whether to watch a show but I will suggest that you do not bother with "Rushmore." It was ....... nothing, just nothing. It was so forgetable that I must ask you to trust the numbers and listing more than this summary/commentary. The numbers do not depend on my memory.




FINDINGS / SCORING: Rushmore (1998) CAP Thermometers

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) lost intermediate level points eight times due to physical assault of a minor by the father, a teen disabling the brakes of an adult's car, hateful vengeance by a teen against an adult, injury by an airgun by a teen on a teen, multiple threats/harassments, and explosives possessed by teens. Wanton Violence/Crime lost no maximum level points.

Impudence/Hate (I)(1) lost intermediate level points three times due to vulgar/sexual talk by a minor and insults by a teen to a stroke patient in his hospital bed. Impudence/Hate lost maximum level points eleven times due to a theme of teen manipulation of fair authority because of personal failures and at least ten uses of the most foul of the foul words.

Sex/Homosexuality (S) lost intermediate level points three times due to a minor forcing himself into his female teacher's bed, a minor kissing his female teacher in her bed, and picture nudity before children. Sex/Homosexuality lost no maximum level points.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) lost intermediate level points twice due to guzzling booze and booze poured into a soda in the presence of a teen. Drugs/Alcohol lost maximum level points four times due to contributing to the delinquency of a minor with booze and booze being drank by teens with drunkenness.

Offense to God (O)(2) lost intermediate level points once due to the use of Christ's full name in vain. Offense to God lost maximum level points twice due to the use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive.

Murder/Suicide (M)(3) lost no points at all.

Other examples of entertainment ignominy, each warranting the loss of the minimum point level, included

  • 21 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • 8 uses of God's name in vain without the four letter expletive
  • arrogance against fair authority
  • sexual arrogance, innuendo, suggestion, accusations, and talk/comments
  • a dart shot into a younger boy's neck
  • frequent lies to impress and to deflect accountability
  • presentations of alcoholic beverages
  • hatefulness and vengeance among and between minors and toward adults
  • vulgar gesture to fair authority
  • threat to kill
  • starting a leaf fire on school property
  • ignoring restrictions
  • use of stage drugs
  • firearms and shooting
  • using bees to effect vengeance
  • talk of divorce and family deaths
  • chucking rocks


    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

    (2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

    (3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.



    Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."




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    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    Thomas A. Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

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