I’ve been a fan of Jason Schwartzman’s since Rushmore (1998), which is also the same film that made me fall in love with director Wes Anderson’s brand of surreal comedy and time-out-of-time nostalgia. So, it’s a no brainer for me to feature Schwartzman’s historical roles in today’s Man Candy Monday installment.
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
Rushmore was Schwartzman’s first film role, and it was followed shortly thereafter by his casting on the acclaimed teen dramedy Freaks and Geeks, about a group of kids navigating high school at the dawn of 1980s. Yeah, it’s technically past our 1969 cut-off date, but look at him! He’s too cute not to feature!
Marie Antoinette (2006)
We’ve spilled a lot of virtual ink talking about Sofia Coppola’s love song to the peak of European excess, so I thought I’d use this opportunity to drop this video Jason Schwartzman did as Louis XVI on MTV’s Cribs and leave it at that.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Schwartzman has a cameo as Ringo Starr, alongside Jack Black (Paul), Paul Rudd (John), and Justin Long (George).
A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012)
I somehow missed this film entirely when it came out, but given my fondness for films no one else seems to like, I really need to see it. Jason Schwartzman plays Kirby Star, and just going off the reviews and photos from the film, I have no idea what is happening, except it takes place in the 1970s and stars Charlie Sheen.
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
This is one of those films I know I watched, intending to review for the blog, and I even have memories of actually writing something up, and yet there’s no post about it. So … uh … I guess I need to actually write it (same thing happened with My Week With Marilyn). Anyway, Jason Schwartzman plays one half of the Disney music writing duo, the Sherman Brothers.
Castello Cavalcanti (2013)
A Wes Anderson short set in the 1950s. It’s about a race car driver who gets into an accident in a remote Italian village and shenanigans ensue.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
LOVE. THIS. FILM. Probably the most Wes Anderson-y of Wes Anderson films yet made, but it’s gorgeous top down and delightfully weird. Jason Schwartzman plays the concierge of the namesake hotel.
Big Eyes (2014)
Jason Schwartzman plays Ruben, an art gallery owner.
Fargo: Season Four (2020)
I swear I will get around to watching this season eventually, because it is so beautifully costumed.
The French Dispatch (2021)
Another one of my all-time favorite Wes Anderson films. Maybe you’re sensing a theme here. I like Wes Anderson, ok. Schwartzman has a teeny part as Hermes Jones, the art director at The French Dispatch.
Asteroid City (2023)
And finally, we have the latest addition to Wes Anderson’s oeuvre. I haven’t seen it yet, as it’s just hit the theaters, but it looks gorgeous and probably plenty weird. Jason Schwartzman stars.
What’s your favorite historical costume Jason Schwartzman film? Tell us in the comments!
Went to see Asteroid City a few weeks ago and… I have mixed feelings. It’s presented as a play, and the narrative keeps jumping back and forth between it and things happening in the “real world”. Still, Jason Schwartzman was terrific, and this is probably some of the best work that Scarlett Johansson has done in a while.
I watched it after I wrote this post and yeah, I also have mixed feelings. It’s much more of the surreal Wes Anderson and less of a narrative Wes Anderson film, plus a lot more overtalking and weird dialogue patterns than I remember from other WA films, which I didn’t really like.
That said, it’s GORGEOUSLY filmed, and yes, Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson have some brilliantly weird chemistry that I never knew I needed, lol. Plus the alien! I love him! I need a desk toy of that alien, stat!
Yes, the alien was adorable! I like how he took the asteroid and brought it back after he inventoried it. :)
I definitely adore Grand Budapest Hotel. It is very Wes Anderson-y, but in the best way. I didn’t even realize Jason was in The French Dispatch.
He has such a small role, and back is to the camera for most of his scenes, plus the wig… I missed him the first time around, too!
He’s great. One of those actors who came out swinging with Rushmore and I’ve been a fan since.
I enjoyed Asteroid City. Yes it is Wes Anderson distilled to its purest form, haha. But I especially liked Jason Schwartzman as kind of a rugged lead.