What was the dynamite for? Was it a red herring?
In Wes Anderson's Rushmore, we see Max ordering dynamite from a store prior to staging his play. He asks the order to be made out to Ready Demolition, Tucson, Arizona. Yes, said play involved a war and there were lots of effects. But what was the necessity for the dynamite?
Were the explosives a red herring for the audience? I personally expected him to blow up the newly constructed aquarium (especially after his conversation with Herman about how much money he is prepared to lose).
Best Answer
I believe the dynamite was meant for the play.
Rather than his line being a red herring, it's a direct reference to the movie Heat.
When Max buys the dynamite and says, "Could you make the order out to Ready Demolition, Tucson, Arizona", he is using the exact same line used by Val Kilmer in the first scene of Heat.
Pictures about "What was the dynamite for? Was it a red herring?"
What is a Red Herring — 5 Techniques to Mislead \u0026 Distract an Audience
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Elīna Arāja, Jill Burrow, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska