Groundhog Day ( * * * * * )
This may be an unlikely-seeming movie for me to review, but if you haven't seen it you really should. This is one of those concepts that movies are made to explore, and it's damn funny too.
The Acting: Bill Murray is weather man Phil Conners, and was probably a little bit miscast because all the chicks seem to think he's fantastically handsome, but nobody else could have done this role as well. Nic Cage or some typical Hollywood fuck would've sunk it on impact. Most of the cast is comprised of bit players, including the loathesome Chris Elliot (I'd review Cabin Boy some time, but my brain's blocked it out like the procedure in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Andie MacDowell as the omnipresent love interest. She's like Hollywood's answer to a brunette, redneck Meg Ryan or something, but here she's well cast to type as the object of Phil's affection.
The Story: My brother's old college roommate Dave Berkeman made him and I watch this, and afterwards pointed out how much Zen Buddhism there was in the plot. It was like god touched Phil Conners and said, "Get enlightened." The groundhog is utterly incidental to the plot of the movie--basically Bill Murray's trapped in a repeated day, and part of the fun of the movie is trying to estimate how long he's been living this one day. (Considering he learned how to play the piano like a professional pianist, peacefully robs a bank using split-second timing, learns everyone in town's personal backstory AND studies medicine enough to be nicknamed "Doctor Conners" among other feats I would guess a millennium at least.) He goes through the stages of bewilderment and fear, mild enjoyment, using it to manipulate women, mass suicide, severe depression, and then...well, then he starts thinking he should improve as a person. I was always a big fan of the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, and this movie has echoes of that level of personal transformation. And like the Scott movie, it doesn't come off as anything less than touching and sincere, even to a Godless cynic like me.
The Direction: Harold Ramis (who cameos--get me two Ghostbusters!) does a splendid job of writing and directing in this movie. Editing can make or break any movie, but never moreso than in this one. And after many examinations, I can find little or no important continuity errors, which is a miracle given the complexity of the material.
Overall: I don't recommend chick flick-esque comedies often, so I hope you believe me when I say this one's worth checking out.
Tredekka Rules:
The Acting: Bill Murray is weather man Phil Conners, and was probably a little bit miscast because all the chicks seem to think he's fantastically handsome, but nobody else could have done this role as well. Nic Cage or some typical Hollywood fuck would've sunk it on impact. Most of the cast is comprised of bit players, including the loathesome Chris Elliot (I'd review Cabin Boy some time, but my brain's blocked it out like the procedure in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Andie MacDowell as the omnipresent love interest. She's like Hollywood's answer to a brunette, redneck Meg Ryan or something, but here she's well cast to type as the object of Phil's affection.
The Story: My brother's old college roommate Dave Berkeman made him and I watch this, and afterwards pointed out how much Zen Buddhism there was in the plot. It was like god touched Phil Conners and said, "Get enlightened." The groundhog is utterly incidental to the plot of the movie--basically Bill Murray's trapped in a repeated day, and part of the fun of the movie is trying to estimate how long he's been living this one day. (Considering he learned how to play the piano like a professional pianist, peacefully robs a bank using split-second timing, learns everyone in town's personal backstory AND studies medicine enough to be nicknamed "Doctor Conners" among other feats I would guess a millennium at least.) He goes through the stages of bewilderment and fear, mild enjoyment, using it to manipulate women, mass suicide, severe depression, and then...well, then he starts thinking he should improve as a person. I was always a big fan of the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, and this movie has echoes of that level of personal transformation. And like the Scott movie, it doesn't come off as anything less than touching and sincere, even to a Godless cynic like me.
The Direction: Harold Ramis (who cameos--get me two Ghostbusters!) does a splendid job of writing and directing in this movie. Editing can make or break any movie, but never moreso than in this one. And after many examinations, I can find little or no important continuity errors, which is a miracle given the complexity of the material.
Overall: I don't recommend chick flick-esque comedies often, so I hope you believe me when I say this one's worth checking out.
Tredekka Rules:
- Rule 6: Over The Top Acting Award--Bill Murray experiences as close to the entire range of human emotion as any character could, and he keeps it all maintained inside a believable character. He walks a Razor's Edge--er, tightrope--and with the help of a great script and director, completely pulls it off. +5 stars.
Tredekka Score: ( * * * * * )
posted by Tredekka at 4:45 PM
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