Get Low

Get Low
2010
Directed by: Aaron Schneider
Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray

From sea to shining sea, the movie industry has done it again, folks. Another film has been released to prod at the Oscar buzz. It seems this has happened a lot lately. And yes, the film's can be pretty good. The Wrestler, for instance. But certain films in this category (The Last Station, The Visitor, A Single Man) really fail at what they are trying to accomplish. These films seem to be made only to get a good actor an award he deserves but has not yet gotten. Like Scorcese with The Departed, he should have won for other movies, but this was the last time for him to take it. The awards can never truly make up their mind on what is the best, and they realize that these older actors (mainly men) are getting really old.

Robert Duvall is a legend. There's no doubt. Everything from The Godfather to The Apostle to Gone in Sixty Seconds, he shines straight through. But, he has never won an Academy Award. So what happens? The studio creates a film for him to be the star in. A simple role with not too much going on. An independent, so as to not make the Academy voters stray from blockbusters. He was great in it. I'm not down-playing that. I'm down-playing the overall emotion of the film itself. It was eh at best.

Duvall plays an old hermit who is estranged from his small 1930's town. He decides to stage his own funeral party for he feels the end is near. He says he wants all people who have a story to tell about him to come to the funeral. Bill Murray plays the out-of-luck funeral home owner. He has a wicked sense of humor and jumps on the chance to do something that no one has ever done. The morbid humor of the plain slice of pizza that is this movie is the only saving point.

Murray spits out a few quips in an attempt to lighten up an otherwise weary and dull film. The simple storyline allows for Duvall to be the great actor he is. In the end, no one tells a story about Duvall. Only Duvall does. The emotion of the characters is misplaced through an episode of dialogue and curiosity of when the final credits will finally roll. Murray and Duvall are legendary figures. Both in their own right. I feel this film was rushed with the wrong intentions.

Stars (out of 10): 4