<--Click here to return to the REVIEWS page Table of Contents...

GET LOW

Reviewed by Gaby

When a feared hermit has been in seclusion for forty years, rumors spread and assumptions are made. When Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) is informed that an acquaintance has passed away he gets to thinking about his life, and more so, his own death. He is around 70 years old, but before he dies he wants to do one thing; he wants to be there at his own funeral party. With horrible rumors swirling all over town, one day he decides to go to the church with a wad of his life savings to ask about making plans for his funeral. When the church denies to speak for him because he has refused to seek God for forgiveness, he is overheard by a local funeral home's employee. When the funeral home owner Frank Quinn, (Bill Murray) is informed of this, he is instantly intrigued by the money-making aspect. As the movie progresses and the funeral director and his employee get to know Felix, the money part starts to seem more and more trivial. In the beginning, Felix's requests involve just wanted all the townspeople who have a story or rumor to tell about him to come and share their stories. In the end, Felix feels he should be the one talking. While the movie was brought together by a grumpy old hermit who had money to share, and two men in need of it, it slowly comes together over the idea of forgiveness. Throughout the film it is no longer about Felix's cash and publicity, but about a search for a good man's redemption from something he has been regretting for 40 years.

When Frank, Felix and Buddy all set out on the town to get Felix ready for the big event I really loved how close they became and how their relationships evolved. Felix was a feared hermit who was accused of doing horrible deeds. While the rumors of murder turn out to be but a spec of truth, no one will excpect what actually happened in his past to make him the way he has become. Although Frank and Buddy are still clueless as to what the old man knows and has to tell, after only a few days of being with him they see that he is not at all a "bad" man. He is a confused man, that has never forgiven himself for what he did a long time ago. I was confused by the fact that no one ever asked the man himself what actually happened, but were completely content in making their own assumptions.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Felix Bush and Mattie Darrow (Sissy Spacek). I liked that they loved each other, but this love had no intention beyond understanding each other. Their relationship took many unexpected turns that made the story even more intriguing and fun to watch. Positive that I would not have liked the movie half as much as I did, I am so glad that Bill Murray was able to play the part of Frank; he kept the mood fun and light, and it was just the right amount of comic relief everyone in the audience needed.

Overall I thought this movie was a complete hit, and would recommend it to everyone! It was funny, compelling, deep and definitely a film to remember. 5/5