Serious Movie Lover

GET LOW (2009/IN THEATERS) Shown last year in Toronto and a hit at this year’s Sundance, Get Low is finally appearing in selected theaters across the country, featuring a wonderful plot about a man who wants to have his funeral party (emphasis on the word party) before he dies. Who can resist a cast that includes Robert Duvall as Felix Bush—the hermit in question who has lived 40 odd years in the back woods of Eastern Tennessee– and Bill Murray as Frank Quinn–former Chicago salesman now owner of a local Funeral Parlor that’s going broke. ( Of note, Duvall is also listed as one of the film’s executive producers, as he was for Crazy Heart.) Also doing a great job are Sissy Spacek as Mattie, a face out of Felix’s past, Bill Cobbs, excellent as the Black preacher who Felix says is the only guy who can say “something nice about me” and Lucas Black, Murray’s honest and innocent Southern assistant who becomes Felix’s day to day link to the outside world. The story is based on a true story (or legend depending on your source) from the late 1930’s about an old hermit—Felix Breaseale– who really did put on his own funeral party before dying. First time director Aaron Schneider keeps a steady and enjoyable pace to the film and really gives us a great period look and feel. (BTW: Schneider was a cinematographer first and it shows.) The dialogue is good, with some really great zingers—mostly delivered by Murray and Duvall. The movie at first gives the impression that it will be a black comedy when Felix says he wants to hear stories about himself and offers to hold a drawing for his 300 acres at the event for anyone who sends $5 to Quinn. But toward the middle of the film, we head in a more serious direction which leads to the final moving scenes as Felix, with the help of his preacher friend Charlie, tells his own story at the party—with plenty of drama (and no doubt an Oscar nod in Duvall’s future). No problem really…although I for one was looking forward to all those funny stories and Duvall’s reactions to them. Maybe next time….

Grade: A-

For a real life photo of Felix, click here.
For a lovely portrait of Robert Duvall at 79 going on 80, check out this piece from a recent NYT Sunday edition.