Broken Flowers
One of these days I’ll get it in my head that I just don’t enjoy character studies. Everytime I go see a movie that is categorized as such, it turns out to be an endurance test for me, no matter how well the critics have praised the movie. Broken Flowers is exactly the sort of movie that critics love and finds me bored and ready to bolt for the exit at any given moment.
The strength of Broken Flowers is in Bill Murray’s performance. This is a one-man show starring Murray as a self-made man who suddenly finds out that he may or may not be a father. Through the sheer will of the next door neighbor, Murray finds himself on a road trip to find his ex-lovers from twenty years ago and hopefully confirm if he is indeed a father. As in the style of character studies, each meeting takes a different extreme twist and then we watch to see how Murray handles the situation.
Jessica Lange and Sharon Stone play two of the past girlfriends and their performances fit the part. The use of the color pink is the element that ties the characters together and this is done is a subtle way. Broken Flowers is the journey of one man who learns what happens when you revisit the past and get a glimpse into what might have been.
Broken Flowers was written for Bill Murray and he does carry the movie. Acting students would probably enjoy this movie, as would fans of the character study. The movie is probably just right for the genre but the 106 minute running time felt more like 200 minutes to me.
The strength of Broken Flowers is in Bill Murray’s performance. This is a one-man show starring Murray as a self-made man who suddenly finds out that he may or may not be a father. Through the sheer will of the next door neighbor, Murray finds himself on a road trip to find his ex-lovers from twenty years ago and hopefully confirm if he is indeed a father. As in the style of character studies, each meeting takes a different extreme twist and then we watch to see how Murray handles the situation.
Jessica Lange and Sharon Stone play two of the past girlfriends and their performances fit the part. The use of the color pink is the element that ties the characters together and this is done is a subtle way. Broken Flowers is the journey of one man who learns what happens when you revisit the past and get a glimpse into what might have been.
Broken Flowers was written for Bill Murray and he does carry the movie. Acting students would probably enjoy this movie, as would fans of the character study. The movie is probably just right for the genre but the 106 minute running time felt more like 200 minutes to me.
