Get Low

Deb 10 Me 9

Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. From the moment I saw those names I knew this was a must see. For me, Duvall is defined by Santini, everything he has done is either a parody of Santini or an attempt to shake off the identity. Somehow he makes himself fit like a glove in just about every role he takes on. Here he manages to muster up a new persona that shows that he is a master of his craft. Bill Murray just seems to be comfortable wherever he is. I’ve always enjoyed watching him, and ever since The Razors Edge I’ve been taken with his ability as an actor. And what actress can stand among them? They picked Sissy Spacek who seemed to be a perfect match. These were supported by Bill Cobb who was just a treat, and a guy named Lucas Black as the token good looking guy who did a great job.

So the cast is in place, how about the rest of it? Set in 1930s Tennessee, it is a very pretty film. The art director looks like they had a good time, every scene is filled with subtle details. I really enjoyed the pacing of the movie; it enhanced the feeling of simpler times with out dragging.

Basically it’s a mystery. Duvall is a hermit, the subject of a million rumors, and has something to hide. Duvall seeks the help of Murray to clear things up by giving him a funeral party, which Duvall will attend. There is good story development, great characters, tension and release, a surprise or two and some laughs.

It’s a strong character driven movie. The story suffers in places. Toward the end I got a feeling a scene was cut and some sloppy splicing tried to cover the wound. This is why I dropped it to a 9. But the acting was so strong it over-rode any glitches or inconsistencies that occurred. And there were several. In the post-movie conversation a dozen problems came up, but none of them dampened the overall pleasure of watching the movie. It was a treat and it was the actors, director, art director and cinematographer that carried the weight.