Broken Flowers 2005
As Bill Murray got older, he learned that he could do more by doing less. Nowhere is that on better display than in Broken Flowers where he spends most of the movie subtly reacting to the colorful people he runs across. There is a lot to react to, and it had to be tempting to emote, but he generally stays cool, to great effect. Like some other Jim Jarmusch movies, not a whole lot seems to be happening. His movies are so fatally quiet as a scene fades to black, like a coffin lid closing. This is a neat movie as Murray’s character gets an anonymous letter from a woman in his past who reveals they have a son who is looking for him. At his age and having never married or had kids, this changes his perspective and he wants to find out the truth by searching for five ex-girlfriends. It is an impressive movie, but also quite slow and I had issues with the ending, which I liked, but also don’t entirely respect, to be discussed in the spoilers. Murray’s friend, played by the amazing Jeffrey Wright, convinces him to go on a journey he clearly doesn’t want to go on, but also can’t resist. The exes are all interesting in their own right, with more top notch performances, making it a pleasure to see who will pop up next. I was going to give this an A-, taking off some for the clumsy ending, but I decided it really should get an A, but it certainly isn’t for everyone. Ultimately my score has to reflect what I think of the movie, and I really liked it, even if I could tell I was being manipulated.
Written: 13 Jun 2022