great acting, but the story really fell flat at the end.

great acting, but the story really fell flat at the end.

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Day 218 of 365 of my year long challenge

Week 32: Rest in Peace.
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You couldn't find a more quiet sort of film without diving into the depths of tv movies. Even so, the unassuming simplicity of Get Low somehow endears itself to you, holding your attention for something that would otherwise be decried for really not doing or being about anything.

Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), is a recluse on the edge of town. For 40 years, he has lived alone and thus, the town has manufactured endless stories for the man. When a "friend" dies, Bush goes about preparing a living funeral so that he can hear the stories the town has made about him. This party will also I've him the one chance to tell the story he has been holding onto for so many years.

I'm really at a loss of what to say about this. There are essentially no stakes, no endgame payoff, no real hook to get you. But get you it does. I guess the curiosity to see what stories the town will tell, as well as the thought at the back of your mind for your own living funeral, may have just been enough.

Sadly, Bender's living funeral in Futurama is more immediately entertaining and satisfying but Get Low is a film about the performances. Duvall does an excellent job at playing a grumpy old man on the edge of death. So much so that you can't help but expect him to actually die mid-film. It's Lucas Black's Buddy Robinson though, who I found to be more interesting. He's the one with a more palpable character arc and it's through him that we start to unravel just a tiny bit of the enigma of Duvall's recluse. Bill Murray is subdued but fine as always, Sissy Spacek is mostly just there and the majority of laughs are to be delivered by the always delightful Bill Cobbs. Everyone here provides a universally good performance, it's hard to single out any exceptions.

Even with this difficulty, the exceptional moments of Get Low come in the tiniest of moments and the most throw-away of lines. There are plenty to be had and you'll almost certainly miss them if you aren't paying attention. It's subtlety at its finest.

Beyond all that, get Low is just a film that starts and finishes and just happens in between. In many ways, it is a surprise of a film that's almost too difficult to pin down. You'll never think anything less than good things about it, I certainly came away having enjoyed it. What it is though, I just don't know.

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Day 218 of 365 of my year long challenge

Week 32: Rest in Peace.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

You couldn't find a more quiet sort of film without diving into the depths of tv movies. Even so, the unassuming simplicity of Get Low somehow endears itself to you, holding your attention for something that would otherwise be decried for really not doing or being about anything.

Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), is a recluse on the edge of town. For 40 years, he has lived alone and thus, the town has manufactured endless stories for the man. When a "friend" dies, Bush goes about preparing a living funeral so that he can hear the stories the town has made about him. This party will also I've him the one chance to tell the story he has been holding onto for so many years.

I'm really at a loss of what to say about this. There are essentially no stakes, no endgame payoff, no real hook to get you. But get you it does. I guess the curiosity to see what stories the town will tell, as well as the thought at the back of your mind for your own living funeral, may have just been enough.

Sadly, Bender's living funeral in Futurama is more immediately entertaining and satisfying but Get Low is a film about the performances. Duvall does an excellent job at playing a grumpy old man on the edge of death. So much so that you can't help but expect him to actually die mid-film. It's Lucas Black's Buddy Robinson though, who I found to be more interesting. He's the one with a more palpable character arc and it's through him that we start to unravel just a tiny bit of the enigma of Duvall's recluse. Bill Murray is subdued but fine as always, Sissy Spacek is mostly just there and the majority of laughs are to be delivered by the always delightful Bill Cobbs. Everyone here provides a universally good performance, it's hard to single out any exceptions.

Even with this difficulty, the exceptional moments of Get Low come in the tiniest of moments and the most throw-away of lines. There are plenty to be had and you'll almost certainly miss them if you aren't paying attention. It's subtlety at its finest.

Beyond all that, get Low is just a film that starts and finishes and just happens in between. In many ways, it is a surprise of a film that's almost too difficult to pin down. You'll never think anything less than good things about it, I certainly came away having enjoyed it. What it is though, I just don't know.