Broken Flowers (DVD)

"Broken Flowers" is a gem of a film. Murray's controlled performance left a profound impression and it's easily one of his best of his career. I was actually expecting some acting recognition from the Globes or the Oscars. No such luck. Hopefully, Murray continues to choose these great roles.



Kurtis

What one person sees as "controlled," another person may see as "low-key," and yet another as "boring." Murray has become so minimalist an actor, it's hard to tell if he's acting at all or just staring vacantly into space. I liked the film and enjoyed Murray's stance, but I can understand why others would be put off by it.



John

"Broken Flowers" was a mild disappointment to me, but only because I have such high expectations for Jarmusch. It still made my top 10 after all. As much as I love his work, I have to admit he's pretty much doing the same schtick today as he was in 1984. Then again, it's a great schtick so why mess with success. The Ramones only needed a couple chords to get them through a few decades.



Loved Murray's performance. This is real acting. No b.s. method acting "I feel your pain" crap. The worst thing actors do is act. A good director has to break them of all that nonsense.

me, i liked murray only in "lost in translation". i always felt that he was way too smug and self-satisfied when he did broad comedies, and this melancholy stone-face phase with "the life aquatic" and "broken flowers" reeks of "i'm tired of how silly everyone else is, so i'll be the stoic one."

I have been putting off my review of this film for one reason only; I hated this film more than any other I've seen in my life. I will be giving it a rating of two, just have to find the words that can properly express my rage toward it.



I felt that two hours of my life were wasted watching this, more will be wasted watching the extras, and I'm not happy about it.

Eddie,



Everything you just said could just as easily describe Takeshi Kitano's performance style as well. It's all in the cut.



Justin,



We encourage our reviewers to be wrong when they want to be.

John,



I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of audiences disliked the film as well as Murray's performance. Still, I believe that the majority of critics found something of value in this film.



Chris,



I couldn't agree more. There is one point when Murray first reads the pink letter aloud, where his voice dips for a split second. Personally, I think this relfected the deep emotion behind the often cold, straight faced persona.



Justin,



The extras are very brief. Shouldn't be too rough.



-Kurtis

Kurtis,



I didn't think "Broken Flowers" was Jarmusch's best work, but that brief moment with Murray visiting the graveyard was the best scene Jarmusch has filmed.



I just watched 'Groundhog Day' again the other day and it's interesting to see how Murray has changed his style with age. Jack Nicholson simply became a self-parody as he morphed into a simian, but Murray has really made all those years that show in his face work for him. Or at least he has worked with directors who know how to make it work.

chris,



well, murray works with bad directors and editors, then.



eddie

Chris,



That graveyard scene was so great, for a second I thought Jarmusch would end the film right there.



BTW, what do you think is Jarmusch's best work? I'd be torn between "Dead Man" and "Down by Law."



-Kurtis

I agree, it has been interesting to see how much Murray has taken advantage of his age in an industry where aging is anything but embraced.



And in reference to Nicholson, it will be interesting to see if "The Departed" ends up being another turning point in his career.



Kurtis

I think "Dead Man" is not just Jarmusch's best film, but perhaps the best film of the 90s. "Stranger than Paradise" also rates pretty high on my all-time list. I like all of his films, in fact, and there are only a few directors I can say that about.