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GROUNDHOG DAY [the best, most intelligent and deeply layered films of the last decade]
National Review online ^ | January, 2005 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 01/23/2005 3:44:28 AM PST by Roscoe Karns

GROUNDHOG DAY [Jonah Goldberg]

I watched it again last night. I may have seen it more times than Bill Murray repeated GHD. It got me thinking. I think it may be one of the best, most intelligent and deeply layered films of the last decade. I won't go out on the rhetorical limb the way Jonathan Last did when he said Buffy the Vampire Slayer "is the best show in the history of television." But I do think there is so much more going in Groundhog Day than most people realize. There's theology, metaphysics, psychology and most of it is remarkably understated and remarkably funny. No one ever mentions anything like Nietzsche's doctrine of the eternal return, or even explains why Murray comes so close to bedding Andie McDowell and then fails over and over again because he can't fake his sincerity. The use of irony in the second snowman scene is brilliant. And, let's face facts, there are few funnier lines in the history of cinema than (I'm quoting from memory): "This is one of those times where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."

Anyway, just one layman's opinion.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: movies
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To: KateatRFM

I guess I always liked Murray. and the sarcasm in GHD is what strikes me the most.

MURRAY-"Do you have any hot water?"

BNB HOSTESS-"Oh... No not on Tuesdays"

I just see that as funny I guess.


41 posted on 01/23/2005 5:17:44 AM PST by Rightly Biased (Ecclesiastes 10:2 (don't be lazy look it up))
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To: Rightly Biased
It's been my favorite movie of all time, since I was seeing it, and it was only half-way over.

I kept saying to the screen -- Don't ruin this. Don't ruin this.

And they didn't. It's a masterpiece in every one of the ways the original post describes.

Once in a while some other new movie knocks GHD, out of #1 for a week or so, [LOTR, Joe Vs. The Volcano} but every time the polish wears off, and Ground Hog Day is back on top again.

42 posted on 01/23/2005 5:19:20 AM PST by 9999lakes
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To: Rightly Biased

"Don't drive on the Railroad tracks"

"anyone for flapjacks?"


43 posted on 01/23/2005 5:19:24 AM PST by PoliticalVirgin (recovering Dem....please be gentle)
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To: JennysCool

LOL, that was one of my parents favorite places to visit during the Nevada summers. They used to live in Boulder City.


44 posted on 01/23/2005 5:21:00 AM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: knarf; governsleastgovernsbest
And most certainly an excersize at looking at yourself, seeing the problems and realizing there is always time and circumstance to make adjustments and corrections.

That plus watching Bill Murray punch Ned "Needlenose" Ryerson in the head.

45 posted on 01/23/2005 5:24:03 AM PST by Roscoe Karns
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To: Roscoe Karns

Bill Murray is a very funny guy.


46 posted on 01/23/2005 5:24:18 AM PST by hershey
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To: hershey

Only when he's not being series.


47 posted on 01/23/2005 5:26:06 AM PST by Roscoe Karns (serious?)
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To: Roscoe Karns

"Too early for flapjacks?"


48 posted on 01/23/2005 5:26:19 AM PST by ItsOurTimeNow (Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word)
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To: Roscoe Karns

Watch out for that slush puddle!


49 posted on 01/23/2005 5:26:51 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: MilspecRob
Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him.

One of my favorites along with Ground hog day.

50 posted on 01/23/2005 5:26:51 AM PST by bad company (if guns cause crime, then keyboards cause spelling mistakes)
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To: Mad Dawg

BUFFY was a good show, but 24 is definitely the greatest ever. The latest season about Arab terrorists is absolutely riveting.


51 posted on 01/23/2005 5:28:42 AM PST by Hermeticus
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: Roscoe Karns

It's not just that GHD is one the best movies ever made, it's that Bill M. is one of the best comic actors of this generation. That said, I've been told that, in the new Wes Anderson film, Bill is apperantly just as brilliant as he was when he played Peter Vinkman (he's best role). And, if anyone doesn't know who Pete Vinkman is, well, then you don't know Bill M. as well as you should.


53 posted on 01/23/2005 5:34:48 AM PST by AnneFrank
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To: Diva
I saw something nasty in the woodshed.

Cold Comfort Farm is definitely in my top 5 movie list, and on my top 5 book list.

54 posted on 01/23/2005 5:36:33 AM PST by EllaMinnow (Every time a leftist cries, an angel gets its wings.)
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To: battlegearboat

AAAAAAAGH! Someone else out there loves "Local Hero!" (I bet you have a pet rabbit named Trudy).

Aside from that, I also consider GD sublime, although it suffers from Andie McDowell, who is both odd looking and can't act (she had a similar wet blanket effect in "Four Weddings and Funderal")


55 posted on 01/23/2005 5:40:09 AM PST by Kerfuffle
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To: Roscoe Karns

I don't know why but every time I change the channel and see Groundhog Day on I stop and watch it. It is funny and in the end makes you feel good I guess.


56 posted on 01/23/2005 5:40:37 AM PST by Galactica
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Comment #57 Removed by Moderator

To: hershey
Ground Hog Day has always been one of my favorites but I hesitate to name it one of the best movies of all time. Another really good (and funny) Bill Murray movie is What About Bob?.

Too bad Murray wasn't cast in more good movies. He really is a great actor.

58 posted on 01/23/2005 5:49:24 AM PST by SamAdams76 (iPod Shuffle Is A Gateway Drug)
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To: AnneFrank

oh i need to see the new one then. i had been meaning too, bc i adore bill murray and oh yes i love Vinkman!


59 posted on 01/23/2005 5:50:29 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: AnneFrank
Pete Vinkman is a rat fink. Who wants to know him?

Venkman sucks too.

60 posted on 01/23/2005 5:53:09 AM PST by Roscoe Karns
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