Jack's brother is dead?
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.
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Jack's brother is dead?
You're making me homesick for my home away from home.
I agree...Groundhog Day is great
"Inside John Malkovitch" is also a winner
I love "Local Hero," too. It's part of our dvd library.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Post-modern morality play or semi-pornographic soap opera?
Well said, Elle Bee.
Where on your list are MiB, and one of the more underrated flicks of the 90s, Being John Malkovich?
That's an immense 10-4! What a concept! Still gives me the shivers to think about it.
Both at once? Check the episode where the tears of the repentant sinner -- which he can shed once he stops telling stories about his life and starts really living it again -- close the mouth of hell. Or Spike's little discourse on blood. Josh Breeden may be an atheist and may despise Christianity, but despite himself he says some good stuff and says it well.
Ghostbusters is without a doubt one of the greatest 80s movies ever, and it's my favorite Bill Murray (and one of my favorite Dan Aykroyd's, who I adore.)
"..cats and dogs, living together- mass hysteria!"
It never explains why the character would want to bed her either. Andie McDowell is not a first (or fourth!) choice anytime... :)
Others in this thread have analyzed the movie far better than I, and I agree with most. It's one of the few that are on my 'permanent watch' list. One I am so comfortable with I can go to sleep with it on, or have is playing as 'background' able to ignore or watch as I choose.
Good stuff (Other than Andie of course.. ;)
Most shows become great because of the dialogue. When I heard that the episode was going to be without speech, I thought they were giving the scriptwriters the day off. I was so wrong.
It was the best dialogue without a word being spoken.
It has a real sweetness, heart, and poignancy to it. And pretty much anything with Bill Murray is brilliant. Would I say it's the best film of the last decade? I think it could be one of them, but considering what came out in the 90s, a decade that produced maybe 4 or 5 watchable films, that wouldn't be hard.
My personal favorite of his is Quick Change. "YOU DON'T KNOW RED FROM HELL!!!"
Hmmm...
Just think if you were trapped in Groundhog Day, and had an internet connection.
You could take whatever time it took to come up with the best day's posts on FR ever! lol...
I cast my vote with those who say GHD is one of their favorite movies ever. I really love it too!
In addition to Groundhog Day, my top five are:
1. Casablanca
2. Caddyshack
3. Bonnie & Clyde
4. My Fair Lady
I've seen that one (my wife was a big Xena fan), and I thought at the time "That's a video game premise, just like GHD!"
Actually, I haven't played any video games for years, but they've finally gotten so well done that they're pulling in more revenue than movies with the younger set.
One of my sons got me a copy of Half-Life2 for Christmas, and I finally completed it yesterday. There were a number of segments in that game that I had to run over and over, seemingly endlessly, before I got all the steps right and was able to advance.
That game is a real white-knuckle experience if (like me) you're afraid of heights!
Tells you all you'll ever have to know about the depth of intellect and maturity of Mr. (wow Mom, where would we be if it weren't for Mr. Clinton!) Goldberg.
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