Bill Murray plays Don Johnston (no, not that one), a retired computer millionaire and “over the hill Don Juan” who spends his days slumped on his sofa watching old films and occasionally talking to his Ethiopian neighbour Winston (Wright).
This all changes though when he receives an anonymous letter from an old flame telling him he has a 19 year old son.
For want of anything better to do, and in an effort to shut Winston up, Don then embarks on a cross country road trip to track down all of his old conquests and uncover the mystery author.
They say:
Total Film: “A wry, beautifully understated road movie from a writer/ director perfectly in tune with Bill Murray’s melancholy style.”
Guardian: “Jim Jarmusch's new film is a lugubrious, lenient, sweetly acted comedy about male middle age, and it has been Jarmusch's greatest box office success so far.”
Empire: “Subtle, warm direction from Jim Jarmusch and another Oscar worthy performance from Bill Murray — will the Academy just give him a statue, already?”
We say:
Broken Flowers is the most mainstream offering of Maverick indie director Jim Jarmusch’s career but it sticks to his usual themes of loneliness, alienation and the absurdity of life.
Following on from similar turns in “Rushmore” and “Lost in Translation” Murray is perfect as the impassive, deadpan lead and it is impossible to imagine anyone else faring so well in the role.
However, Jarmusch does tend to overdo the long, lingering shots of Bill’s weathered face and things begin to drag as we sit staring at his motionless visage waiting for some sign of life.
Also, for a story which purports to be a metaphor for a journey of self discovery the frustrating ending is a major let down.
Subtle and understated or indulgent and dull? You decide.
CAST
Bill Murray, Julie Delpy, Sharon Stone, Jeffrey Wright,
Jessica Lange, Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Swinton
DIRECTOR
Jim Jarmusch
TIME
106 mins
POSTED...
Tue 21 Mar 2006 at 6:59pm
