Get Low

Cecil says: This has got to be the film of the year, and surely an Oscar for Robert Duvall.

But before I go further into the film itself, let me tell you about the place we saw it: the Capitol Cinema in York, Pennsylvania. One of those old 1920s movie theaters that made it into the modern era with hardly a change in its decor or its fittings. Fantastic venue and a credit to the local community in York who apparently campaigned from 1980 onwards to keep the place open. And they managed to keep it as a single-screen, 500 seater sitting alongside the 1,000 seater Strand next door, which is used mainly for stage plays but does also show the occasional film. Hats off to them and may many other towns around the world follow suit. The audience of 100 on a Saturday night paid credit to their efforts for community cinema.

Now to the film: what a classic. Great opening scene: a house on fire, but fixed camera for about 20 seconds just watching the flames, until suddenly you see a body running away from the house towards the camera. But it's not until well into the story that you begin to realise what the house fire was all about...

Get Low is all about story-telling. Old man Felix is feared by the local community; rumours abound of what he has done and what he is capable of, and slowly, as the film develops, we learn more and more about the man himself; he wants his own story to come out, but he feels almost incapable of telling it himself. So he comes up with a great wheeze for how to get everyone together to hear him tell his tale...

It's wonderful stuff. Set in Georgia (USA, not eastern Europe), its tone and atmosphere reminds me of Coen Brothers films. Bill Murray is fantastic. And if they did an Oscar for animal parts, I'd nominate Gracie the donkey for her lips and her smile.

Only one slight jarring, right at the end: what was the point of the final scene, with young Dad holding little baby in his arms, AND little baby smiling like that? Was it some bow to the needs of Hollywood or did it to have some subtle significance like the rest of the film?

Final tip: unless you come from down Georgia way, make time to see the film twice. The story is worth it, and you might need at least two viewings before you catch all the dialogue in that southern twang...

****.5

Bea says:
Cecil and I are agreed on this one - this is easily the best film I've seen this year, and is probably one of the best films I've ever seen, certainly one of the best American films. Duvall is riveting as Felix, Sissy Spacek (so good to see her on screen again) excellent as his old flame, of sorts, and the rather underrated Bill Murray brilliantly cast as the funeral director. Look out for the band playing at the funeral party - is that Alison Krauss? It certainly is her singing as the credits roll. I don't want to say too much and spoil the experience - go and see this film. Suffice to say that I loved the way the story(ies) played out, and the fine balance between tragedy and comedy.
*****