Get Low

"I wonder if she would have white hair?"

Let me just start out by putting it out there. Robert Duvall is amazing. I was excited to hear about this movie based on the true story of a man, Felix Bush, who in 1938 decided to have his funeral party while he was still alive. He wanted all to come who had a story to tell about him. He hires a local Funeral Director, Frank Quinn, played by Bill Murray, to help with this undertaking (pun not intended, but well placed.)The story is told and kind of guided in a way by Buddy played by Lucas Black of Fast and Furious:Tokyo Drift fame. He is not that great in the beginning, but get batter throughout. Bill Murray does great in this movie, I would not classify this as a dark movie they way some say it is, but maybe a shadowed comedy/drama.

The story begins when Felix learns that someone he knows passes away and he realizes he could be next. There are different motives for everyone that come out through the film. Sissy Spacek play and ex-love who helps Felix with his real motives and issues. The film is set in 1938 and was filmed in the hills of Georgia giving it a Midwest feel. I don't know what it is about films that are filmed in areas like this with barren trees and vacant land, films like this Blair Witch Project, True Grit, Winter's Bone and other backwoods films, but I love the filming locations.

The story takes some turns and does not get to the real purpose of the desired funeral party until the end. I never felt like this movie was slow. There was enough humor to keep me interested in each scene. Robert Duvall's character was a bitter crotchety old man so his comments are funny, and Bill Murray is, well, Bill Murray. He could just stare at the camera and make people laugh.

This film was a gem. A good find. There was not too much publicity about this film, but I liked it a lot. It was also nice that it was just over an hour and a half long. Maybe that's why it was not nominated for any awards it was not over two hours or rated R. It is worth checking it out of you need a good film that won't take up your whole night. You will still have time to make your own bucket list after the credits.

7.35 out of 10

Gnomeo and Juliet

"I'm not illiterate! My parents were married!"


The story you about to see has been told before. A lot. This was the opening line by a Red Good Gnome. After the movie I had to explain to my oldest son about Romeo and Juliet. I had to give him the cliff notes version of the play. His response: "Oh, this movie was way better than that one."

I had to watch this one in 3D, unfortunately, since it was the earliest showing. It was not to impressive in 3d. There were a few surprises in this film that I was not expecting. I knew that Sir Elton John did the music, but was thrilled to see that many of his songs were in the film. I was also surprised to hear the voice of Ozzy as a lawn reindeer.

The story was very close to the original play. **Spoiler Alert** It was obvious that they could not have to two kill themselves at the end so they make it close.**

My favorite part had to be the advertisement of the lawnmower called the "Terrafirminator" a 400hp lawnmower/tractor/wrecking machine. I laughed so hard thing about that. A lawnmower with the same power as a suped-up Mustang GT with a supercharger. I was laughing so hard though I think I was the only one in the theatre laughing.

I liked the idea that they were able to bring the story to the younger audiences, but as the opening line said, this story has been told many, many times before. There was something for the adults with the good music, innuendos and humor; but I think it did fall short. It just did not have that "it" factor that other animated films, like How to Train Your Dragon and any Pixar film, has.
This was a pretty good film. It is good for kids to be able to get a bit of Shakespere knowledge. This was a pretty good way to do it.