In the summer of Inception, Salt and big budget sequels, it’s easy for a low-key film like Get Low to get overlooked in the mix. But that would be a mistake. It’s worth seeking out this quirky, yet engaging independent feature that slyly mixes elements of comedy and drama. Billed as a “True Tall Tale” on the poster, Get Low is the story of cantankerous hermit Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) who comes up with an unusual idea -- to hold his own funeral while still alive.
There are many reasons to like Get Low. Here are some of mine:
- The Story - Get Low is inspired by a true event. In 1938, Tennessean Felix Breazeale gained national headlines when word spreads that he is staging his own funeral. Writers Chris Provenzano & C. Gaby Mitchell start from this premise and lure us in with the deeply drawn character of Felix Bush. A recluse, Bush strikes fear throughout the community. For what? No one is exactly sure. Everyone just knows that whatever he did once, it was really bad. Now that Get Low has our attention, we learn that Bush’s days are almost at an end. He decides to go out with a bang by hosting his own funeral. His plan is to have everyone in the area come to his party and tell their stories about him. This is when the fun begins.
- It Is Beautifully Shot - Director Aaron Schneider began his career as a cinematographer on the TV series Murder One and has shot such films as Kiss the Girls and Simon Birch. So it’s no surprise that his directorial feature, set during the Depression, looks great. Turning over the DP duties to David Boyd (curiously, Schneider edited the film himself), the film Get Low has a charming retro feel, evoking the richness of the era as well as the Georgia locations where it was shot. The scenes in town (Crawfordville, Georgia) are particularly striking. Keep an eye out for Duvall’s misty morning ride down main street in a mule-driven wagon.
- Bill Murray - Bush needs someone to plan his event. The local reverend (Gerald McRaney) is willing, but with strings attached. Bush won’t agree to the terms. This leads him to Frank Quinn, the town’s hapless funeral director who’s going broke because no one in town seems to be dying. After he sees Bush’s wad of money, Quinn is only too happy to help him out.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
As Quinn, Murray possesses a Chaplinesque quality. Somewhat shady, somewhat noble, he’s the perfect foil for his client’s eccentricities. And Murray strikes just the right tone in the role. Whether exasperated or acerbic, he squeezes out every comic drop with the laid-back delivery that has become his trademark. His pencil mustache, fur collar overcoat and fedora are worth a few laughs on their own. He looks like he was plucked out of a 1930s Laurel & Hardy or Marx Brothers movie.
- Sissy Spacek - It’s never a bad thing when Sissy Spacek shows up in a movie, and Get Low is no exception. As Mattie Darrow, the woman from Bush’s past, she provides the heart of the film. As ornery as Felix is to everyone else, he just seems to melt around her. As he softens, we see the full extent of the man. According to an old saying, you can get more attention with a whisper than a shout. And Spacek’s whispery performance is a wonderful counterbalance to Duvall.
- Robert Duvall - As good as the cast (which also includes Lucas Black, Bill Cobbs and Lori Beth Edgeman) is, Get Low is Duvall’s film. There’s a raw, honest energy to his portrayal of Felix Bush. He’s all too aware he’s the most colorful character in the county and he has no problem proving it at every opportunity. But this is what makes his character so much fun. At the same time, the sadness of his life is so profound, you can’t help but feel for him. The more we learn about the character, the more fascinating he becomes. Bush is one of Duvall’s richest performances, and when you look at his body of work, that’s no small claim.
- The Direction - None of the above would work without a strong vision. Though it is Aaron Schneider’s first feature, he leads with a confident hand. It is obvious that he trusts his story, his actors and his instincts. And the results are an involving, entertaining film going experience.
