Groundhog Day

I may be out of line with many of you about my next sentence. The smartest comedy of all time. Bill Murray may be the greatest actor of our generation. If you think about his body of work alone, it makes for a compelling argument. He gets tired of same ole Hollywood, so he quits, only to return as the best indie star on the market. No more studio films for this guy. I understand. He was never given his due for the films he stacked up. Not by normal viewers who love him, but by the Hollywood Insiders. I do think he is misunderstood, but if you can get into what he is doing now, you will have a better appreciation for him. Actors are not able to re invent themselves. He did. You have to be what they say you are. Comedian, dramatic, spoof..... whatever it may be. He went from stupid comedies we love to extremely smart comedies that we love, to dramatic roles that we love. In my opinion, he can do no wrong. As for Groundhog Day...as I said, IT IS THE BEST AND SMARTEST, EVER! The film takes place on February 2nd. Year? Not important. What is important is that Phil Connors (Murray) hates his life. He is a not too local news man traveling to Punxsutawney. A small down home town that he can't get away from quick enough. He must report on the days of the groundhog who is also named Phil, before returning to the big city and he life. Problem is, blizzard hits and his crew with him must return to the quaint little B&B where he will spend one more night.... Next morning, 6AM, clock goes off with the same song and the same stupid morning DJ yapping about the weather. He figures its on a loop. Then it gets weird. He sees his crew and they inform him its about time for his segment. Wait. He already did his segment and now its Feb 3rd. Nope. He thinks its either a joke or a dream. He does it again, goes about his day and gets stuck by the weather again. Goes to bed, wakes up, Feb 2nd again. For some reason he cannot escape this day. He must relive it over and over and over. Funny thing is, every one is reliving it, but they have no idea, He is the only one who remembers each previous day. After getting over the strangeness of it all, he embraces it to a degree. He figures with an unlimited number of Feb 2nds he can do anything he wants. At first he does petty things like eating an entire table of food. Then, probably without even trying, he begins to learn the town. The people and their stories/lives, and their schedules. You see, they do everything the same every day as if its scripted. He saves a boy falling from a tree, steals a bag of cash, changes some ladies tire, and saves a man from choking on his steak. Then he takes it a step further. He learns how to do things. Talented things that take time to master. Time most people don't have. Ice sculpting, piano playing and so on. He is able to succeed at any task he wants to do, except one. No matter how much he does for the homeless man he calls Pop, he cannot keep him from dying every night. I think this has a big impact on Phil. He still knows not why he is cursed to relive this day every day. Maybe to learn a life lesson, but by not being able to save that mans life day in and day out has to do something to him. Eventually he's had enough. Phil commits suicide. Then just like the day before he wakes up back in his room at 6AM with sonny and Cher on the radio. He now feels he is invincible or even (a) god, he proclaims "not The God, but a god" He ends up spending lots of days learning about his producer, who he has fallen for. Every day he gets a do-over with her to see what "moves" will work on her. He learns every intimate detail about her, and uses it to advance his efforts. Unfortunately he must start all over with her every day. Every so often it gets too much for him and he kills himself again. Toaster in the tub, shot, stabbed, jumped from a building, drove a truck off a cliff (took the groundhog with him that time). Point is, what gets him out of his situation? Did he learn how to love? Did he stop caring? I don't think that's it. He stopped caring several times all followed by suicide. Maybe its the simple fact that he has learned all he needs to. All he can. It makes us think, does it revolve around Rita (Andy McDowell-producer lady)? He is able to get her up to his room a few times but every morning reverts. Right before Feb 3rd actually comes around, he has her with him, asks her to stay, she stays and the calender changes. I watch this movie several times a year and its always fun to discuss this question that is never answered. How long was he stuck on that day. Submit an answer and reasoning for it in the comments box below.

NBM rates Groundhog Day - A Cinematic Work of Art

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