Get Low - 4 smiles

“Get Low,” starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Lucas Black, is a wonderfully told tale about love, loss, and redemption with some comedy thrown in for good measure. Duvall is Felix Bush, a 1930s Tennessee hermit, a curmudgeon with a past, a recluse who terrifies his neighbors. Rumors fly about who he is and what he’s done. News of an acquaintance’s death gets Felix to thinking about his own mortality. However, he decides he wants a party at his funeral and he wants to attend before he’s dead. He hires Frank Quinn (Murray), a transplanted Chicagoan who runs the funeral parlor and his assistant Buddy (Black) to plan this event. The prospect of death brings Felix back into the mainstream of life and he renews contact with Mattie (Sissy Spacek), an old flame. His other meaningful association is with a preacher (Bill Cobbs) who lives in Illinois and who refuses Felix’s initial request that he speak at the unorthodox funeral service. As “Get Low” slowly moves toward its conclusion, it’s clear that we’re going to learn about Felix’s long-buried tragedy and he’s going to get the redemption he craves.

Based on a true story, “Get Low” boasts a top-notch cast and they don’t disappoint. Sissy Spacek enlivens her quiet role with just enough spark to make Mattie interesting and Lucas Black imbues Buddy with honesty and genuine goodness. Bill Murray’s dry humor is hilarious. ‘What do you do when people won’t die?’ Frank moans about no business. Murray’s funeral parlor owner, who is a bit shady and a lot greedy, adds many appreciated moments of levity. But the biggest pleasure is watching 79-year-old Duvall play crusty and cranky to perfection. Felix’s confession before the crowd, a superior piece of acting, is one of Duvall’s best. Duvall has a juicy role and he knows it, one that will certainly be remembered come awards time. Murray, too, will most likely be recognized at Oscar nomination time. “Get Low” is a pleasure to watch. 7/30/10