The Critics Speak

Broken Flowers

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Solid & Thoughtful
Released: August 5, 2005
Director: Jim Jarmusch
MPAA RATING: R, for language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use

Synopsis: With BROKEN FLOWERS, staunchly independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch delivers one of his most pleasing, accessible pictures. Winner of the 2005 Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, the film tells the story of Don Johnston (Bill Murray), a man overflowing with wealth but void of emotion. On the day that his most recent girlfriend (Julie Delpy) has given up on him for good, he learns, through an anonymous letter, that he might be the father of a 19-year-old boy. Spurned into action by his wannabe private eye neighbor, Winston (Jeffrey Wright), Don sets off on a personal journey to visit the former partners who may or may not have mothered his child. They include the flighty Laura (Sharon Stone), whose daughter Lolita (Alexis Dziena) certainly lives up to her name; the uptight Dora (Frances Conroy), who has settled into a sterile life with her chipper husband Ron (Christopher McDonald); the strangely distant Carmen (Jessica Lange), who makes a living as an "Animal Communicator;" and, finally, Penny (Tilda Swinton), a hard-edged biker who is the least happiest to see Don. Each confrontation leaves Don feeling more lost than the last, spinning him into an even greater state of apathetic confusion.

In typical Jarmusch fashion, he wrote the script for BROKEN FLOWERS with his casting firmly in mind; only Murray could play this role. The result showcases Murray's brilliance as a less-is-more presence. Jarmusch also gives some of Hollywood's most talented female actresses roles they can relish. A hundred percent Jarmusch, BROKEN FLOWERS is a wry, tender, and bittersweet portrait of a man who is drifting aimlessly through life. --Taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Take: Loved it! In traditional deadpan style, Jarmusch allows his actors to actually take center stage and actually bring the movie alive for us. Sometimes the camera is set on Don Johnston just sitting, looking... and we feel his thoughts pour through Bill Murray's subtle acting. I SO APPRECIATE films that don't have all of this whiz-bang sparkle all over them (a la the first three Star Wars episodes), but that allow characters to shine through. I love a director that has so much trust in his actors that they are allowed to actually convey their character as though on a stage.

In Broken Flowers, Don Johnston is trying to solve this mystery of whether or not he is a father. We get a sense of his life, how disconnected it has been as he floated from girl to girl, but was never able to commit fully to any. I love the subtle nuances shown by the characters he encounters. I also think this mystery is solvable because of some details I didn't fully connect with the first time around. I need to watch it again!

As usual, I'm thankful that Bill Murray is at his acting best when peforming with independent film makers. I am beginning to believe that his dramatic acting is far better than his comedic acting... and his comedic acting was quite good.

All around good movie, cool music, subtle acting, sweet camera shots.