Groundhog Day
02/02/2012
Oops, I almost let the day get by without mentioning this appreciation of the movie. Is it one of the greatest movies ever? Well, not really, in my opinion, but it is very good, and maybe it is one of the most successful combinations of popular appeal and real substance. Note: the piece I linked to doesn't just contain spoilers, it summarizes the whole plot, so please don't read it if you haven't seen the movie. You have to see it for the first time without knowing what's going to happen.
Well, I'm glad I've seen Groundhog Day (over and over and over) so that I could read something.
It may not be one of the greatest movies ever, but it is one of the most enjoyable. It's also one of the movies that is frequently brought to mind by the events of everyday life, and the reminders always make you smile--or, at least, they always make me smile.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 02/02/2012 at 10:20 PM
I've never liked 'Groundhog Day,' but that's probably because I'm not much of a Bill Murray fan. His comedic style doesn't appeal to me. The only movies I ever really liked him in are 'Lost in Translation' and 'Get Low,' both of which had him in "serio-comic" roles.
Posted by: Rob G | 02/03/2012 at 06:26 AM
I never much liked what I saw of him as a comedian, either. "serio-comic" is exactly how I would describe Groundhog Day, and Murray's role. The character strikes me as pretty similar to the one in LiT, though tilted a bit more to the comic. Goldberg's description of the GD character (in the piece I linked to) is perfect: "He is a thoroughly postmodern man: arrogant, world-weary, and contemptuous without cause."
Posted by: Mac | 02/03/2012 at 10:29 AM
Groundhog Day is one of my favourite movies; I love it from top to bottom. I hadn't read Jonah Goldberg's essay before, so thank you for the link.
Posted by: Craig | 02/03/2012 at 03:09 PM
I have not seen the film, so I did not read it. I wish I could take some time off and watch it but I am teaching four courses right now and it is impossible.
Posted by: ex pat | 02/03/2012 at 05:42 PM
Four? That's a pretty heavy load, isn't it? At least I think I've heard teachers here complain about teaching four.:-)
I predict you will like G Day. I'm somewhat surprised Rob doesn't. Give yourself a break one weekend and watch it.
Posted by: Mac | 02/03/2012 at 05:47 PM
Come to think of it, if no one mentioned it when you were asking for film+theology recs, it was a great oversight.
Posted by: Mac | 02/03/2012 at 05:47 PM
Our professors teach 5 courses a year and think they have too much to do.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 02/03/2012 at 09:23 PM
Now you can threaten to send them to a Catholic school if they complain.
Posted by: Mac | 02/04/2012 at 09:35 AM
Lord, help us!
AMDG
Posted by: janet | 02/04/2012 at 10:24 AM