Robert Duvall and Bill Murray, those two actors together are more than enough reason to check out the folksy, down home drama of Get Low. Loosely based on a true story, Get Low comes to us from first-time director Aaron Schneider and screenwriters Chris Provenzano (Mad Men) and C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond).
The lead protagonist of the film is an ornery old cuss and who better to real-life ornery old cuss Robert Duvall. He plays Felix Bush, a hermit living in rural Tennessee during the late-1930's. Bush posts a "No Damn Trespassing" sign in front of his property and his only friend is his mule. The folks in town have been spreading rumors and gossip about the old man for decades. It has almost become a rite of passage for the children to throw rocks at his house then flee before he blasts them with his shotgun.
After being informed that a rare friend has passed away, Bush hitches his wagon into town to discuss the idea of a living funeral. When the local pastor (Gerald McRaney) turns him down, Felix is approached by Buddy (Lucas Black), an apprentice at the funeral home run by Frank Quinn (Bill Murray). With his business down, Quinn latches onto the idea, especially after Bush offers to give away his land via lottery. Folks from counties far and wide will come to the funeral so that Bush can hear their stories about him. In reality, he's seeking a way to tell all of them his story.
Bill Cobbs plays Rev. Charlie Jackson, a preacher from Illinois who knows Bush's secret, and Sissy Spacek co-stars as Bush's one-time flame, Mattie.
Get Low has a warm, old-fashioned feel to it. Chalk that up to the strong costumes and production design as well as an earthy look to its cinematography. The film looks very similar to the Coen Brothers' Miller's Crossing in its old-timey feel.
Schneider has created a fitting, Great Depression-era atmosphere, but his cast really brings Get Low to life. Duvall is just perfect as Bush. He can play grizzled eccentric then shift right into warm and fuzzy without missing a beat. Bill Murray is excellent as his foil, a slick, big city huckster now downtrodden by small town life. Murray proves that less is more. He's mastered this restrained minimalism that makes each and every line he utters count. Lucas Black, who starred in Sling Blade at a young age, hasn't done much to impress me with recent roles in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Legion. He again plays a bland Southern boy, but his character is thin in comparison to Duvall and Murray.
Get Low has a rich tone and mood though the story isn't as equally rich. It's a foregone conclusion that Bush's gruff exterior will be slowly chipped away and that the scared townsfolk will find a new understanding for the old coot. Still, the performances are strong enough for a recommendation.
Rating: ***
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