Robert Duvall’s latest role has shades of his first screen appearance, that of the mysterious Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Boo was an innocent mistakenly dubbed a monster by his neighbors.
Duvall’s character in “Get Low” remains an enigma until the final reel.
Is he as cruel as the townsfolk say he is? The character is only too happy to burnish that image in this quietly enjoyable feature set in the Depression era south.
Duvall is Felix Bush, an old timer who wants to stage his own funeral while he’s still among the living.
Plenty of people wouldn’t mind the hermit being six feet under. He’s a pariah in his small town, an evil man who people steer clear of when he makes a rare public appearance.
Felix drops by a local funeral parlor with a fistful of cash to pay for his plans. Shop owner Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) wants that money so badly he waves away protocol to make it happen.
But is Felix as vicious as advertised, and why would any sane man throw himself a funeral prior to his demise?
Could anyone be surprised by how masterful Duvall proves as the irascible hermit? The film demands Felix be both larger than life and emotionally tortured, the kind of soul who reveals himself piece by tiny piece.
The screenplay doesn’t always cooperate, but Duvall fills in all the necessary blanks, a single glance from him sharing more than any snippet of dialog could.
Murray’s character provides some stone dry humor, but Frank exists as a support structure for Felix’s attempt at redemption. The “Lost in Translation” actor excels a man juggling moral duties, the bottom line and an impressionable employee (Lucas Black). But his arc is of little consequence, and he’s not given any one scene that jumps out as worthy his talents.
Black is trusted with the pivotal role of the funeral parlor employee asked to balance the interests of both Frank and Felix. The young actor radiates decency, allowing the audience a portal into this gothic yarn.
The film’s core weakness emerges as Felix’s funeral comes into focus. The explosive revelation will be guessed by most movie goers, leaving us to admire Duvall’s performance, not the narrative.
First-time helmer Aaron Schneider strikes the proper tone with the material, never pushing the genteel humor too hard or making Felix a cartoon.
Duvall simply does the rest.
“Get Low” gives the Oscar winner another actor’s showcase to put alongside a career’s worth of memorable characters.
Note: Check out my interview with director Aaron Schneider at Boxofficemagazine.com.
(Photo: Robert Duvall, Lucas Black and Bill Murray star in “Get Low,” a dry comedy from first time helmer Aaron Schneider. Sony Pictures Classics)
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Really like Black. He was fantastic in “Friday Night Lights.”