Wes Anderson transposes his quirky family dramas and characters, and that wonderful eye for details into an undersea adventure that pays homage to, and pokes fun at, the ocean adventure films that rose to popularity with the works of Jacques Cousteau. Bill Murray stars as the titular Steve Zissou, a Cousteau wannabe who, aboard his…
Tag: bill murray
Rushmore (1998) – Wes Anderson
As much as I tried, though it was a long time ago, Bottle Rocket, Anderson’s first feature film, never really clicked for me. I realized there were good things in it, but for some reason it didn’t work for me. But it may be time for a rewatch considering how much I’ve enjoyed the rest…
Isle of Dogs (2018) – Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson delivers another highly-enjoyable stop-motion animated feature with Isle of Dogs. He penned the script from a story he developed with Jason Schwartzman, Kunichi Nomura, and Roman Coppola. Set in a not-so-distant future in Japan, the story follows young Atari (Koyu Rankin) who travels to an island to seek out his missing canine, Spots…
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – Wes Anderson
I love the quirkiness of Wes Anderson films, and that was why he was such a perfect match for Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, and making it a stop-motion film was the only choice for Anderson’s interpretation. Mister Fox (aptly voiced by George Clooney) is persuaded by Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) to give up his…
The French Dispatch (2021) – Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson brings his quirky style to journalism with The French Dispatch, an anthology of stories that let him show off his cast, his style, his attention to wonderful details, and that sense of humor that permeates his work. Bill Murray plays the editor of The French Dispatch, Arthur Howitzer, Jr., and this will be…
Meatballs (1979) – Ivan Reitman
With a script that involved Harold Ramis, a score by Elmer Bernstein, Ivan Reitman, his first major motion picture, directs Bill Murray in his first starring role in the Canadian-made summer classic, Meatballs. Does it all stand up? It really doesn’t. But is there a lot of fun to be had in the film, yeah…
The Dead Don’t Die (2019) – Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch writes and directs this zombie film that is more in line with the Romero created monster than the running creatures that have been made so popular of late. In fact, the entire film plays out at an enjoyably relaxing pace, letting the story brew, the characters breathe, and the oddities, eccentricities, and the…
Groundhog Day (1993) – Harold Ramis
Bill Murray headlines in one of my favourite comedies, Groundhog Day, which sees Murray as Phil Connors, a smarmy weatherman who thinks he’s better than his yearly assignment to head to Punxsutawney, for Phil the Groundhog’s yearly prediction on winter. He’s joined by his new producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell), and cameraman, Larry (Chris Elliott). Following…
Caddyshack (1980) – Harold Ramis
Caddyshack remains one of those comedies that just stays with you. And it has stayed with me since I first saw it as a teenager in the 80s, Bill Murray and his nemesis, the gopher puppet delighted me to no end, while Chevy Chase’s zen-like and self-confident (verging on the arrogant) golf player Ty, exuded…
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Frank Oz
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken bring their bring science fiction b-movie musical to the big screen, ably directed by Frank Oz, in this 1986 adaptation that is the next stop in the Monstrous Aliens section of DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies. Rick Moranis plays Seymour, a bit of a schlub with an affectation for…
The Mind Reels 