Get Low (2009) Aaron Schnieder

The question was: Can Robert Duvall at 79 years old carry a feature length on his back?

The answer: HELL YES.

My expectations were low to start with. I wanted Robert Duvall to wander around a hermit cabin in the woods being crotchety and disgusted with society. Then I wanted him to move into the town in order to dishevel the townsfolk by acting crazy and firing off his shotgun with his mule (best friend) by his side. Then I wanted Bill Murray to say something funny.

My expectations were not only met but exceeded. Which rarely happens with bigger budget anglo films made in the last ten years. The plot was solid and quite original. Hermit man hiding from the gruesome secrets of his past but as death rears its ugly head hermit seeks out forgiveness. But not even a religious forgiveness. It seems inorder to receive the sweet peace of death he has to find absolution.

I loved that the majority of the cast were over the age of 40 which is something I miss in newer movies. It seems that the majority of the cast has to be under 40 or at least very good looking. Though with that said Sissy Spacek is beautiful beyond belief. Once again only the men get to be the "character old". You know what I am talking about, the leathery faces of having seen life the pronounced crow eyes. As if granted to age. I think more movies should have casts over 40. At least 30 movies a year. Think of all the great character baggage one has at that time of life. I am sure alot in that period that has not been explored.

Bill Murray plays a great untrustworthy funeral home director who tells it how it is. Though they keep making him mention his "Chicago" past which leads nowhere and doesn't have anything to do with anything. But watching Bill Murray sell a casket makes me giggle with glee.

The One PitFall this movie does fall into is the ending. I don't think Duvall should have said his secret in public in excruciating detail. The secret turns out to be too big of show too. It isn't the size of the secret really but more of how that secret has grown within the person over the years eating them alive from the inside out. If I made the film the secret would have never been said. BUT that being said I am RELIEVED that while Duvall was having his "secret monologue" they didn't edit in images of the past in a flashback back secret sequence. We just watched Duvall with a forest background emote. And emote he did, grandly.

There were some good forest shots too. But there could have been more and better. I looked up the cinematographer and he was pretty new at the game. Also this is the directors first film. So I see how they could have missed this AMPLE opportunity to have Duvall gallivanting and frolicking in the woods by himself.

All in all worth a watch. Bill Cobbs as the preacher is great too. He should have been given more screen time. There should have been shots of him and Duvall in nature prancing around.

P.S I cried at the end of the movie. But anybody who has known me over the years knows I have a soft spot for old men in pain. So Yes there is something in the deep dark cavern inside my chest cavity where a soft red organ is found. If you guys spread the word I will Shank every last one of you.