REVIEW: Broken Flowers (2005)

Jim Jarmusch is artsy. Not in a bad way, but certainly to an extent that might turn away potential viewers of his films who can't stand the slow pace, somewhat rambling dialog, and the lack of explosions and fast food. His most recent film, "Broken Flowers", which came out in 2005, stars the great Bill Murray, who's very existence seems to warrant film documentation.

My first impression of "Broken Flowers" was that it bore incredible similarities to several other independent films starring Bill Murray. Of course, Bill has been featured in several Wes Anderson films, including "Rushmore", "The Royal Tenenbaums", and "Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou", as well as Sofia Coppola's "Lost In Translation". In all of these, Bill Murray seems to play a similar character, an older, quiet guy with a very dry sense of humor. He is a far cry from whatever he was in "Caddyshack", and it is a welcome presence. I have read several descriptions by film critics who see him as depressed, droll, and "The Depleted Man". These are accurate descriptions, but ultimately nothing describes Bill Murray's acting in these movies better than simply Bill Murray.

In "Broken Flowers", Bill Murray plays Don Johnston, an older gentleman with a long list of former girlfriends. Women are genuinely attracted to him, but judging by his bachelor status after a break-up at the beginning of the film, he has trouble holding on to relationships. His only friend appears to be a next door neighbor named Winston (Jeffrey Wright). When Bill Murray- wait, I mean, Don Johnston, receives a mysterious letter in a pink envelope, it reveals that he might have a 19-year old son looking for him. It seems that his prolific past as a "Don Juan" has caught up to him. He brings the letter to Winston, who arranges an entire travel itinerary for him to visit several of his past girlfriends in the hopes of finding out who had sent the letter.

The story of "Broken Flowers" develops slowly, with its most poignant moments found as Bill travels to each woman's home. His feelings of loneliness, of a past and no future, and regrets over his relationships, creates a picture of a man without a true identity. He simply follows Winston's itinerary and appears before these women. While he chats with his former girlfriends, he is quietly looking for "clues" to determine which woman might have sent the letter. The film ends with the blank stare of Bill Murray.

Jim Jarmusch creates a truly poetic piece of work in "Broken Flowers". It contains the usual elements of independent cinema (quirky characters, great music) but ultimately places the focus on the characters in the story (compared to Wes Anderson and his sets, props and wardrobes). Perhaps the best indicator of a good movie is what the actors in "Broken Flowers" are able to do: while the women live their lives completely independent of one another, there is a subtle thread that connects them all together, through Don Johnston, and through the atmosphere of the film. It received the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005, and quite deservingly. So many films are constantly churning and frothing from the abyss but "Broken Flowers", with its slow pace and deliberate dialog, creates a contained world while displaying what makes a great film, or more importantly, what is great about film.