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GROUNDHOG DAY [the best, most intelligent and deeply layered films of the last decade]
National Review online ^ | January, 2005 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 01/23/2005 3:44:28 AM PST by Roscoe Karns

GROUNDHOG DAY [Jonah Goldberg]

I watched it again last night. I may have seen it more times than Bill Murray repeated GHD. It got me thinking. I think it may be one of the best, most intelligent and deeply layered films of the last decade. I won't go out on the rhetorical limb the way Jonathan Last did when he said Buffy the Vampire Slayer "is the best show in the history of television." But I do think there is so much more going in Groundhog Day than most people realize. There's theology, metaphysics, psychology and most of it is remarkably understated and remarkably funny. No one ever mentions anything like Nietzsche's doctrine of the eternal return, or even explains why Murray comes so close to bedding Andie McDowell and then fails over and over again because he can't fake his sincerity. The use of irony in the second snowman scene is brilliant. And, let's face facts, there are few funnier lines in the history of cinema than (I'm quoting from memory): "This is one of those times where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."

Anyway, just one layman's opinion.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: movies
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To: Labyrinthos
That's to be expected ..... it's a small island with lots of bars and very few athletic stores ... you have to rest and rehydrate somewhere

.

81 posted on 01/23/2005 6:34:40 AM PST by Elle Bee
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To: timydnuc
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance


Jack's brother is dead?

82 posted on 01/23/2005 6:49:09 AM PST by Roscoe Karns (I miss Jack Valance.)
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To: Labyrinthos

click on the logo for the web cam
doesn't open untill noon on Sunday

83 posted on 01/23/2005 6:53:42 AM PST by Elle Bee
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To: Elle Bee

You're making me homesick for my home away from home.


84 posted on 01/23/2005 6:55:47 AM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: Roscoe Karns

I agree...Groundhog Day is great


"Inside John Malkovitch" is also a winner


85 posted on 01/23/2005 7:05:51 AM PST by woofie (Proudly posting inane comments since 1998)
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To: battlegearboat

I love "Local Hero," too. It's part of our dvd library.


86 posted on 01/23/2005 7:13:16 AM PST by pops88 (Geek Chick Parachutist Over Phorty)
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To: Mad Dawg

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Post-modern morality play or semi-pornographic soap opera?


87 posted on 01/23/2005 7:19:18 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (Not a tag line)
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To: Elle Bee

Well said, Elle Bee.

Where on your list are MiB, and one of the more underrated flicks of the 90s, Being John Malkovich?


88 posted on 01/23/2005 7:21:31 AM PST by cloud8
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To: Shooter 2.5
"Hush" was the best episode ever.

That's an immense 10-4! What a concept! Still gives me the shivers to think about it.

89 posted on 01/23/2005 7:22:37 AM PST by Mad Dawg (My P226 wants to teach you what SIGnify means ...)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Post-modern morality play or semi-pornographic soap opera?

Both at once? Check the episode where the tears of the repentant sinner -- which he can shed once he stops telling stories about his life and starts really living it again -- close the mouth of hell. Or Spike's little discourse on blood. Josh Breeden may be an atheist and may despise Christianity, but despite himself he says some good stuff and says it well.

90 posted on 01/23/2005 7:27:51 AM PST by Mad Dawg (My P226 wants to teach you what SIGnify means ...)
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To: AnneFrank

Ghostbusters is without a doubt one of the greatest 80s movies ever, and it's my favorite Bill Murray (and one of my favorite Dan Aykroyd's, who I adore.)

"..cats and dogs, living together- mass hysteria!"


91 posted on 01/23/2005 7:29:08 AM PST by lawgirl (Proud 2 time voter for George W. Bush as of 7:21 AM CST, November 2, 2004. LUVYA DUBYA!!)
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To: Roscoe Karns
...or even explains why Murray comes so close to bedding Andie McDowell and then fails over and over again...

It never explains why the character would want to bed her either. Andie McDowell is not a first (or fourth!) choice anytime... :)

Others in this thread have analyzed the movie far better than I, and I agree with most. It's one of the few that are on my 'permanent watch' list. One I am so comfortable with I can go to sleep with it on, or have is playing as 'background' able to ignore or watch as I choose.

Good stuff (Other than Andie of course.. ;)

92 posted on 01/23/2005 8:07:28 AM PST by kAcknor (That's my version of it anyway....)
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To: Mad Dawg

Most shows become great because of the dialogue. When I heard that the episode was going to be without speech, I thought they were giving the scriptwriters the day off. I was so wrong.

It was the best dialogue without a word being spoken.


93 posted on 01/23/2005 8:13:25 AM PST by Shooter 2.5 (Vote a Straight Republican Ballot. Rid the country of dems.)
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Comment #94 Removed by Moderator

To: Roscoe Karns
I LOVE Ground Hog day. It is infinitely quoteable: Don't Drive Angry! (or my personal favorite: Don't drive on the rail road tracks... well, I personally agree with that one...)

It has a real sweetness, heart, and poignancy to it. And pretty much anything with Bill Murray is brilliant. Would I say it's the best film of the last decade? I think it could be one of them, but considering what came out in the 90s, a decade that produced maybe 4 or 5 watchable films, that wouldn't be hard.

My personal favorite of his is Quick Change. "YOU DON'T KNOW RED FROM HELL!!!"

95 posted on 01/23/2005 8:48:24 AM PST by RepoGirl (Rottweilers are republican; all cats vote nader.)
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To: RepoGirl

Hmmm...

Just think if you were trapped in Groundhog Day, and had an internet connection.

You could take whatever time it took to come up with the best day's posts on FR ever! lol...


I cast my vote with those who say GHD is one of their favorite movies ever. I really love it too!


96 posted on 01/23/2005 9:03:17 AM PST by EternalVigilance (The Left believes in everything about the First Amendment....except what it actually says!)
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To: Roscoe Karns

In addition to Groundhog Day, my top five are:

1. Casablanca
2. Caddyshack
3. Bonnie & Clyde
4. My Fair Lady


97 posted on 01/23/2005 9:03:52 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: rintense
A little trivia: the Xena episode, 'Been There, Done That' was written to be just like Groundhog Day...

I've seen that one (my wife was a big Xena fan), and I thought at the time "That's a video game premise, just like GHD!"

Actually, I haven't played any video games for years, but they've finally gotten so well done that they're pulling in more revenue than movies with the younger set.

One of my sons got me a copy of Half-Life2 for Christmas, and I finally completed it yesterday. There were a number of segments in that game that I had to run over and over, seemingly endlessly, before I got all the steps right and was able to advance.

That game is a real white-knuckle experience if (like me) you're afraid of heights!

:)


98 posted on 01/23/2005 9:07:45 AM PST by forsnax5 (The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.)
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To: AnneFrank
And if you don't know who Mrs.Crane is (mentioned in each of his early movies) you don't know him as well as you should.
99 posted on 01/23/2005 9:15:19 AM PST by Bernard ("Those weren't lies - that was spin!")
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To: Roscoe Karns

Tells you all you'll ever have to know about the depth of intellect and maturity of Mr. (wow Mom, where would we be if it weren't for Mr. Clinton!) Goldberg.


100 posted on 01/23/2005 9:20:48 AM PST by iconoclast (Conservative, not partisan.)
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