Favorite Bill Murray Movie: Any classic Murray (being Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day) as well as any new age Murray (The Razor's Edge, Rushmore).
Why: Choosing only one seems an impossible task! I'm a dedicated Bill Murray fan; I love all of his work (well, for the most part I love all his work- I really don't enjoy a select few of his movies including Speaking of Sex, Hamlet, and I'm on the fence about The Man Who Knew Too Little).
Why: (I'm going to pretend that 3 of these 5 movies do not make me cry). In my opinion, as an actor, Bill has always had two sides to him. First and foremost- the funny man. Secondly (and this is why I love him), Bill isn't always just "funny guy haha laugh at me look what I did", but, as we have seen in his performances such as The Razor's Edge, Lost In Translation, Broken Flowers, and Rushmore, he can be a man down on life, a man depressed. I've always applauded him for this because I can truly relate- having a sense of humor but also admitting that humor isn't always evident in my personality; sadness takes over even the best of us.
Believe it or not, Osmosis Jones was the first DVD I watched. However, I consider Stripes to be my first Murray movie; this is because it was the first movie in which I was aware that Bill was the main character; in Osmosis Jones I had no idea who that disgusting guy was! It was Father's Day of 2009 and AMC was having a Bill Murray marathon- playing Ghostbusters 1, Ghostbusters 2, Caddyshack, and Stripes. It was pretty late at night and my dad saw that Stripes was on. As we began the film, my dad admitted that this was the first movie he had seen that had breasts in it; he went to the theater with his dad when Stripes was released (something I am still jealous about to this day. Although, now that I think about it, it's now like I've never had a "Murray movie in the theater" experience). It was a school night (yeah, school was still going on by Father's Day that year) and I stayed up to watch the movie until 12 something. I checked the info to find that some hunk named "Bill Murray" played John Winger...
And so began a long succession of Murray movies. Binging and purging on '70s SNL episodes, discovering the culture of the late '70s, of the early '80s, becoming acquainted with Gilda Radner and John Belushi, becoming reacquainted with a younger, charming, goofy Chevy Chase and an ever intelligent, always thoughtful and precise Dan Aykroyd.
I know it'll last all of my life- taking out time to watch a Murray movie when I'm upset or need a laugh. And, let me tell you, my parents sure saw this, too. I completed the entirety of his career on SNL within months and I'm still working on viewing, too, the entirety of his acting career. I've seen the copious amount of Dave Letterman interviews staring Bill (did you know that, when Dave's show premiered in 1982, Bill was the very first guest?).
And soon the time came when I received what I still believe to be one of the best gifts I've ever received. First, the act of giving this gift was completely spontaneous. Larissa had found Bill Murray's biography at some random used bookstore. Can you believe that I had never known that he wrote a book until I had it in me hands! It was perfect. I love that book... probably because I can imagine Bill saying everything in it (the last sentence of the book is "Shouldn't I be wetter?" I mean, C'MON! It's prime Bill Murray).
"The closer you get to the bars, the more interesting the animals. It's hard to be sure which side of the rope holds the animals, but fair to say there is wildlife on both sides."
"Or perhaps your manhood says you gots to have a throw-down with any dude be sporting a positron-accelerator backpack and ain't afraid to use it on no eleven-story marshmellow figure; then you just bring it on, homey, bring it on!"
The book really is a great read. My sister doesn't think so... but I don't think she's very interesting. Just messing.
At this point in my story, I'm not quit sure which Murray movies I have seen and which I haven't. But let's assume that I have just seen Meatballs on Comedy Central. Bill's first movie. Such a goofy flick but it also marks the beginning of the notorious Murray speech- the part of many of his movies in which he delivers a motivational sentiment to his peers. Murray gets wild- yelling and screaming, telling the camp that even if they do win the upcoming marathon, the enemy team will get all the hot girls anyway! "It just doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter," he chants. And soon the entire cast is in an uproar, loudly chanting "It just doesn't matter."
Now, let's also assume that I have now just seen the wonderful The Razor's Edge. What a movie! It really changed my life. It never fails- when I become utterly depressed, I turn on The Razor's Edge. "Will I see you again?" Murray's co-star asks him; she loves him but the feeling is no longer mutual. "You just don't get it!" Murray tells his co-star. He puts his hands around her throat and playfully shakes her neck back and forth as he repeats himself. "You just don't get it," he says in a whisper. He allows his hands to fall by his sides as he says, "It just doesn't matter."
Haiku:
"Trying to get sleep
Chant 'It just doesn't matter'
Bill's words in my head"
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