This review contains spoilers...Bill Murray's best piece of work...just, Wow! I knew nothing about this film when I walked in the theater. Just saw that it had a good cast. So, my wife and I thought, OK, lets see it.
For me, especially, this film is a winner in every sense of the word: In the beginning, a bus pulls into to Sheepshead Bay, NYC. When I saw this, I said to my wife..."hey, that's where my father was born" (he, like the main character, was also a Veteran and an alcoholic...and died just before my 8th birthday) I also identify with the boy in this film, as I went to Catholic School and am an ethnic Jew. Having said that...
Let the parallels of an alcoholic veteran from Sheepshead Bay begin! First, the accent...spot on Mr. Murray! The beard stubble...I could actually smell the booze stench coming off this character, in my mind's eye. Running over the fence and blaming it on someone else when convenient...again, check. Being broke because all his money is spent on booze. Uh huh. Dragging the "kid" into bars and liquor stores and making him sit while the drunkard drinks...there ya go. Taking the kid to the racetrack and teaching him how to gamble. Yeppers again. And finally, stealing the kid's money...ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF A VETERAN ALCOHOLIC! Murray pulls his character off with all the grace and style of the Irish, low class person he was asked to portray. Uncanny performance deserving of an Oscar nod.
But, there is also another side to this film. This is the side of a tender heart who knows his life is a failure, but still tries to help out where he can and teach lessons where there is opportunity. It is the story of a man who keeps his own demons buried deep inside, losing himself to the hell of war's PTSD as he loses his wife to Alzheimer's Disease. The story of a man who takes in a pregnant immigrant dancer/prostitute when she has no where to go. The story of a man who understands how hard it is to be a parent and gives sage advice to his divorcing neighbor. The story of a forgotten hero, finally recognized for his achievements by a little kid...the story of the Saint of Sheepshead Bay,NYC.
Bravo Mr. Murray and supporting cast! BRAVO
For me, especially, this film is a winner in every sense of the word: In the beginning, a bus pulls into to Sheepshead Bay, NYC. When I saw this, I said to my wife..."hey, that's where my father was born" (he, like the main character, was also a Veteran and an alcoholic...and died just before my 8th birthday) I also identify with the boy in this film, as I went to Catholic School and am an ethnic Jew. Having said that...
Let the parallels of an alcoholic veteran from Sheepshead Bay begin! First, the accent...spot on Mr. Murray! The beard stubble...I could actually smell the booze stench coming off this character, in my mind's eye. Running over the fence and blaming it on someone else when convenient...again, check. Being broke because all his money is spent on booze. Uh huh. Dragging the "kid" into bars and liquor stores and making him sit while the drunkard drinks...there ya go. Taking the kid to the racetrack and teaching him how to gamble. Yeppers again. And finally, stealing the kid's money...ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF A VETERAN ALCOHOLIC! Murray pulls his character off with all the grace and style of the Irish, low class person he was asked to portray. Uncanny performance deserving of an Oscar nod.
But, there is also another side to this film. This is the side of a tender heart who knows his life is a failure, but still tries to help out where he can and teach lessons where there is opportunity. It is the story of a man who keeps his own demons buried deep inside, losing himself to the hell of war's PTSD as he loses his wife to Alzheimer's Disease. The story of a man who takes in a pregnant immigrant dancer/prostitute when she has no where to go. The story of a man who understands how hard it is to be a parent and gives sage advice to his divorcing neighbor. The story of a forgotten hero, finally recognized for his achievements by a little kid...the story of the Saint of Sheepshead Bay,NYC.
Bravo Mr. Murray and supporting cast! BRAVO