Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, Sofia Coppola, Tim Burton — those are the names that have guided Bill Murray through phase two of the actor’s long career and it’s often easy to forget that this is guy who shot to fame going full on demented “Caddyshack.” Truthfully, Murray’s career from day one has been wildly varied as the actor/comedian tends to follow his whims rather than any prevailing Hollywood tides and trends. Following “Ghostbusters” he did a 180 and tried to dive deep into a dramatic role in “The Razor’s Edge“; after earning wide acclaim for his turn in “Lost In Translation” he voiced the titular “Garfield”; following “Rushmore” he tried his hand at “Hamlet” and then went the tentpole route with “Charlie’s Angels.” Certainly, not everything Murray has done is great or even good, hell, some of it is downright awful but there is a certain ineffable quality he brings to even the dullest of proceedings that is fascinating to watch. From defining roles in films that have made careers for some of American cinema’s brightest young talents, to puzzling walk-on parts in movies that for whatever random reason compelled Murray to leave his house, his has been a career of highs, lows and at times, extended middles, but the peaks are high indeed, and make up for many of the valleys.
READ MORE: Essential: The 6 Best Performances In The Films Of Wes Anderson
Since his latest picture, “Get Low” comes out today (Friday, July 30) in limited release (read our review) we thought we’d take this opportunity to look at the best, the worst and the forgettable of Murray’s eclectic career.
“Ghostbusters” (1984)
Many of Murray’s first roles have dated somewhat poorly, but “Ghostbusters”? It feels as fresh as a daisy, even now. The first stone-cold classic in the Murray oeuvre (“Tootsie” is worth a mention, but is something of a minor role for the star), and still, 25 years on, his biggest hit, it’s the gold-standard of effects-driven comedies. As much as anything, this is down to the chemistry between the actors; Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd had been working together for years by this point, and they feel like the three essential parts in a machine (although having said that, the underwritten, token nature of Ernie Hudson’s character is the film’s major flaw). Murray is clearly the MVP, effortlessly swinging between bone-dry delivery and flat-out silliness, but when the time comes to step up and face the supernatural case, he’s believable as an ass-kicker of the deceased. Of course, the question of a second sequel (the less said about “Ghostbusters II” the better, and thankfully Murray himself feels the same) is one that’s haunted Murray for most of the last twenty years, and, while we share the actor’s feelings about it potentially being a cash-in, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t get a little thrill when he strapped on the backpack again in last year’s “Zombieland.” [A]
“Quick Change” (1990)
Hell hath no fury like a Murray scorned. The comedian was so resentful that Ron Howard did not direct this New York comedic caper, that he recently said the filmmaker was dead to him (Murray was forced to co-direct with Howard Franklin; it’s the only film the comedian has ever helmed). And while this love letter to the Big Apple has its nostalgic supporters, there’s no denying it’s a rather mediocre/OK effort at best with occasionally riotous laughs peppering a largely rote heist story. Murray plays a stoic-faced clown, who, with the help of his associates (Geena Davis and Randy Quaid) pulls off a bank robbery in Manhattan only to get lost in Brooklyn and Queens on the way to JFK (this being in the wayward ’80s days when no one in New York apparently knew the city outside their own borough or limited five-block radius). Murray plays it straight throughout, delivering droll lines with a Sahara dry wit, but the real highlights of the films are all the supporting actors: Tony Shaloub as a clueless ethnic cab driver, Stanley Tucci in an early role as a gangster, and character actor Philip Bosco in a brilliant turn as a pathologically on-schedule bus driver who delivers the film’s loudest laughs. [B-]
no meatballs?
I hear Bill has an 800 number and a p.o. box that all offers are referred to. If he's interested in the script he'll call you back.
Ah yes, Meatballs. None of us had time to rewatch so we skipped it. It's not really fair to the film if you haven't seen it in 20 years.
Yeah, we know about the 800-number. We hope someone forwards it to us because we seriously want to buy him a beer.
I've always been curious about Where the Buffalo Roam. I was hoping this retrospective gave a hint if it was worth searching or not.
Where the Buffalo Roam, yo.
I've met Murray on three of four separate occasions, and he's always a different sort of prick about things. Kind of a genius, though.
It's scary how much Billy Murray and my father are starting to resemble each other! As younger men there is almost no resemblance, but the last few years, they've started to really look alike. It's creepy.
Holy shit, great wrap-up to finish the day with – I've missed these things from you all. No-brainer bookmark here. If I wasn't so damn busy all the time, I'd apply (and get turned down) for a writer's position here..
And you pushed me over the edge to finally get the Ghostbusters blu-ray. Now there's a claaaassic soundtrack (and great score too).
he's in ed wood just as much as he's in tootsie
Buffalo Roam. C+. Rent it if you're curious, but it's not great at all. Flatest direction in the world.
All I remember about Meatballs is that it was completely terrible, save for a couple of scenes of Murray riffing. That's how I felt about it when I was 14 and still thought the sun rose and set on Silent Bob's ass, so I can't even imagine how bad it might seem now.
Totally forgot about "The Lost City" or whatever it's actually called… Not really worth mentioning, very long and boring, but one of Murray's last roles before his vacation (he returned to set for "City of Ember")
His cameo in Zombieland also has to be one of the best celebrity walk ons of all time.
Do you regret anything?
No….well maybe Garfield.
He definitely does not go "full retard" in Caddyshack. No "full retard" could possibly be the master greenskeeper at a posh country club like that. And the idea that he did a full 180 a"following Ghostbusters" really isn't entirely accurate, since he was trying to get that movie made before Dan Aykroyd even had the GB script finished, according to that recent GQ interview.
I wonder why Bill Murray is retiring? I bet because some paparrazzi lies. Because of that, celebrates are still just strangers because we still don't know them that well. Like I read that he used drugs and abused his wife. That might be a lie. Freedom of Press, my butt! What? Freedom to lie about celebraties? I still think he's funny. I wish I can become close friends to him to get to know him. Then publish positive truths about him. I would still like him. I wish he didn't refuse to be in Ghostbusters 3. They could have a girl ghostbuster in the movie.