Get Low (2009)

A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party... while he was still alive.

Director:

Aaron Schneider

Writers:

Chris Provenzano (screenplay), C. Gaby Mitchell (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek

5 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Duvall	...	Felix Bush
Sissy Spacek	...	Mattie Darrow
Bill Murray	...	Frank Quinn
Lucas Black	...	Buddy
Gerald McRaney	...	Rev. Gus Horton
Bill Cobbs	...	Rev. Charlie Jackson
Scott Cooper	...	Carl
Lori Beth Sikes	...	Kathryn (as Lori Beth Edgeman)
Linds Edwards	...	WKNG Announcer
Andrea Powell	...	Bonnie
Chandler Riggs	...	Tom
Danny Vinson	...	Grier
Blerim Destani	...	Gary
Tomasz Karolak	...	Orville
Andy Stahl	...	Photographer (as Andrew Stahl)

Storyline

Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) is a hermit who has no regard for anybody in the town or anyone who wants to get to know him. But one day, after a fellow old hermit has died and he hears people in the town telling stories about him, he decides that he needs to get these stories out in the public. He recruits Frank (Bill Murray), the local funeral home director, to host his own funeral. This way he can hear what everyone is saying about him, and get the truth to his past out in the open. But will he be able to get anybody to come? And will he be able to reveal his secrets?

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Plot Keywords:

funeral | hermit | funeral home | party | secret | 

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Taglines:

Every secret dies somewhere.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and brief violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Facebook Sony Pictures Classics [United States]

Country:

USA Germany Poland

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Funeral Party

Filming Locations:

Atkinson-Glover House - 19 Temple Avenue, Newnan, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$88,182, 1 August 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$9,176,553, 18 February 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

K5 International, Zanuck Independent, David Gundlach Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first time Lucas Black and Robert Duvall appeared on-screen together. They were in Sling Blade (1996), however they didn't share any screentime.

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Goofs

When Frank and Buddy are getting a photograph made of Felix, right before the camera shutter is tripped, the photographer bumps the view camera and it becomes aimed in a slightly different direction. The photographer fails to re-frame the shot which would never happen while using a view camera.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Rev. Gus Horton: Good morning, sir.
Felix Bush: It's a hard life if you can't read.
Rev. Gus Horton: Pardon?
Felix Bush: [gestures toward NO DAMN TRESPASSING sign]

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Connections

Featured in Late Show with David Letterman: Bill Murray/Alejandro Escovedo (2010)

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Soundtracks

Whiskey Before Breakfast
Traditional
Arranged by Mike Henderson
Performed by The Steeldrivers (as Steel Drivers)

User Reviews

One of the best films of the year

A charming sleeper of a tale set in the 1930s. A reclusive hermit, the subject of mistrust and rumor by generations of local townsfolk, nearing the end of his life suddenly decides to throw himself a funeral party and invites the entire town. Superlative and nuanced performances are turned in by Robert Duvall, as the old man, Sissy Spacek, as a widowed former acquaintance, and Bill Murray, as the funeral director who agrees to organize the event. Fantastic supporting performances are also given by Lucas Black, as the Funeral director's more moral assistant, and Bill Cobbs, as the Reverend who comes to speak at the funeral. The director, Aaron Schneider, captures the period extremely well and the cinematography and musical score are wonderful. The movie handles tough subjects like death, regret, suspicion and guilt with wisdom and a gentle humor that allows the audience to take it all in like one big ice cream sundae. Bravo ! Go see it ! Tell your friends to go see it !!