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Broken Flowers (2005) Certificate 15

Broken Flowers
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Rated 3.0 stars
Average rating
(57%)
 
Starring: Bill Murray | Jeffrey Wright | Sharon Stone | Tilda Swinton | Julie Delpy | Jessica Lange | Frances Conroy | Brea Frazier | Jerry Fall
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Studio: MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time: 101 mins
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Hearing-impaired: English
Released: March 20, 2006

Winner of the 2005 Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, the film tells the story of Don Johnston (Bill Murray), a man overflowing with wealth but void of emotion. On the day that his most recent girlfriend (Julie Delpy) has given up on him for good, he learns, through an anonymous letter, that he might be the father of a 19-year-old boy. Spurned into action by his wannabe private eye neighbour, Winston (Jeffrey Wright), Don sets off on a personal journey to visit the former partners who may or may not have mothered his child. They include the flighty Laura (Sharon Stone), whose daughter Lolita (Alexis Dziena) certainly lives up to her name; the uptight Dora (Frances Conroy), who has settled into a sterile life with her chipper husband Ron (Christopher McDonald); the strangely distant Carmen (Jessica Lange), who makes a living as an Animal Communicator and, finally, Penny (Tilda Swinton), a hard-edged biker who is the least happiest to see Don. Each confrontation leaves Don feeling more lost than the last, spinning him into an even greater state of apathetic confusion.

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Highest rated reviews

51 out of 55 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
No Lost in Translation

moviefiend from East Sussex, 25th October, 2005

Bill Murray turns in another understated performance this time for Jim Jarmusch in Broken Flowers. Murray stars as the unfortunately named Don Johnston, a sort of latter day Don Juan who’s comfortable life is turned slightly askew when he receives a letter informing him he has an eighteen year old son from a former conquest. As the letter is unsigned Don inflicts on himself an odyssey through the past to find the truth.

Broken Flowers has been described as Jarmusch’s most commercial film yet. Though this is true, viewers may find the director’s choice of long static shots and preference to leave major plot points unanswered slightly infuriating. Murry is superb as Don but one wonders how long this style of acting or non-acting can be stretched before audiences become indifferent.

As with previous Jarmusch features, it is the secondary characters that are most successful. Sharon Stone’s trailer trash mother accompanied by jailbait daughter Lolita is inspired and Jeffrey Wright’s detective and Ethiopian jazz obsessed neighbour is a standout.

While intermittently amusing, Broken Flowers does not compare favourably with previous Murry films such as Rushmore and Lost in Translation but will not tarnish his recent movie-making renaissance.

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31 out of 37 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1.0 stars
.. is that it then?

chantelleR from Hampshire, 15th March, 2006

I think Jarmusch decided to give us a glimpse of some interesting characters, humorous lines and, just to tease us even further, fabulous acting and then leave us to make up a story all by ourselves.

To create a film which is blatantly devoid of a plot or storyline is just not fair. Sure you can think ... well maybe this meant that and that meant this ... but that's just as boring as someone asking you to figure out their dream for them.

I was so disappointed at the end of this movie I shouted at my TV, something I haven't done since I saw Pearl Harbour.

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20 out of 23 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
Like, really cool, dood - not!

Rehan from , 5th April, 2006

You've got to hand it to Bill Murray: he's made a career, and presumably a lot of money, from being a half-trick wonder - a character actor with one single expression, that of a slightly cross, constipated Beagle. There are, I imagine, loads of Americans who - bless 'em - confuse this with acting or talent or SOMETHING. Good for them, if they genuinely have the stomach for this blankness. It's NOT INTERESTING. That there are lovely women actually willing to throw themselves at a Bill Murray character (as opposed to Bill Murray, movie star) is inconceivable to any man - well, this one, anyway. Having just ripped this film to shreds, I have to say that it isn't as bad as, for example, 'Lost in Translation', perhaps because of the variety and quality of the actresses involved, though for all the promotion they're in fact rather underused; and at least it doesn't have that film's disagreeable let's-laugh-at-foreigners attitude. But you really have to be a Bill Murray fan to tolerate this film; if you're not, or are indifferent, give it a miss.

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18 out of 32 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
Disappointing film

Ruby from Brighton, England, 24th October, 2005

I was really excited about this film. I loved Bill Murray's performance in 'Lost in Translation' and I hoped for the same here. Be warned. This film is slow, unenvolving and boring. There is the occasional moment of beauty and brilliance but they disappear in a self-satisfied, lazy film.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 2.0 stars
Travels but gets nowhere

rickreed from , 2nd February, 2010

The trailer gives the basic setup away (don't they always) and the main character ends up traveling about looking for potential offspring. But despite the travel the film gets nowhere - nothing really happens nor is there any real character development or insight.

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Rated 2.0 stars
Very slow

MadViking from , 2nd January, 2010

Certain scenes are well shot but this is ultimately a very boring film. Some of the shots are still and keeps lingering on and on and on! The ending is completely stupid and keeps you guessing. The first 1/2 hour of the film is actually very enjoyable and his energetic neighbour, Winston is an amateur detective and totally convincing.

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Rated 5.0 stars
A bittersweet film that captures life perfectly - not to be missed.

tunnelweb from , 16th December, 2009

A fantastic film, blending comedy with serious commentary on life - the path we lead and the fact that the consequences do not disappear, even if we choose never to look back. While fully in the realm of reality, the comedy is offbeat, and will have you laughing out loud. However, this serves to contrast the more serious revalations and introspective moments. Superb performances all round, and a perfect soundtrack make this a bittersweet film that should not be missed.

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Rated 3.0 stars
Broken Flowers

JulieReganPilates from , 25th November, 2009

I think you may be better spending your time watching a tin of paint evaporate! Sooo boring. The plot could be good but just falls down - I ended the film by being annoyed that I had just wasted so much time watching it. Don't bother!

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