Review of Get Low (2010) by John E — 22 Jul 2011

Get Low is a drama film that shows an old man wanting a party for his death. The town in which he is a part of is surprised because he lives by himself and hardly speaks to anyone. He is also believed to be a killer and devil worshiper, but many just misunderstand who the man is and the controversy that surrounded him forty years ago. The direction of the film was decent as was the acting, but the script lacked a little something that made the film solid. While still an overall good film, it is just hard to get into like some other dramas.

The direction by Aaron Schneider (film debut) was good, but of course with the veteran cast he had, it could not have been hard. The director here was given quite a blessing with the cast he was given, a handful of experienced actors who knew exactly what they were doing and all seemed to fit into their roles quite nicely. His hand in the film was probably the minimal amount for a director because of this factor but nonetheless he still guided them through their respective roles with ease. This shows some good poise and future possibilities as a more involved director for future films.

The script, written by C Gaby Mitchell (film debut) and Chris Provenzano (film debut) was where the film came up a little short. It seemed to lack a certain flair that it should have had to make the film more passable with time. The entire film seemed to drag on for a while in hopes that the viewer will find the climax to be one with excitement and some mystery. But by the time we get to the climax, it seems to draw out and exhausted that the truth told onscreen is somewhat disappointing and leaves the viewer wanting there to be more so that the truth was worth the wait. It is not that it is a bad script, just one that could have used some more refinement before being turned into a film.

The acting was good. Robert Duvall (The Road) did a good job as the reclusive man who mystifies everyone he encounters because of his past. This is a typical role for Duvall and is nothing new, but he hones his skills well in order to give a very good performance. He seems to have found his niche even in his late age and has become one of the go to guys for reclusive men who eventually show emotion. Bill Murray (Zombieland) did a good job as the man trying to help the Duvall's character make his party happen. He seemed to fit the role well as it had the appearance of a schemer but still had a trace of humanity. He did a god job bringing some humor to the role and filled in some of the more dead spots nicely. Sissy Spacek (Lake City) did a good job as the innocent victim who knew the real man behind the character of Duvall. She had a good presence about her and she was able to connect to the audience perhaps more than any other character. The supporting cast for the film Lucas Black (Killer Diller) and Bill Cobbs (My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done) who did well in their respective roles. The chemistry of the cast fit the story of the film and helped to enhance the feeling the film was trying to give off.

Get Low was a decent drama film but had the tendency to drag on which limits the pleasure of the viewer. The script could have made some adjustments to make the film a little livelier but I do understand and appreciate the value it held with the film set in the time that it was. The direction was a reflection of the good acting that portrayed the story. Overall this film was not bad, it just drags a bit which hinders the pleasurableness of it.