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      Broken Flowers

      R Released Aug 5, 2005 1 hr. 47 min. Comedy Drama List
      87% 192 Reviews Tomatometer 70% 50,000+ Ratings Audience Score When his latest girlfriend (Julie Delpy) leaves him, retired computer magnate Don Johnston (Bill Murray) has no greater ambition than to sit around the house. When he receives an anonymous letter from a former girlfriend claiming he has a 19-year-old son he's never met, Don doesn't even think to follow up. It's not until his neighbor, a mystery fan, encourages him that Don resolves to visit the exes who seem the most likely candidates and find out the truth. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 30 Buy Now

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      Broken Flowers

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      Critics Consensus

      Bill Murray's subtle and understated style complements director Jim Jarmusch's minimalist storytelling in this quirky, but deadpan comedy.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Davide l Brilliant, head and shoulders above the crowd. Two faves working together, BM and JJ! My favourite type of comedy. Understated, addressed to a knowing rather than the fawning gawping gaping brigade that needs to be spoonfed a plot and any humour more than hinted at. Here's a more faithful portrayal of the human experience by taking concepts to their mere logical conclusion. Errant, not aberrant! Thanks to the whole crew and who helped make it possible! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/13/23 Full Review Vito P Don goes through his sentimental life in search of something lost, or maybe not, but it certainly feels like a missed opportunity. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/14/23 Full Review Ola G Don Johnston (Bill Murray), a former Don Juan who made a small fortune in the computer industry, wants to live in quiet retirement. He is content to lounge around watching old movies and listening to classical or easy listening music. His current girlfriend, Sherry, is ending their relationship and moving out of his house when a letter in a pink envelope arrives. Later Don reads the letter; it purports to be from an unnamed former girlfriend, informing him that he has a son who is nearly nineteen years old, and who may be looking for him. Initially, Don does not intend to do anything about it, but his busybody neighbor Winston, who is a mystery novel enthusiast, urges Don to investigate. Winston researches the current locations of the five women most likely to have written the letter and gives Don the information along with maps and flight reservations, and persuades him to visit them... Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus reads: "Bill Murray's subtle and understated style complements director Jim Jarmusch's minimalist storytelling in this quirky, but deadpan comedy." According to Ken Tucker, "Broken Flowers relies on Bill Murray's persona, but it also turns that persona back on him. Instead of maintaining the satirical distance that made it easy to laugh at heartland eccentrics in, say, Alexander Payne's About Schmidt, Jarmusch's film avoids caricature, and Murray's poker face melts. Don feels a bittersweet regret at becoming exactly the sort of granite-faced wise guy Bill Murray has made his rep at enshrining. Murray is at a point in his career when his self-effacement has achieved high comic art, and he collaborates with Jarmusch at a point in his career when he's trying to be something more than hipster-serene. Both succeed, by committing to the notion that a yearning to be reborn within a hopeless, brittle soul is worthy of drama—as well as a deeper, gentler humor." Peter Bradshaw called it "Jarmusch's most enjoyable, accessible work for some time, perhaps his most emotionally generous film - like Cronenberg, he has made a bold venture into the mainstream with a movie that creates a gentle cloud of happiness. It is, it must be said, a lot more forgiving about aging men than Alexander Payne's road-movies About Schmidt or Sideways, but it is still a very attractive piece of film-making, bolstered by terrific performances from an all-star cast, spearheaded by endlessly droll, seductively sensitive Bill Murray." Jim Jarmusch slowpaced and parched deadpan sort of filmmaking is not for everyone and to be honest not my cup of tea. Never was, never will be despite the fact that I have seen several Jim Jarmusch films. Having the normally comic genius Bill Murray walk around like a zombie with a deadpan look on his face for an hour and a half with a storyline that ultimately leads nowhere is just a waste of time to me. There´s no highs and no lows in "Broken Flowers" just a feeling of flatline. Simply put, "Broken Flowers" is as boring as watching paint dry to me. Trivia: The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/11/23 Full Review William M Over the past 15 years of so, the films of Jim Jarmusch have become increasingly hit or miss. This one was largely a miss, as was his later film, The Dead Don't Die (both of which starred Bill Murray.) On the other hand, Only Lovers Left Alive was brilliant. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/24/22 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely stunk. Clock watching for most of it - a slow death watching Bill Murray. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member One of Bill Murray's greatest performances! The casting is perfect and actors/actresses are all convincing but the film "is" Murray's. Director Jarmush, unpredictable as usual in the treatment of this (multi)sentimental but not romantic story, does an excellent job. Murray's character believes in Love ? Try to understand that...! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      David Ansen Newsweek Funny, bittersweet, its understatement yielding surprising depth charges, Broken Flowers is a triumph of close observation and telling details. Mar 14, 2018 Full Review Victoria Segal New Statesman ... Broken Flowers, coming from a postcode of its own, doesn't quite deliver. Sep 26, 2017 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out The ending is sublime, a set piece that almost makes up for the overwhelming slightness of it all. Aug 16, 2007 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site The film is slight, not especially malicious. Murray is entertaining to watch, even when, or perhaps especially when, he does not have a great deal to do. Feb 15, 2021 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com One of Jim Jarmusch's finer films. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 4, 2020 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A movie of wry humor and wry observations. Rated: 3.5/4 May 24, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When his latest girlfriend (Julie Delpy) leaves him, retired computer magnate Don Johnston (Bill Murray) has no greater ambition than to sit around the house. When he receives an anonymous letter from a former girlfriend claiming he has a 19-year-old son he's never met, Don doesn't even think to follow up. It's not until his neighbor, a mystery fan, encourages him that Don resolves to visit the exes who seem the most likely candidates and find out the truth.
      Director
      Jim Jarmusch
      Screenwriter
      Jim Jarmusch
      Distributor
      Focus Features
      Production Co
      Bac Films, Focus Features
      Rating
      R (Graphic Nudity|Brief Drug Use|Language)
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 5, 2005, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Feb 11, 2015
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $13.7M
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