To me, this movie is perfection.

i must have seen a different film!!

As Good As It Gets

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

It could have been a good movie IF you would have knowned WHO or IF he had a son!

For those who want a straight, fast comedy this movie might be very boring, certainly if you are not into Bill Murray. Different folks, different strokes. I love this work though, but I must admit that many other recent movies by Jim Jarmusch have disappointed me because of the slow pace. Sometimes it works to slow everything down, sometimes it doesnt. But I have seen Broken Flowers over 10 times by now and it is one of those movies that keeps on getting better the more often I see it. I really think this is one of his best works in his entire carreer. If you do love this movie also check out "Down by Law". That is without doubt his ultimate masterpiece...Dedicated to Jean Eustache. Right at the very beginning of the movie this name is mentioned. That's special, can't remember many directors doing that. Who is he? It is a rather legendary director, who killed himself when he was very young, but left behind the french classic called "La Maman et la Putain". That french classic is about a womanizer, a cassanova who has many girlfriends simultaneously. That is a splendid link to the story of Broken Flowers, in which Bill Murray's girlfriend leaves him. After this break up he receives a mysterious pink letter from an anonymous girlfriend from decades ago, who claims he has got a son. Without knowing which of the many girlfriends in the past might have given him a son, Bill Murray goes on a journey past his old girlfriends to look for clues who might be the girl he made pregnant without knowing it.I think Broken Flowers is one of Jim Jarmusch' best work. Largely thanks to the wonderfully hilarious and dopey acting by Bill Murray, who with just a frown of an eyelid can express more comical emotions then any other comedy actor. The man is the perfect choice for the slow burning movies from director Jim Jarmusch. Bill Murray really is the centre of all the visual jokes. His deadpan serious, but dopey look is hilarious at times. Jim Jarmusch couldnt have made a better casting choice then Bill Murray. Jarmusch' talent lies in the portrayal of the subtleties of acting performances and in the natural slow flow of scenes. Really calm and soothing photography and editing, supported by a gorgeous ethiopian soundtrack from Mulatu Astatke. And let's certainly not forget the fantastic supporting cast: Tilda Swinton, Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Chloe Sevigny and Julie Delpy. This is really an actors movie in which the splendid portrayal of the characters bring to life this mysterious story of the unknown son.Broken Flowers has got a mystery feel to it. Come to think of it, most of Jim Jarmusch' pictures have a kind of mystery feel to them. Difficult to explain what that exactly entails, but I love for example the plain fact that not everything is explained about the story. The ending of this movie is left totally open for your own interpretation. I think it is brilliant. For the movie geeks: check out who the character in the blue volkswagen is on Imdb Trivia. Great surprise, but very fitting to the story. You will understand if you check out the Trivia fact, under spoilers...Endnote: the end credits give "quantum respect" to Bart Walker. He has been the producer on one of Jarmusch' other pictures, but this Bart Walker fellow is without a doubt one of the highest special thanks credited men in movie history. He has got many special thanks credits on Imdb: a whopping 31 special thanks credits over decades of movie history! And from very excellent different directors! A mystery muse for many directors and a very big influence on Jim Jarmusch, who gives this guy "quantum respect" in many of his pictures.

I recently watched "Night on Earth" by Director Jim Jarmusch. Besides being a typical Arthaus movie, I didn't know, what to write about it and decided to give it a rewatch. "Broken Flowers" made it easier for me and I really liked it. Bill Murray is perfect in the role of a notorious womanizer trying to find out which one of his former partners wrote him a letter that she had a son with him. He's going for a search in the whole country, which makes this movie looking like a different kind of roadmovie. The women are played by great actresses such as Delpy, Lange, Stone, Conroy and Sevigny. The story is very straightforward, it all comes down to the interaction between Don and the women. It's at once comedy and drama, but nothing emotionally strong. To me it had something of a roadmovie and had also that "Up in the Air" travelling feeling. It's a fine film with some great moments but likewise it was not outstanding either. Jim Jarmusch is loved by the female audience and this movies shows why: he understands them well and his female characters are interesting. He's like the American Almodovar. You must like this kind of movie-making and most importantly: you must like Bill Murray.

Broken Flowers (2005): Dir: Jim Jarmusch / Cast: Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton: Dark comedy about broken relationships or regret. Bill Murray plays a computer salesman who receives an unsigned letter stating that he has a son who is on a road trip to see him. His neighbour gathers all information on four potential women whom are possible mothers thus sending Murray on an odyssey. His encounters are sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic, but always surprising. Director Jim Jarmusch uses a lot of fade shots to indicate mood as Murray progresses through his travels. Murray delivers a superb performance that ranks among his best as he is met with very different responses from the four women but ultimately it is the encounter with his son that lands the biggest regret. This easily rivals the performance he gave in Lost in Translation, proving that he can be equally effective in dramas. Jeffrey Wright is hilarious as his neighbour who found the women and remains in contact as the voice of reason when all is done. Among the women are Sharon Stone and Jessica Lange whose responses are both at opposite extremes. Tilda Swinton in particular lives with bikers and her response to him is less than forgiving. Well crafted film with extreme dark tones in its presentation. Theme addresses decisions that are met with consequences and brokenness. Score: 9 / 10