A One Mann’s Movies review of “On the Rocks”.
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Certification:
US: R. UK: 12.
Bill Murray plays… Bill Murray
Bill Murray is astonishing. Not just in “On the Rocks”, but generally in life. Some actors – Johnny Depp, Mark Rylance, Gary Oldman, for instance – disappear completely into their characters so it takes a while to “see” who they are. Whereas with others – Bill Nighy, Tom Cruise, John Wayne, for instance – it’s “Oh, there’s the famous actor xxxx in a new movie”.
If we were grading on a scale, Bill Murray would be at the far right of the latter category. In every movie, he IS Bill Murray! In “Ghostbusters” he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking ghost hunter. In “Groundhog Day” he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking weatherman. In “The Monuments Men” he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking art historian. (In the “Zombieland” movies, he excelled himself by playing the dry, laconic, wisecracking Bill Murray!)
For many actors, that would be a problem. But Bill Murray gets away with it, because – – he’s Bill freakin’ Murray!! And being him is so awesome that however many times you’ve seen the character, you always want more.
Learning to whistle again with her playboy Dad. Rashida Jones as Laura and Bill Murray as Felix. (Source: A24).
A slow winding window.
Here’s a case in point. In “On the Rocks”, a chaffeured car with tinted windows rolls up. You brace yourself as the window winds slowly down. And there he is… the star.
In “On the Rocks”, this happens quite a way into Sofia Coppola‘s new film. First up, we get a leisurely, but intelligent, set-up to the plot. The “Parks and Recreation” actress, Rashida Jones, plays Laura; a successful writer (currently with writer’s block) married to successful businessman Dean (Marlon Wayans). The couple seem to have it all: high income; large New York apartment; two lovely young children. But Dean is always away, travelling on business – and always with his attractive co-worker “with the legs” Fiona (Jessica Henwick). Is Dean scratching the seven-year itch?
Laura’s rich, art-dealing father Felix (Bill Murray) arrives, and won’t take no for an answer in sniffing out the truth.
A lot to lose. The question to ask of Dean (Marlon Wayons) is “Why Dean, Why?”. (Source: A24).
A movie far from being On the Rocks
Love, love, love this movie! The pacing, the humour, the witty dialogue (it’s Sofia Coppola‘s script) and – above all – Murray’s triumphant performance all fire this well and truly into my Top 10 for the year.
Bill Murray‘s acting is astounding… is there an actor who spends more time in his “deep in thought” mode, with eyeballs looking at the ceiling? You could quite well believe that none of it is scripted, and he’s pausing in deep thought because he really is trying to compose the next best line! A scene where, through appropriate name-dropping, he charms his way out of a traffic infringement with two New York cops is utterly absorbing.
Behind every embarrassing father is a grown-up daughter rolling her eyes. (I should know!) And Rashida Jones is perfect in the role. I’m not familiar with Jones’s previous work, but she was just perfect as the foil for Murray’s humour.
A master at work. Director Sofia Coppola directs the stars. (Source: A24).
A delicious study of a mum with small children
There’s dry comedy to be had throughout “On the Rocks” which I found delightful. A running joke is Laura’s drop-off and pick-ups from the local kindergarten, where she is repeatedly pinned against the wall by single-mum Vanessa (Jenny Slate) and bored to death with her moans about boyfriend-hunting on the New York scene! It’s an insight that the project is led by a female writer/director, reminiscing about personal experiences!
Coppola’s script also buzzes with politically incorrect views of the playboy Felix. (He reminds me strongly of an ex-work colleague: the life and soul of any party and with a charisma that is naturally attractive to women!)
Hilarious. Vanessa (Jenny Slate) makes the wait for kids coming out seem far longer than it is. (Source: A24).
Just a step too far in the finale
For me, there was just one misstep in the movie. There’s a sub-plot about the estranged relationship between Felix and Laura’s mother, and the unspoken tension that lies there. This all comes to a head in a hotel bedroom, and for me personally it brought the mood of the movie down and wasn’t necessary. It’s a relatively minor thing. But the result was that it just took the edge off things for me in declaring it a classic.
Sleuthing in “incognito” mode…. not! (Source: A24).
Get out to the big screen to see “On the Rocks” (if you can)!
This is one of those flicks produced for Apple, in cinemas only while en-route to their streaming service to make it eligible for Oscar consideration. And it’s actually available from today (October 23rd). So – assuming you have access to Apple TV – you could just watch it there now.
But I saw it in a Showcase Cinema (only 3 other people in the whole screen!), and it is the best place to see it… assuming of course you still can.
This is Coppola’s third outing with Murray, with the most famous being the Oscar winner “Lost in Translation”. I’m actually not a mad fan of that film. But this one comes with a “Highly recommended”.
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn3sK4WiviA.
