Sunday, February 2, 2014

Flick Pick: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day
(Columbia, 1993)

One of the most perfect film comedies of all time, with a career master performance from Bill Murray, the beauty of Andie MacDowell, the presentation skills of Harold Ramis, and just to pile on, great support from Chris Elliot and Stephen Tobolowsky.
This was probably the first movie I started watching not just annually, but on the same day, on purpose, and probably the genesis of this entire list. It didn't win any Oscars, nor was even nominated for any, but it should have been. And there is no other movie more worth watching just because it's February 2nd. Don't drive angry.

UPDATE:
Barely over three weeks after posting this, actor/writer/director/producer Harold Ramis, one of the funniest men in America and a comedy genius, died of complications from a rare vascular disease at the age of 69, on Feb. 24, in Chicago, where he was born and lived his entire life.

A partial list of the classic works he leaves behind:

Animal House - writer
Stripes - writer, actor
Caddyshack - writer, director
National Lampoon's Vacation - writer, director, actor
Ghostbusters - writer, actor
Back To School - writer, producer
Groundhog Day - writer, director, producer, actor
Multiplicity - director, producer
Analyze This - writer, director
Airheads - actor
As Good As It Gets - actor
Bedazzled - writer, director, producer

His comedy prickled the mighty, championed the underdog, entertained without being merciless or mean, and consistently stuck it to The Man.
The world is a less funny place for his passing, but what a legacy he left, and I hope he has them rolling in the aisles in heaven.


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