Directed by Sofia Coppola and written by Coppola, Bill Murray, and Mitch Glazer, A Very Murray Christmas is a musical comedy where Bill Murray hosts a Christmas special at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City as a deadly snowstorm arrives where he wonders if anyone will show up. With Murray as himself, the special is an offbeat yet lively take on the world of variety specials that is about the holidays and Murray himself. Also starring George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Paul Shaffer, Maya Rudolph, Michael Cera, David Johansen, Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, Rashida Jones, Dmitri Dmitrov, Julie White, and the band Phoenix. The result is a fun and heartwarming TV special from Sofia Coppola.
It’s Christmas Eve at New York City’s Carlyle Hotel where Bill Murray is hosting a live Christmas special as the city has been hit by a snowstorm where none of the guests he wanted to have including George Clooney have arrived. Thus, the day becomes a nightmare where Murray goes into a full meltdown where he desperately tries to save his TV special while drowning his sorrows at the bar with friend and music director Paul Shaffer. Along the way, a lot of hilarity and singing ensue with those working at the bar and a few guests saddened by the snowstorm. It’s a simple story where Murray just tries to get into the Xmas spirit while dealing with talent agents, producers, and all sorts of people trying to kiss his ass. Still, there is a lot that happens where Murray and whoever is around him play songs whether it’s traditional or contemporary Xmas songs and songs that don’t fit into that mold.
Sofia Coppola’s direction is quite intimate but also gorgeous for the way she presents the rooms and bar at the Carlyle Hotel which is a character in the special. With the aid of cinematographer John Tanzer and production designer Anne Ross, Coppola ensures the low-key look of the hotel as well as provide a sense of whimsical comedy in Murray’s attempt to stage this TV special. Coppola’s usage of close-ups and medium shots maintain that sense of intimacy while many of the musical moments are either improvised or planned. With the aid of music director Paul Shaffer, the songs that are sung range from traditional songs and holiday standards along with contemporary songs that are either for the holidays or a song like Todd Rundgren’s I Saw the Light. With the aid of sound editor Max Green, the sound of noises in the kitchen and bar helps with the atmosphere as well as Sarah Flack’s editing where it is straightforward to play into what is happening.
The musical numbers that are improvisational do give the special a very lively feel where it has this sense of not knowing what is going to happen while it does have an air of fantasy where the look of it is brighter and colorful thanks to Tanzer’s stylish lighting, Flack’s upbeat editing, the art direction, and Stacey Battat’s playful costume design. It adds to what Murray would’ve wanted in his Xmas special as it sort of mocks the idea of the variety show but also have some fun with it. Even as it is all about celebrating Christmas with friends and colleagues despite all of the chaos that occurs.
The special’s cast include appearances from Dimitri Dimitrov as Murray’s assistant, Jenny Lewis as a singing waitress, the French-indie band Phoenix as chefs, David Johansen as the bartender, Maya Rudolph as the lounge singer, Amy Poehler and Julie White as Murray’s producers of the special, Jason Schwartzman and Rashida Jones as an engaged couple that were supposed to be married at the hotel, and Michael Cera as a talent agent who is desperate to have Murray as his client.
As themselves, George Clooney, Chris Rock, Miley Cyrus, and Paul Shaffer all bring their own sense of charm to their appearances with Clooney providing some nice vocals on Santa Claus Want Some Lovin’ while Rock plays a reluctant player in Murray’s attempt to revive his TV special. Finally, there’s Bill Murray who brings a very diva-esque approach to himself as someone that is just losing it over the failure of his show where he tries to get himself in the Xmas spirit where it’s Murray sort of making fun of himself and his persona while being so fun to watch.
A Very Murray Christmas is a phenomenal TV special from Sofia Coppola that is about the brilliance that is Bill Murray. Fans of the actor will no doubt get a chance to see the man making fun of himself while trying to put on a fun Xmas special that manages to be entertaining and more. In the end, A Very Murray Christmas is a sensational TV special from Sofia Coppola.
Sofia Coppola Films: Lick the Star - The Virgin Suicides - Lost in Translation - Marie Antoinette - Somewhere - The Bling Ring - The Beguiled (2017 film) - On the Rocks - Priscilla (2023 film)
Sofia Coppola Soundtracks: Air-The Virgin Suicides OST - The Virgin Suicides OST - Lost in Translation OST - Marie Antoinette OST - (The Bling Ring OST) - (Priscilla OST)
Related: The Ads & Videos 1993-2008 - The Auteurs #1: Sofia Coppola - Favorite Films #1: Lost in Translation - Favorite Films #4: Somewhere - 10 Reasons Why Lost in Translation is the Best Film Ever...
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Todd Luiso and written by Susan Koskoff, Hello I Must Be Going is about a woman who moves back home with her parents following her divorce where she finds herself falling for a younger man. The film is an exploration of a woman trying to start over as she deals with divorce and failure. Starring Melanie Lynskey, Blythe Danner, John Rubenstein, Christopher Abbott, and Dan Futterman. Hello I Must Be Going is an extraordinary film from Todd Luiso.
The film is the simple story of a woman in her mid-30s who moves back home with her parents as she’s dealing with a divorce as she has no idea what to do as she’s in a state of depression. During a dinner party with her parents, her brother, her sister-in-law and a client of her father who brought his 19 year-old son, the woman engages into an affair with the young man where they’re both dealing with issues in their lives as the woman also feels being slighted by her mother who is hoping to go on a trip and retire. The film is essentially a character study of this woman named Amy (Melanie Lynskey) who spends her time at home moping as she is reluctant to get back into the world as she is trying to figure out why did she get divorced.
Susan Koskoff’s screenplay takes it time to explore Amy’s life as this new-divorcee who is angry over the fact that her ex-husband David (Dan Futterman) cheated on her and ended their marriage. She’s back at home not sure what to do and she annoys her mother Ruth (Blythe Danner) who is overlooking the renovation of the house while her father Stan (John Rubenstein) is doing one final job before he can retire. Upon meeting Jeremy (Christopher Abbott) at a dinner party where they have a secret affair, the two vent on their frustrations in life as Jeremy wants to stop acting while his parents think he’s gay. Amy’s affair with Jeremy would later cause some very strange moments where they’re nearly found out but it would also make Amy face her own faults but also try to figure out what went wrong in her marriage as she feels like her mother is blaming her for ruining her own life.
Todd Luiso’s direction is very understated in its simplicity where he uses a lot of close-ups and some medium shots to explore a woman dealing with the state of her life. Much of it includes some hand-held shots and some intimate moments such as a few scenes where Amy and Jeremy would have sex in the car and then talk about their frustrations in life. Shot largely in Westport, Connecticut, the film has a look and feel that seems like it could be anywhere yet it does maintain something that is low-key while Luiso also finds way to have some of the film’s humorous moments be played out naturally such as a scene of Amy coming out of the pool naked singing the Canadian anthem only to be caught by Jeremy’s mother. It’s among these moments that play into Amy’s growth and understanding as a woman as well as trying to find herself. Overall, Luiso crafts a very solid yet mesmerizing film about a woman trying to figure out the next stage in her life.
Cinematographer Julie Kirkwood does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the low-key use of lights for the scenes at night as well as the use of colors for some of the daytime scenes. Editor Tom McArdle does terrific work with the editing as it‘s very understated while using a few rhythmic cuts to play out some of the humor. Production designer Russell Barnes and set decorator Daniel R. Kersting do amazing work with the look of the home that Amy’s parents live as well as the house that Jeremy lives in with his parents.
Costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley does nice work with the costumes from the casual look of the main characters to some of the dresses that Amy wears for dinner dates and such. Sound mixer Christopher J. Leone does fantastic work with some of the film‘s sound to convey some of the atmosphere of the locations as well as some of the mix of sounds in the party scenes. The film’s music by Laura Veirs is wonderful as it is a largely folk-based score with arpeggio guitars along with some original songs by Veirs while music supervisor Holly Adams creates a similar soundtrack that includes contributions from other lesser-known artists with the exception of a song from Billy Squier.
The casting by Kerry Barden, Allison Estrin, and Paul Schnee is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some appearances from Meera Simhan as an old high school classmate of Amy’s, Tori Feinstein as Amy’s niece Caley, Daniel Eric Gold and Sara Chase in their respective roles of Amy’s brother Noah and his wife Missy, Jimmi Simpson as a guy Amy went on a blind date with, Damian Young as Jeremy’s stepfather, and Julie White in a very funny performance as Jeremy’s mother who tries to figure him out as she’s also a therapist. Dan Futterman is terrific in a one-scene performance as Amy’s ex-husband David who meets with Amy where they just try to settle things as he wonders about the things he did.
Christopher Abbott is excellent as Jeremy as a young 19-year old actor who is frustrated with his choice of profession as well as the fact that he is trying to figure out what to do as he falls for Amy. John Rubenstein is superb as Amy’s father Stan as someone who is always caring and making sure she is okay while dealing with the fact that he is set to retire. Blythe Danner is amazing as Amy’s mother Ruth as a woman just obsessed with renovating her house and making sure she will enjoy her husband’s retirement while being a bit snippy towards Amy and her situation. Finally, there’s Melanie Lynskey in a remarkable performance as Amy as this woman in her mid-30s dealing with divorce where Lynskey brings this nice mix of understated drama and humor to the performance that makes Amy a very unique and relatable woman.
Hello I Must Be Going is a phenomenal film from Todd Luiso that features an incredible performance from Melanie Lynskey. Along with strong supporting work from Blythe Danner, John Rubenstein, and Christopher Abbott, the film is a very witty yet engaging portrait of a woman dealing with divorce and failure as she tries to get herself back up. In the end, Hello I Must Be Going is a delightful film from Todd Luiso.
© thevoid99 2013
