Get Low

Get Low is a movie that didn't get much attention while it was in the theater. I had not even heard of it until it was recently released to video. It stars Robert Duvall as a mean old hermit who lives on the outskirts of a small Tennessee town during the 1930s. He gets the idea to plan his funeral and have a giant funeral party for himself while he is still alive. Since the town hates and fears him, he entices them to attend by having a raffle to win his property after he dies.

Duvall enlists the help of Bill Murry, who plays the local funeral home director along with Lucas Black who plays his assistant. Together they help plan the event. I was expecting more of a comedy, but this movie is not a knee slapper. Get Low has a few funny scenes and some dry humor that makes you smile, but it is definitely a drama, not a comedy.  This movie slowly reveals the mysterious details behind the hermit until we finally understand what happened 40 years ago in his life that caused him to live a life of self imposed exile.

The acting was top notch. Bill Cobbs and Sissy Spacek also have good performances. The pace is kind of slow, but overall it is a nice production. I give Get Low 7.3 stars mostly because I think Duvall is such a great actor.