betty dalton 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.

Karl Self I just rewatched Down By Law and Stranger Than Paradise, which are simply awesome movies. Fast forward twenty years on, and Jim Jarmusch came up with Broken Flowers, which feels like it was directed by the artistically-inclined nephew of the owner of the movie studio. Jarmusch, bless him, apparently wanted to do another "Lost In Translation"-type flick with Bill Murray. In "Lost In Translation", the unlikely pair of average shmoe Murray and American sweetheart Scarlett Johansson are stranded in a faceless hotel and gradually form an emotional bond. In Broken Flowers, average shmoe Murray revisits his girlfriends from 20 years ago, and their sultry daughters and receptionists, all of which turn out to be foxes. Quite a challenge to make us believe that twenty years ago, Murray set their little hearts on fire, stayed with them for a few short months, sodded off and moved on to the next girlfriend, dropped off the horizon, and now they're like "oh, you're back, how nice, do come in". How is this amazing feat mastered? Brilliantly, by Murray not getting a word out. It's a bit like "act like you don't care, this will make the girl try anything to get your attention". And he's giving each of them a bouquet of pink flowers. Oh man, this is bad.Jarmusch apparently wanted to do a movie with Murray, didn't have a script, and this was exacerbated by the fact he had the most beautiful actresses in the world at his beck and call.And typically for the wicked ways of the movie industry, this cinematic trainwreck garnered a Palme d'Or at Cannes. Kudos, they managed to give it to Jarmusch for the one terrible movie he made.

jasontheterrible First of all, Bill Murray does not have the emotional range or complexity as an actor to handle this material. He is supposed to have mixtures of regret, longing and optimism in his search but his expression is always the same old, broken sad guy carrying flowers and looking for something he cannot find.There is not much story here that we have not seen in "High Fidelity" or "Ghost of Girlfriend's Past" about tracking down old girlfriends to find the truth and make things right. He also had the same forlorn portrayal in "Lost in Translation" which is a great film. All the same expressions.As a huge Murray fan, there is no one who enjoys him more, but I have seen this character and this movie too many times.There is only one reason I wanted to write a review. Beautiful little Alexis Dziena plays a very cute, sexy and fun temptation (which Murray ignores) who drops all of her clothes for a fantastic nude scene. It does not last long enough but I am glad I saw her. Nice babe and very appealing, joyous actress.

arfdawg-1 The Plot. As the extremely withdrawn Don Johnston is dumped by his latest woman, he receives an anonymous letter from a former lover informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. A freelance sleuth neighbor moves Don to embark on a cross-country search for his old flames in search of answers.What's with the good reviews? This movie is not only pointless, it's an insult to anyone's intelligence. The story is dumb and everyone acts as if they are stoned and have no emotion.The writing is horrible.Bill Murray is supposed to be a former internet hot shot but he cake walks through this role like he's asleep. One of the few times i can say i was bored silly by his performance.I bet he agreed to this trash just so he could bang all the women in it.