Get Low --
From a family that defined Hollywood movie making, including grandfather Darryl F. Zanuck (who formed 20th Century Fox) and father Richard Zanuck (producer of 45 well-known features and counting), Dean Zanuck carries on the tradition of quality Hollywood filmmaking (not an oxymoron in this case). This time he pairs up with first time feature director Aaron Schneider, not only for the making of "Get Low," starring Robert Duvall, but to be interviewed by Examiner Bonnie Steiger.
'Get Low' is based on the true story of ornery Tennessee hermit Felix Bush Brazeale who, after 40 years of separation from society, wants to throw a 3 county wide party celebrating his passing. Thing is -- he hasn't passed, but he wouldn't want to miss hearing what people would say about him at his funeral. He hires funeral director Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) to advertise and oversee the bash, who, in turn, passes on much of the grunt work to his assistant, Buddy ( Lucas Black). As events unfold, the cause of Bush's self-imposed exile become made clear -- a tragic story of lost love, shame and guilt.
What about the script convinced Zanuck and Schneider to do the film and to prevail upon icon Robert Duvall to commit to it as well? How did Schneider deal with the diametrically opposed acting styles of Duvall and Bill Murray. Why did Duvall, at an age well past retirement, take on this role -- which turns out to be a tour de force he seemed to have been born to play? What were the difficulties and rewards of making this film in the back woods of Georgia (well, that's almost Tennessee)? All will be revealed if you just click on the button below at watch Bonnie Steiger's personal interview with both Zanuck and Schneider.
Director: Aaron Schneider
Producer: Dean Zanuck
Cast: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, Lucas Black, Gerald McRaney, Bill Cobbs, Gracie the Mule
Rated: PG-13
Time: 102 min
I first saw this film at the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival, but now it's opening August 6 at the Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco.
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