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The Razor's Edge with Bill Murray is one of the films that has influenced my life in a major way and is easily on my top list of movies.
The film tells the story of the personal journey of Larry Darrell, played by Murray, who goes from coddled rich boy to war shocked veteran and ending as someone who is more in touch with the world and himself.
There is a bit of a mystical journey he takes to what I believe is Tibet where he has his discovery at the top of a mountain. That was the only part of the film that didn't speak to me.
The central theme as expressed at the end of the film is where Larry tells his old flame Isabel "When Piedmont died, I had to pay him back for my life. I found out there's another debt to pay - for the privilege of being alive. I thought Sophie was my reward for trying to live a good life. Uh uh. There is no payoff - not now." I think that is a useful truth regardless if one is religious or not.
Bill Murray was great as Larry. Of course there are small bits where his history in comedy come through, although I thought some of those small bits were a bit out of character for this film. One example was when he sends down a basket on a rope to get some bread and tea delivered from the café next to his apartment building. He lets out the rope too fast and you hear it crash into someone who yells out in French. Yes it was humorous but was too much for the tone of the film. Luckily the majority of the film does have some funny bits more in keeping from the situation and dialogue.
Catherine Hicks' Isabel Bradley was great too. I have always liked Hicks and think she is a good actress. Theresa Russell steals the show as Sophie MacDonald. The scene in the hospital after the traffic accident is probably the best scene I've ever seen in film.
The rest of the cast is excellent as well.
I get goose bumps when the film opens with the theme music. Jack Nitzsche score just adds layers onto a full canvas.
This is a very underrated film and from it I knew Murray could do more serious roles which he has done in recent years.
score 10/10
cadfile 20 July 2007
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1697409/ |
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21-2-2021 06:05:10