Broken Flowers (2005)

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, Julie Delpy

At the Cannes Film Festival 2005, it garnered the Grand Prix 
see
www.festival-cannes.fr/in...angue=6002
see also
www.festival-cannes.fr/fi...lm=4278008

The official website is here ...
see
brokenflowersmovie.com/

Well, I guess many of you would know the gist of the film by now. It revolves around Don, a bachelor, who received a mysterious letter informing him that he had a son. He then went in search of the probable sender 

What is good 
-- Wow, definitely the soundtrack. I especially like the first song There is an end!

-- I like the way the film ends but will everyone else? Hmmm maybe not 
* anyway, I am not going to spoil it for you *
Ironically, the film is about the present not the past (despite his trip to the past) but will the audience be inspired to live in the present?! hmmm maybe not 
-- In the film, the male protagonist would come across several young male (whom he thought could have been his son) those scenes are good and thought provoking 

-- The performance of the 4 supporting actresses. Despite their very little screen time, they manage to imprint their images in you interestingly, these women do seem realistic (i.e., you can identify with them as such characters do exist) but put together, all the past women ended up pretty weird and rather caricature I wonder if it is for the comical effect?! after all, it is supposed to be a comedy 
-- Ok, I agree that Bill Murray does carry his role with his minimalist approach but like many actors who might fall into the trap of being typecast (i.e., always given a very similar role and look he is so like his role in Lost In Translation) can we see him in a very different role?!

What may be problematic 
-- Definitely the pacing, the film is rather slow and not too engaging (esp. with the minimalist approach) also, it does not become too sentimental or emotional hmmm, I really wonder if mainstream audience will connect with the film 
-- Instead of calling it a comedy, I would rather call it a bittersweet film DO NOT expect hearty laughs honestly, I do not hear the audience breaking into much laughter 
* wow on a weekday afternoon, I cant believe there is near to 100 people in the theater I guess it is the first screening in Bay Area, and only in 1 theater that probably explains it *
-- Some things are too contrived 
e.g., the naming of Don for Don Juan, and he watched The Private Life of Don Juan" on TV, and there were some lines about him being Don Juan, etc
e.g., Lolita for Lolita

Conclusion:
Ok ok ok I know a lot of critics are going to give it rave reviews BUT forgive me, I guess I set my expectations much too high such that I feel that it is a good film BUT NOT as high as many critics oops it reminds me of my opinion about Lost In Translation again frankly, I think it is slow and not too humorous for mainstream audience