Groundhog Day
There are two types of people in this world...
People who love Neil Diamond, and people who don't.
My ex-wife loved him...
Oops, wrong Bill Murray film.
Groundhog Day IS a divisive film. Some people, understandably, can not stand watching the same thing over and over again.
Am I right, or am I right, or am I right? Right? Right?...
But, those people are wrong. The same thing does NOT happen over and over again, with the one exception that his day begins at 6am with the same morning talk radio show cajoling Phil Conners awake. But every day is different, even if only by one step. Each day is a cold, hard dose of learning the hard way. And for some of us, that's the only way we'll listen.
The more I watch this film, the more layers of appreciation I find; the deeper it gets. It is literally an onion-peeling exercise. The more I watch, the more my eyes are prone to water. Tears of joy. Tears of laughter. Tears of frustration. Tears of understanding. Empathy.
Phil Conners lives an entire lifetime, psychologically speaking, on February 2. He begins as a child; a self-centered, egotistical know-it-all. He seeks pleasure (his own) at the expense of all others around him. This begins as an exploration, or claim, of freedom. But this freedom is without boundary, and therefore, without location. There is no way he can know where he stands when all is possible. He can't possibly have a point of view. An opinion. And facts are equally meaningless. He's damned if he does, and if he doesn't... it just doesn't matter.
This leads to a depression and a self-reckoning. His adolescent period. Questioning everything, even life and death itself, Phil then embarks on a suicidal hail-mary. He's looking for meaning, finality. He's looking for the boundaries. But, and by the grace of God, his arrogance is saved through the mercy of a 6am wake-up call. Even his choice to die is the wrong choice. It brings no satisfaction.
A little older, and a little wiser, Phil stops seeking his own ends. He finds that there are people in Punxsutawney that need help. He learns everyone's story. He knows what they need, and when they need it. He saves a falling boy, replaces a flat tire, prevents a death-by-choking... he uses his time to learn. And, not for personal gain, but to put those skills into service for others.
In the end, Phil excuses himself from his love interest, because he knows the impact that he has on others is greater than seeking his own fortune. And this, the selfless act, is what saves Phil from an eternity of putting his boots on because it's cold outside.
Man, this is a great film.
People who love Neil Diamond, and people who don't.
My ex-wife loved him...
Oops, wrong Bill Murray film.
Groundhog Day IS a divisive film. Some people, understandably, can not stand watching the same thing over and over again.
Am I right, or am I right, or am I right? Right? Right?...
But, those people are wrong. The same thing does NOT happen over and over again, with the one exception that his day begins at 6am with the same morning talk radio show cajoling Phil Conners awake. But every day is different, even if only by one step. Each day is a cold, hard dose of learning the hard way. And for some of us, that's the only way we'll listen.
The more I watch this film, the more layers of appreciation I find; the deeper it gets. It is literally an onion-peeling exercise. The more I watch, the more my eyes are prone to water. Tears of joy. Tears of laughter. Tears of frustration. Tears of understanding. Empathy.
Phil Conners lives an entire lifetime, psychologically speaking, on February 2. He begins as a child; a self-centered, egotistical know-it-all. He seeks pleasure (his own) at the expense of all others around him. This begins as an exploration, or claim, of freedom. But this freedom is without boundary, and therefore, without location. There is no way he can know where he stands when all is possible. He can't possibly have a point of view. An opinion. And facts are equally meaningless. He's damned if he does, and if he doesn't... it just doesn't matter.
This leads to a depression and a self-reckoning. His adolescent period. Questioning everything, even life and death itself, Phil then embarks on a suicidal hail-mary. He's looking for meaning, finality. He's looking for the boundaries. But, and by the grace of God, his arrogance is saved through the mercy of a 6am wake-up call. Even his choice to die is the wrong choice. It brings no satisfaction.
A little older, and a little wiser, Phil stops seeking his own ends. He finds that there are people in Punxsutawney that need help. He learns everyone's story. He knows what they need, and when they need it. He saves a falling boy, replaces a flat tire, prevents a death-by-choking... he uses his time to learn. And, not for personal gain, but to put those skills into service for others.
In the end, Phil excuses himself from his love interest, because he knows the impact that he has on others is greater than seeking his own fortune. And this, the selfless act, is what saves Phil from an eternity of putting his boots on because it's cold outside.
Man, this is a great film.
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