Broken Flowers

What Jack Nicholson’s As Good as It Gets is to Bill Murray’s Lost in Translation, Nicholson’s About Schmidt is to Murray’s Broken Flowers. The actors in question are both senior Hollywood players, distinguished and experienced. Both the former films, despite their differences in setting, are existential and witty. Both the latter are existential yet tedious. I had the same feeling watching Broken Flowers as I did watching About Schmidt - boredom. Although only 105 minutes long, it feels like an age, and most scenes simply drift along without holding the interest. It’s not a slow burner - the fire never gets lit. Broken Flowers was acclaimed at Cannes and I simply don’t know why. There’s little else to say - but I certainly wouldn’t recommend this as one of Murray’s best.