On this day, 25 years ago, the classic movie, groundhog day was released. Theres phil in despair at the thought of doing it all over. It is not insignificant to note that groundhog day ushered in a slightly more absurdist, philosophical view of the world in mainstream hollywood studio films and is often cited as one the few contemporary comedies this current generation of writers and directors claim they aspired to create. Groundhog day, the buddhist lifehacker movie to be fair, its a pretty tough job. Morris of morgantown, in pennsylvania dutch country, according to the book on the subject by don yoder. Jul 12, 2017 structurally, groundhog day runs like a swiss watch yes, imdb lists a lot of goofs, but hey, even swiss watches arent perfect. In the united states the most popular event occurs in pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated punxsutawney phil.
In groundhog day 1993, murrays character, phil connors, finds that no matter what he does, every morning he wakes up at the same time, in the same bed, in the same hotel, in the same small american town, on the same day february 2nd, groundhog day. The earliest mention of groundhog day is an entry on february 2, 1840, in the diary of james l. Groundhog day also brings to mind the ancient greek myth of sisyphus, in which the eponymous antihero defies the gods and is punished by being sentenced to push a huge rock up a steep hill in the certain knowledge that as soon as he has succeeded, the rock will roll back down and he must start the process again. The film s lesson is that we can escape from whatever dilemma were in by adopting the correct attitude. There is an old belief that everyone is rewarded with the heaven or hell that he deserves. Films such as groundhog day and back to the future sold a lot of popcorn, but they were insanely smart too. This is what tends to happen when fans of groundhog day get. Place your trap just outside the burrowat most 5 to 10 feet away from it. Its the only movie i think of from that period other than the ones by. This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration.
Here is a brief documentary about everything you need to know about the film groundhog day, starring bill murray and written by harold ramis and danny rubin. Groundhog day was directed and cowritten by harold ramis, murrays fellow ghostbuster and a partner from their second city days. Harold ramisthe movies directoronce spoke of the many mental health professionals who have compared the repetitio. But the point of the movie to me was that you had to feel you were enduring. Groundhog day, in the united states and canada, day february 2 on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks.
The video for arizona zervas viral hitturnedlegit smash roxanne is, in its own way, a trip through 90s movie history. Flix brewhouse in carmel will show the film at 7 p. Get the latest groundhog day news, articles, videos and photos on the new york post. Harold ramiss groundhog day is about as perfect as a movie. Groundhog day movie taught me these 10 incredible life lessons fox news fox news. Groundhog day returning to theaters for groundhog day. Of course, groundhog day is about a lot more than that. The clip directed by nick jardona and released earlier this week references such classics as 1993s groundhog day, 1994s pulp fiction and 1996s trainspotting in addition to 2003s kill bill and 2004s 50 first dates.
How groundhog day changed my life life and style the. A long article in the british newspaper the independent says groundhog day is hailed by religious leaders as the most spiritual film of all time. Watch bill murray return to groundhog day in new super. Groundhog day grew up as a folklore holiday about the end of winter. Groundhog day is the tale of how phil gradually discovers that what he thought was hell turns out to be heaven. Havahart recommends sullying a new trap to divest it of its gleam and smell. Groundhog day 1993 a film about a man condemned to live the same day over and over again doesnt exactly sound like a premise for a box office smash but with bill murray in front of the camera and harold ramis behind it, anything is possible. How groundhog day changed my life life and style the guardian. A movie for all time article about groundhog day the movie. On awaking the following day he discovers that its groundhog day again, and again, and again. Candles, groundhog origins candlemas is a christian holiday marking forty days after the birth of jesus christ.
In 1993, no one not audiences, not critics, not even the filmmakers could have expected that groundhog day would still be a movie worth talking about 25 years. Groundhog day is a 1993 american fantasy comedy film directed by harold ramis and written. The director harold ramis didnt intend for his movie groundhog day to be heralded by religious thinkers as an example of how to live life, but thats exactly what happened after it was released. Just as phil connors in the movie had to keep reliving the same to him boring, tiresome day over and over, so people in rural pennsylvania had to face the dreariness of endless overcast, snowbound days. It unfolds so inevitably, is so entertaining, so apparently effortless, that you have to stand back and slap yourself before you see how good it really is. Groundhog day falls on february 2 in the united states, coinciding with candlemas. In an essay entitled groundhog day the movie, buddhism and me, spiritual cinema. Harold ramiss groundhog day is about as perfect as a. It is the movies core and that, along with a masterfully loony performance by murray, makes this the best. He has journeyed there to do a remote broadcast about his namesake, the groundhog punxsutawney phil, who every year informs.
Installing guide logs at either side of the path between the burrow and the trap will help funnel the groundhog in. There are countless interpretations of the movie, but my favorite is the idea that groundhog day is a metaphor for psychoanalysis. Groundhog day, see you yesterday, and more movies that. United states and throughout the christian world symbols and customs. Its definitely in my top 5 favorite films of all time. Groundhog day, bill murray sees shadow once again in. Smart, sweet, and inventive, groundhog day highlights murrays dramatic gifts while still leaving plenty of room for laughs. Groundhog day, see you yesterday, and more movies that repeat. In the subsequent twentyfour hours he is free to do anything he likes, but knows he. Parents need to know that groundhog day is a 1993 comedy starring bill murray as a smug and selfish weatherman who must live through the same day over and over again until he learns the value of caring about others. Numerous events take place in punxsutawney over the days surrounding february 2, including group hikes, parties, live entertainment, fireworks, a winter carnival, and the showing of groundhog day, the 1993 movie starring bill murray. Groundhog day article about groundhog day by the free. Fiat chrysler painstakingly recreated the 1993 movie groundhog day, including the town square and other locales, with original actors bill murray, brian doyle murray and stephen tobolowsky.
Jan 30, 2005 a long article in the british newspaper the independent says groundhog day is hailed by religious leaders as the most spiritual film of all time. The 1993 film is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018 and it. Bill murray in groundhog day columbia pictures tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, groundhog day scores editors note. In 1993, columbia pictures released the movie groundhog day, starring bill murray. Trying to predict a month and a half of weather for a country with vastly different regional climates is no. And as the legend goes, this means were in for an early spring. Harold ramis groundhog day is a movie that many people watch annually on february 2nd, but this year has a special significance. They have a point, even about a film where the deepest theological observation is, maybe. Dec 07, 2003 article on christian, jewish and buddhist spiritual aspects of groundhog day, 1993 movie starring bill murray and directed by harold ramis, that is being shown as part of museum of modern arts. The observance of groundhog day in the united states first occurred in german communities in pennsylvania, according to known records. First off, before we get to the groundhog day holiday, i must confess about my obsession with the movie groundhog day. Feb 07, 20 groundhog day by ryan gilbey is published by bfi publishing, price.
He learns to love the same town, people and activities that he had previously hated. In groundhog day, playing a formerly smug weatherman who finds himself condemned to relive one feb. Its rare for a comedy to be funny and profound but also popular. If scrooged seemed to reflect a dour discontent, this one is more optimistic about the human race, and the murray character is likable by the end. It is a part of popular culture among many americans and it centers on the idea of the groundhog coming out. Before the 1993 bill murray movie was released, only 2,000 people traveled to punxsutawney every year to join in the celebration. Feb 07, 2016 groundhog day is the tale of how phil gradually discovers that what he thought was hell turns out to be heaven. In the united states the most popular event occurs in pennsylvania and centers. Groundhog day is a movie with many layers with timeless and enduring lessons for all of us. For phil, the nasty, selfcentered weather forecaster played by bill murray in groundhog day, that hell reveals itself one morning in the groundhog capitol of punxsutawney, pa.
Groundhog day film groundhog day is a 1993 american fantasy comedy film directed by harold ramis and written by ramis and danny rubin. Apr 30, 2020 groundhog day was a horror movie all along the 1993 existential comedy has become a meme and a metaphor for this moment. Since, record crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited gobblers knob in punxsutawney. Religious christian, folkloric date of observation. But groundhog day is such a clever, wonderful ride that you dont notice the joins. Groundhog day is a film that finds its note and purpose so precisely that its genius may not be immediately noticeable. It stars bill murray as phil connors, a tv weatherman who, during an assignment covering the annual groundhog day event, is caught in a time loop, repeatedly reliving the same day. Jan 28, 2018 here is a brief documentary about everything you need to know about the film groundhog day, starring bill murray and written by harold ramis and danny rubin. Groundhog day was a horror movie all along the atlantic. It has been called existential, surreal, loveable, sweet and sentimental, brilliantly imaginative and, by one washington post critic at the time of its release, a movie that will never be designated a national film treasure by the library of congress. While covering groundhog day in the charming hamlet of. Groundhog day, bill murray sees shadow once again in super. A version of this article appears in print on april 24, 2020, section c, page 7 of the new york. Bill murray plays phil, a tv weatherman working for a local station in pennsylvania but.
He had discovered groundhog day as a perfect articulation of his christian beliefs. Groundhog day is a masterpiece of existentialism, particularly in respect of the absurd element, with connors claiming sisyphuss mantle of absurd hero. Structurally, groundhog day runs like a swiss watch yes, imdb lists a lot of goofs, but hey, even swiss watches arent perfect. Groundhog day was originally written as a much darker film. Film and faith two years ago, it opened with groundhog day. How to understand the philosophy of groundhog day and. As his movie penetrated the noosphere and his mailbag swelled, rubin found himself similarly embraced by. What is the symbolism behind the movie groundhog day. Perhaps not all religious leaders have seen anything by bergman, bresson, ozu and dreyer, but never mind.
Its about a man caught reliving the worst day of his life when his. It is a part of popular culture among many americans and it centers on the idea of the groundhog coming out of its home to predict the weather. It would be impossible to understand the movie without that casual and inevitable tone. The mary max cinemas in logansport had a free showing of the comedy classic on january 28, but those are the only indiana theaters listed to be screening the film. Groundhog day is a 1993 american fantasy comedy film directed by harold ramis and written by ramis and danny rubin. Harold ramis 1993 movie groundhog day is so entertaining, youll want to see it again, and again, and again. Groundhog day by owen gleiberman updated february 12, 1993 at 05. But thats only partly because of its exploration of monotony. Feb 01, 2016 harold ramis 1993 movie groundhog day is so entertaining, youll want to see it again, and again, and again. Pennsylvania governor ed rendell attended groundhog day ceremonies in 2003, making him the first sitting governor ever to do so. The rest of the films were drawn from the ranks of turgid and bleak intellectual cinema, including standards from ingmar bergman and roberto rossellini. A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting rat as he calls it. Article on christian, jewish and buddhist spiritual aspects of groundhog day, 1993 movie starring bill murray and directed by harold ramis, that is being shown as. Though on the whole a lighthearted comedy, this movie also deals with depression, and phil undertakes a series of suicide attempts.
Groundhog day succeeds because the screenplay doesnt pander to the audience by providing an explanation, and it avoids the need for phil to spend the movie constantly chasing some. When the museum of modern art in new york debuted a film series on the hidden god. On groundhog day 2020, punxsutawney phil could not find his shadow. The director harold ramis didnt intend for his movie groundhog day to be heralded by religious thinkers as an example of how to live life, but thats exactly what happened after it.
1058 619 626 1255 486 1302 840 1223 1151 1231 492 1115 1258 44 1465 872 763 456 1166 943 49 328 7 1442 408 1073 991 1309 153 1370 648 933 764 887 1325 1010 1129 386 897 667 1424 1259 256 1084