This is a thread for those of us who think Bill is an amusing guy but has gotten pretentious and is giving much too much praise for his recent movies. Where did loveable Ghostbusters type Murray go? Not that he has to stay just like that one persona but I feel like he has veered and become the sort of person he used to make fun of.

It's like the Razor's Edge side of him won out only instead of the critics seeing through it they are now buying into it. I'm not saying he's bad, just that he's being over-rated in Lost in Translation and Life Aquatic, roles that really a variety of older and experienced actors could have done just as well. I knew something was going wrong when he got lavish praise for Rushmore and it left me, who used to like him a lot, pretty cold.

And he is not going to stop going in this boring direction, up next is a pretentious period piece and then an untitled arthouse movie.

He is a fucking moron and shouldnt deserve his own thread amongst critical classic: Elektra :razz:

I do not like him as such. Apart from Ghostbusters!

... refrain, Mr. X. Refrain.

Damn right. Look at him, hes not even taking care of himself below. Look at that gut sticking out

He was SO not overrated in Lost in Translation.

Just because you don't deliver jokes every 5 seconds or you don't blow up every 5 seconds doesn't mean you can't act. It's the same with Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland. People underestimate the skill and work needed to go into a subtle and reserved role. Apparently, if you don't look like Sean Penn or Russell Crowe in the middle of a temper-tantrum, you aren't a good actor...=/

Bill Murray's role was Oscar-worthy. The transition in LiT is done impeccably. Plus, appearing totally bummed out and bored is much harder than it looks. All in all, he did a fine job at appearing like someone who doesn't HAVE many emotions. And it's a kind of role that most actors won't tackle.

Algren, it has to be said. Shut the fck up already.

If its not Catwoman then all you seem to to is moan and rant about every other actor and actress under the sun. Your so miffed at the prospect of Elektra outgrossing "Catwoman" that you've staged a laughable vendetta against the film. Bill Murray, whilst i never liked him till Lost in Translation, is an exceptional actor who deserves respect inspite of his ego

I agree. The film as a whole was wonderful, and the actingt that was a composite of it was among its highlights.

Maybe the call for a backlash is too soon?

Maybe this is a case of people being to critical of actors again. Sure we can all have our preferences, but calling someone youve never met a "fucking moron" is a bit harsh imo.

Sure hes got a reputation onscreen and off for being a bit of a diva as late - but so what? Its not like hes going to change the face of the earth by being a bit stroppy. And this is coming from a non-fan.

*sigh*

It's true, some are too critical of actors. I'm included at times, sadly. He may be more likeable in his more comedic roles, but the guy can act. And how is he a fucking moron? Bill could act circles around Stallone any day of the week. And entertain more, too.

Bill Murray is one of the finest comedians in movie history. He has made several memorable movies like

Caddyshack
Stripes
Ghostbusters I and II
Scrooged
What about Bob?
Groundhog Day
The Man who knew too little (I liked it)
Rushmore
Royal Tenenbaums
Lost in Translation

Anybody that has made that many good movies does not deserve any backlash, at least from me.

Sorry but this is a dumb thread... Bill Murray is the Quintessential Comedy Actor just based off that list you've provided and YES, he did a fantastic job in "Lost in Translation" but "Life Aquatic"??? Let's just say I bet he won't be remembered as much with this movie which is pretty much a throwaway based on it coming in at #10 and barely cracking 20 Million which doesn't even take care of the cost of the Cast, Murray especially..

How much did he get paid for this role?...DO you know?

Why is it that most comedians, as soon as they get big they no longer want to be comedians? It's as if they have no real respect for their own craft.

The only bill murray movies I've seen is ghostbusters (I & II), groundhog day and what about bob so I can't really judge. But he's funny in the funny roles

Archie, obviously comedic actors don't want to JUST Do comedy all the time- that would be boring and would probobly increase the number of hollywood retirements by the tenfold.

Bill Murray has attitude problems - hes infamous around the film community for being a big, stroppy actor. Sophia Coppolla was brave in casting him in "Translation" - but she wouldn't have anyone else apart from him.

Then come oscar time, a nomination wasn't enough for him and he put on a wholy ridiculous performance when he lost out.

I, myself, never really liked him until i saw "Lost in Translation" and "Groundhog Day", with the former being one of my all time favourites.

Amen. He so deserved the Oscar.

Murray rocks!

Why is that most people get so peeved when comedy actors shift gears? I heard the same thing when Steve Martin moved away from making movies like "The Jerk" or when Jim Carrey moved away from fare like "Dumb and Dumber". Whereas you never hear the same thing when dramatic actors shift gears to comedy, like Robert Deniro doing "Meet the Parents".

Personally, I like watching an actor evolve, and I applaud them for not standing still. Bill Murray is a fantastic actor in my book. If Murray was still doing Caddyshack movies today, I'd lose some respect for him.

while he is pretty good, he is definitely overpraised

(though he was severely underpraised for his vocal work for Garfield)

Tony, I think this is getting more attention because Foxx will win the Oscar next month.

I have considered Bill Murray the funniest human being who ever lived since he was on SNL. He was my favorite, no questions about it. He was hysterical in his first movie, Meatballs, but even back then, he showed that he could play more than just a funny crazy guy, as the movie also had heart, and Murray even showed a romantic lead capability. He followed with more classics like Caddyshack and Stripes, which both occupy my top comedy of all time spot along with Stir Crazy. Ghostbusters is another VERY highly rated comedy for me, and I remember the great feeling I had seeing that one in theaters. His comedies like What About Bob? and Groundhog Day, just cemented his place as a comic genius that's a cut above the rest. Who can forget his memorable appearance as the first guest on David Letterman's show? Even supporting roles in things like Tootsie and his cameo in the Beatle mockumentary called "The Rutles", he proved that he didn't need a lot of time to have you rolling in laughter.

With any actor, they don't want to put themselves in a box, so they try to expand. For the most part, the successful ones turn their back on comedy. Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Kurt Russell were all great at comedy, and that's how they came to fame, but their careers would have died long ago if they would have stayed there. I think that's why Bill Murray is trying to expand, so his career will have something to fall back on, when he eventually loses his comedy timing to the extent of it not being as funny as it once was. Eddie Murphy has never went the dramatic route, and instead, has went the "children's movies" route. Jim Carrey has dabbled in both drama and kid movies. Mike Myers won't be able to build a career around the antics of Austin Powers. He and Bill Murray both tried their hand at kiddie movies, with Cat in the Hat and Garfield.

It sucks that comedy isn't as strong as it once was, and that many of the best are turning to other things like drama and family entertainment, but they are doing what they can to sustain their careers, which would surely die if they became a one trick pony.

Murray is possibly the best comedic actor of his generation. His SNL work, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and Lost in Translation show this. I love the guy.

He has done bad movies (Ghostbusters II, Osmosis Jones, Space Jam, and [b]Garfield: The Movie come first to mind, but even then he makes the movies watchable), but he is still amazingly talented in both his comedic and dramatic roles.

Are you saying Murray is this way? Because I would have to disagree.

I think some of it has to do with gettign older. Tkae for exmaple Adam Sandler, can we expect him to be doing to same movie for 50 years? I think its great that he still deos that kind fo huor but it is also nice to se ehim branch out in Spanglish and play more adult tiesm roles, becuase he is an adult who's married. People change nda that can change the type of roles they want to play.

I think most actors what to be able to do both dramticand comedic roles, to create a balance between movies that bring in the box office and oens that brin gin awards. Let's face the Academy does nto dole out oscars for comedica performacnes very often, so if I comedic actor desires to win an Oscar, he better work on his dramatic acting chops.

I hear what you're saying but look at it this way. Does Laurence Olivier suddenly at 50 say "I'm tired of being serious, time for some slapstick? I just did Hamlet to get famous, I really want to talk out of my ass." All I'm really asking is that the comedians have respect for comedy, instead of saying, as most you here in this thread are saying, that sure it's nice but it's not enough. I'd be fine if comedians alternated low and high brow, but Murray and Steve Martin aren't doing that, they basically changed. I bring up Steve Martin because I loved The Jerk, The Man With Two Brains and one or two other of his early films, and then suddenly he went pretentious on us and has kept going down that road, even when doing family comedies he just gives off this aura of trying overly hard to be mature as he's afraid we won't respect him if he's silly.

Jim Carrey has a nice balance, for a while he seemed to get pretentious and kept trying to go for the Oscar but now he seems to understand his role and he alternates between comedy and artsy. If Murray was following a model like Carrey's I'd be more understanding but judging by his recent and future projects it doesn't appear so at all.

But Murray's more serious roles are all in films that one can consider comedies. his work with WEs Anderson may be in quirky comedies, btu they are comedies. Now I onlyl saw Rushmore and thought it was crap aso I am not running to see anymore Wes Anderson film. And whiel doing these filsm Murray has also done Garfield and Osmosis Jones, so he has in no way abandoned his comedic career in search of the oscar. Both Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola sought out Bill Muraay, COppola even said if Murray turned down the role she probably would nto have made the film.

While I agree that Carrey seemed to be trying hard for the Oscar before, and now he seems to have let that go. The Majestic felt like bad Oscar bait adn sicne then his projects have gotten much better. I think his performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MInd was so good because it felt like he was in the movie not to win an oscar but because it was a good film and project he liked.

I don't get the feelign the Murray is trying for the Oscar, he certianyl admitting to wanitng to win...I guarantee almsot all actors feel that, and when they nominated it becomes even stronger.

I lvoe those olde Bill Murray movies, but that doesn;t mean I want Meatballs 8 either...I liked his work in LIT in apart becasue it dealt with an older actor trying to find his place. I just don;t see someone who agrees to garfield as being pretentious and turning his back on his comedic roots.

edit: Steve Martin made his best movie, imo, in recent years, Bowfinger. I love The Jerk, Dirty Rottten Scoundrels, etc.. but I think Bowfinger is his best and I lok forward to Shopgirl. Bringing Down the House was just awfula side from EUgene Levy though, and I haveno interest in Cheaper by the Dozen, Novacane and alot of other stuff he has done recently. He is also an excellent host of the OScars, my favorite but his movie choices of late have been a bit odd.