Bill Murray stars as a cynical weatherman reliving day over and over until he gets it right in GROUNDHOG DAY
GROUNDHOG DAY (Harold Ramis, 1993)
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan Ave. between Berry St. & Wythe Ave.
Saturday, February 6, $11, 11:45 am
718-384-3980
www.nitehawkcinema.com
“Well, what if there is no tomorrow?” asks weatherman Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. “There wasn’t one today.” Bill Murray gives one of his most nuanced performances in the 1993 comedy, ably directed by his Stripes cohort, SCTV alum Harold Ramis. Murray stars as cynical, smarmy, mean-spirited meteorologist Phil Connors, who has been sent by his local TV station to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities and report on whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. He is joined by segment producer Rita (a radiant Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (the always funny Chris Elliott), who find him to be a pompous ass. But just like Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his hole every February 2, Phil Connors is soon getting out of bed reexperiencing the same exact day, given the chance over and over to change, for better or worse. Besides being downright hysterical, Groundhog Day has a lot of heart, making it the kind of movie you can watch, well, over and over again, still pulling each time for Connors (who, not coincidentally, has the same name as the famous groundhog) to do the right thing and become a worthwhile human being. It seems that Murray does some of his best work when paired with a small, furry creature, like when he desperately tried to catch and kill a too-smart gopher in Caddyshack. And be on the lookout for Michael Shannon in his film debut, as the wet-behind-the-ears groom at a wedding celebration. The Groundhog Day Film Feast screening at Nitehawk Cinema on Groundhog Day itself is sold out, but you can catch the movie there on February 6 at 11:45 am as part of the Williamsburg theater’s Brunch Screenings series, which continues February 13-14 with The Wizard of Oz and The Artist and February 20-21 with Charlotte’s Web and the Spoons, Toons & Booze Valentine’s Day Special.