Get Low parents guide

Get Low Parent Guide

While the ending may feel anticlimactic, an understated and even uncomfortable honesty may cause audience members to pause and consider what final words will be spoken about them.

Overall B

The funeral service for Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) will be different than any other the townsfolk of Caleb County have ever attended. Not just because they might learn some of the truth about the reclusive hermit's secretive past, but also because the event is scheduled to be held before the old codger actually kicks the bucket.

Release date October 22, 2010

Violence B-
Sexual Content B+
Profanity C+
Substance Use C+

Why is Get Low rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Get Low PG-13 for some thematic material and brief violent content,

Run Time: 103 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Have you ever attended a funeral and felt bad that the deceased person couldn’t attend? How often do we save the nicest things to say about an individual until after he or she is gone? Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) knows that won’t happen when he dies. He’s hard pressed to find anyone with even a civil word for him while he is alive.

Living alone in the woods for nearly forty years in self-imposed isolation, the old hermit has been badgered by boys who come to throw rocks at his windows and townsfolk who propagate wild stories about his past. But now his life is coming to an end and he wants to set things straight.

Taking a wad of greasy bills into town he asks the local minister if he’ll conduct a funeral service for him. Afraid that Felix is trying to buy forgiveness rather than repent, Reverend Horton (Gerald McRaney) refuses. However Buddy (Lucas Black), an employee of the undertaker hears the old man’s request. With his boss Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) driving, Buddy heads out to the secluded cabin and gingerly approaches the trigger-happy old man.

However, Felix doesn’t want a funeral when he is dead. He wants one now, while he is still living. And he wants to invite all the residents in Caleb County to come and tell their stories about him to his face. It is something many people are hesitant to do—afraid they might be shot.

The idea sounds ludicrous to Buddy. Yet Frank’s business is dying from the lack of people dying. If he can’t find a deceased person to conduct a funeral for, the slick and slightly shady mortician is more than willing to accommodate the living. The announcement of the upcoming event causes quite a stir among the locals, especially with Mattie Darrow (Sissy Spacek). Years ago she fell in love with Felix. When her affections weren’t returned, she left and married a doctor. Now widowed and back in town, she yearns to rekindle their friendship. Still she senses something is keeping them apart. It is only Buddy who initially begins to see the sad and secretive man behind the old customer’s gruff demeanor.

Inspired by events surrounding the real life of Felix Breazeale, who threw his own funeral in the 1930s, this film meanders along despite the supposedly frantic funeral preparations. We know it will end with a confession when Felix’s long time friend, Reverend Charlie Jackson (Bill Cobbs) refuses to officiate without one—although we’re not sure when or how it will come, or what it will entail. For many younger family members, the film is too slow and likely too weird to engage their attention. After all, most of us don’t want to prepare for our own demise as carefully as Frank does. Still, there is a degree of compassion that begins to develop for the old man who, despite his attempt at penitence, obviously hasn’t found either happiness or peace. Nor can he pretend, even to himself, that he will be missed when he passes.

Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge who is at least given a chance to redeem himself, Felix knows his life is wasted. All he can hope for is forgiveness from those he has hurt most. While the ending may feel anticlimactic, Director Aaron Schneider settles instead for an understated and even uncomfortable honesty that may cause audience members to pause and consider what final words will be spoken about them.

Directed by Aaron Schneider. Starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek. Running time: 103 minutes. Theatrical release October 22, 2010. Updated

Get Low
Rating & Content Info

Why is Get Low rated PG-13? Get Low is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some thematic material and brief violent content,

Violence: A man on fire is briefly seen running from a burning house. A young boy throws rocks at a window before being chased away by a gun-toting homeowner. Several threatening shots are fired. A child vomits from fear. An adult man initiates a fight after threatening a man. A stick and rocks are used as weapons. A man is attacked and hit in the head (off screen) resulting in a bloody injury. The discussion of death is frequent. Murder is also briefly talked about.

Sexual Content: A man admits to a relationship with a married woman.

Language: The script includes nearly two-dozen vulgarities, scatological slang, and terms of Deity

Alcohol / Drug Use: Several characters, including Felix, smoke and drink. A character brews his own liquor.

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Get Low Parents' Guide

Felix suggests that while most people say there are two sides to every story, they don’t believe it. Why does he feel this way? Is it human nature for us to see things the way we want to rather than dig for the truth?

How does Felix’s unwillingness to confess his sins or mistakes to those who should know, keep him imprisoned in his guilt? Can holding offenses or grudges also keep a person from experiencing happiness? What things in your life would you change if given a chance?

How can age and distance from an event change our perspective about what happened? What do you hope others will say about you at your funeral? What are you doing today to ensure that?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Get Low movie is February 22, 2011. Here are some details…

Get Low releases to DVD and Blu-ray on Februray 22, 2011 with the following bonus extras:

- Commentary with Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Director Aaron Schneider and Producer Dean Zanuck

- Featurettes: The Deep South: Buried Secrets, Getting Low: Getting into Character and A Screenwriter’s Point of View

-Cast and Crew Q & A

- On the Red Carpet

Related home video titles:

Robert Duvall plays other crusty old characters in Secondhand Lions, Lucky You and Gods and Generals. Characters are forced to face their impending deaths in The Bucket List, A Walk to Remember and My Sister’s Keeper.