Top Five Favorite Bill Murray Movies

Let’s face facts: Bill Murray is the man. It doesn’t matter if you were born in 1959 or 1999, you have to admit this one universal truth. Maybe you’re a fan of his comedic roles such as in “What About Bob?” or “Caddyshack.” Or perhaps you enjoy his dives into the dramatic arena such as in “Lost in Translation” or “Broken Flowers.” Whether lighthearted or serious, Bill Murray has played at least one role that has touched you. And beyond his stellar acting career that seems to gain depth and complexity as it ages (much like a fine wine or cheese), Bill Murray seems like a kickass person in real life. I mean, he’s in his late 50s and he's crashing college parties. Need I supply more evidence?

Well, this month’s list is my Top Five Favorite Bill Murray Movies in honor of Bill Murray. His birthday is September 21 (he’ll be turning 59), and this seems like an opportune time to give him an early gift.

My only rule for this list is that Bill Murray must be one of the main characters. This means movies like “Caddyshack” will not be making an appearance on this list. As much as I appreciate the character Carl Spackler, it’d be hard to argue he was the film’s protagonist, or even a secondary one at that. But beyond that one rule, any of Mr. Murray’s films are up for grabs. So, without further adieu….

5. “Ghostbusters” (1984) - This film speaks for itself. This Ivan Reitman film helped shape the 80s. Not only was the film written chock full of humor, but it starred two of the funniest actors at the time (Dan Aykroyd and, of course, Bill Murray). Rounding out the other two members of the team were Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, both of who were perfectly cast. And beyond the people element of the movie, the special effects were stunning at the time and made the film an ocular orgasm. The librarian ghost at the beginning and the proton pack beams are proof enough of that (not to mentioned our beloved Slimer). And, more than anything else, what proves that this movie is great is the fact that 10-year-olds who have no right to know who the Ghostbusters are do. Children are still wearing the T-shirts, playing with the action figures and popping in the video games after 25 years. That's proof of quality. Trailer!

4. “Groundhog Day” (1993) – When I first watched this movie, I wasn’t used to the idea of Bill Murray outside of straight comedies. I was used to my Bill Murray in films like "Stripes" and "Quick Change." But much like Jim Carrey would do five years later with “The Truman Show,” Bill Murray successfully showed us that there was more to him than a clown. Certainly, this Harold Ramis film had its fair share of laughs, but it went deeper than that. It showed the downward spiral Murray’s character took into madness from having to repeat the same day over and over again. Watching Murray kill himself repeatedly just to try to find an escape from his endless cycle of hell was heart-wrenching. And, again, much like Carrey would prove years later, this was just the tip of Murray’s dramatic capabilities. Trailer!

3. “Scrooged” (1988) – I love the story of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” It’s a hopeful and stirring story about a man whose life has gone off track and is given a chance to change his ways after a detailed look at what his past, present and future hold for him. In reality, people aren’t given that kind of opportunity, and I think our want for that chance has helped spawn the continuous remakes of the story. Richard Donner’s “Scrooged” is yet another one of these interpretations. What separates this film from the others, though, is that this is set in present day and the Scrooge character is a greedy TV exec (Murray) who is in process of creating a made-for-TV production of “A Christmas Carol.” The movie is touching and funny, and considering that it made my favorite Christmas movie list, it was probably a no-brainer that it’d make this list as well. Trailer!

2. “Lost in Translation” (2003) – This film marks Murray’s greatest, and probably most successful, leap into the field of drama. Sophia Coppola’s film stars Murray as a movie star who is in Japan filming commercials and creates a friendship with a neglected newlywed (Scarlett Johansson). The film was beautifully shot and aptly caught the loneliness that both Murray and Johansson felt as well as their need to create a bond with somebody. I especially love how this film didn’t have the two main characters get together at the end. They both had their own lives, but they were there for each other when they both needed somebody. They’ll always share that time in Tokyo. Trailer!

1. “Coffee and Cigarettes” (2003) – OK, I admit. I cheated. Kind of. See, this film (directed by Jim Jarmusch) is a series of vignettes with no direct continuity to each other but similar themes and conversations. And, as the name somewhat implies, each scene is centered on people drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. Well, one scene of the film, “Delirium,” stars Bill Murray along with GZA aka the Genius and RZA aka Bobby Digital of the Wu-Tang Clan. The entire scene is less than eight minutes long, but Murray’s role is priceless. He plays himself except he’s in disguise as a waiter trying to hide out from somebody (I swear that portions of this are probably biographical). His role in the scene is underplayed, and I think that’s what makes it so good. The entire thing is so realistic and quirky that it burrowed its way into my heart. Side note: I bet it would be a fun drinking game to take a drink (or a shot) each time they say “Bill Murray” in the scene. Find out here.