Talkback: Who Has Been Bill Murray's Best Co-Star?
Yesterday it was announced that Bill Murray had signed on to star in Roman Coppola's upcoming film, A Glimpse Into the Mind of Charles Swan III alongside -- drum roll please -- Charlie Sheen. In honor of this out-of-left-field pairing, let's recall some of Murray's best onscreen partners in film and consider who has been the best.
It's hard to even ponder the best without considering his most frequent collaborator and co-star in the '80s, Harold Ramis. Before the pair's notorious falling out, the Chicago-raised comedic actors appeared alongside each other in Stripes, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2 and Groundhog Day. Ramis also directed the Murray vehicle Caddyshack and co-wroteMeatballs. Although no one remembers Murray and Ramis for their groundbreaking scenes shared or crackling chemistry, Ramis deserves mention as a formidable co-star who could match Murray in wit and dryness if not prickly charisma.
Then there are the co-stars that played pupil to Murray's offbeat professor like Chris Makepeace, who was taught some crucial camp social lessons by Murray's Meatballs counselor and Jason Schwartzman, whose peculiar private school student was taken under the wing of Murray's lonely tycoon in Rushmore. Both actors lured multiple dimensions and a caring quality from Murray, who more often than not has lapsed into the role of incorrigible grump (Groundhog Day and Scrooged) or staple smart aleck (Ghostbusters) during his career.
Richard Dreyfuss turned that pupil-professor relationship on its ear though, when in 1991's What About Bob?, he played the angry therapist and mentor to Murray's obsessive-compulsive patient with stalker tendencies. Although the movie was only a modest box office success, Murray's role as an upbeat optimist -- even in the face of his many phobias -- was a welcome change.
But perhaps most audience members would credit Scarlett Johansson as Murray's best co-star for helping to coax out his most gentle, honest performance ever in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation. As an aging actor who forges an unlikely bond with an unhappily married twentysomething (Johansson), Murray allowed himself to be completely vulnerable, finally trading wisecracks for subtle emotion, thoughtfulness and his first Oscar nomination.
Which co-star do you think has been Murray's best? Maybe you consider Johnny Depp (for Ed Wood), Robert Duvall (for Get Low) or Uma Thurman (in Mad Dog and Glory) to be the finest. Either way, we'd love to hear your opinion below.
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Jason Schwartzman is by far Bill Murray's best Co-Star. While ostensibly his pupil, it could be argued that Max Fischer taught Herman Blume just as much as Herman taught Max. When the picture dives into the prank war between the two characters over the affections of Ms. Cross, it's clearly a contest between equals, if not in resources, then at least in tactical proficiency. Ms. Cross as much as states this when she characterizes Max and Herman as both being, "little children," who deserve each other. Each of these actors pushes the other to raise their game, and both bring a pathos and sensitivity to their characters that, while echoed in Lost In Translation, finds it's purest and best expression in Rushmore. Also, Wes Anderson is awesome.
I second the Schwartz-man!
Also, the kid in Royal Tenenbaums who plays the subject of Murray's research did a remarkably droll job of matching the man.
You could even say that, even though it's not really a co-star situation on screen, Wes Anderson has been the greatest, consistently getting great and diverse performances out of the man.
Incisive as always. We are in accord. I'd imagine that the performance Wes Anderson brought out of Bill Murray in Rushmore likely prompted Sofia Coppola to write Lost in Translation with Mr. Murray in mind.
As the risk of verging into irrational exuberance, allow me to reiterate my first point, and add that you rock my socks off.
Owen Wilson in "Life Aquatic". Such a conflict of personalities just like most father and son relationships. (How could THIS be a product of ME??)
Yeah, don't take "Groundhog Day" from Ramis! It is his best film!!
All above, but i would trade Life Aquatic`s Owen Wilson for Anjelica Huston and i love those few minutes between Murray and Jessica Lange in Broken Flowers.
I thought Murray and Dreyfuss were perfect together in What about Bob.
Bill Murray is a selfish liar with no concern for anyone but himself. He was sick last year, but is too full of himself to talk about it. I'm having a hard time believing any of this, and do believe it's a lie put out by his family and friends who want to help him lie to hide the fact that his health issues are because of his poor life choices. Rather than warning anybody to turn them around, he'd prefer to remain self-righteously indignant. Why do you people love this monster?
I'm going to go with Woody Harrelson...they were awesome together in the classic Kingpin and then again with Murray hilariously playing himself in Zombieland.
I always love seeing his bro, Brian Doyle Murray, pop up in his movies.
What about Steve Martin in "Little Shop of Horrors"? OK probably not, but it's a perfect example of how Murray finds a way to shine no matter who he's on screen with.
In all honesty though, I'd have to say Dan Aykroyd in "Ghostbusters," who I think has better chemistry with him than Ramis and even Sigourney Weaver. Their conversations between "they expect results" and "no studying" seem to add so much depth and backstory to those two characters with relatively few words. Also, they're hilarious.
But that's probably tied with Jason Schwartzman in "Rushmore," which out sensitives his "Lost in Translation" performance as far as I'm concerned. The moment when Max introduces Blume to his barber father, owning up to the surgeon lie, the look on Murray's face is absolutely, heartbreakingly perfect.
2 more contenders:
Jeffrey Wright in Broken Flowers (Their dynamic is terrific, and t turned me on to Ethiopian Acid Jazz)
RZA and The GZA in Coffee and Cigarettes, if only for the way they address him as "BillMurray"
Is that you Mr. Ramis? Long time no see.
the gopher on caddyshack it was illarious
Maria seriously go far far away, you are pitiful.
As for the best costar: Murray can have chemistry with everybody but i vote for Schwartzman on the delightful Rushmore.
Bill Murray is hilarious. I much prefer him in comedies, just because he's great in them. But chosing his best co-star is way to difficult. Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Richard Dreyfuss, Woody Harrelson, and the list goes on. One of his best comedies was Stripes - "and dat's the fact jack"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a formidable list of choices and a brilliant (yes I said brilliant) filmography associated with Bill Murray. All in, though, my considered opinion is that Murray's finest performance was in his best ever movie: "Groundhog Day" and Andie MacDowell the best of a long list of wonderful co-stars.
Goldthwaite in "Scrooged" and Ramis in ":Stripes," although the Sgt. Hulka character actor stole that show.
What was the Bill Murray movie where he sold arms on the black market?