Groundhog Day (film)
Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott, it tells the story of a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who becomes trapped in a time loop, forcing him to relive February 2 repeatedly.Reviewers were consistent in praise for the film's successful melding of highly sentimental and deeply cynical moments, and for the philosophical message beneath the comedy.It has also had a significant effect on popular culture: the term Groundhog Day, meaning a monotonous, unpleasant, and repetitive situation, has become part of the English lexicon.Contrary to his prediction, the blizzard strikes the area, preventing all travel out of Punxsutawney, and although he desperately searches for a way to leave, he is forced to spend the night in the town.Realizing that there are no consequences for his actions, Phil begins to spend loops indulging in binge eating, one-night stands, robbery, and other dangerous activities, using his increasing knowledge of the day's events and the town's residents to manipulate circumstances to his advantage.Phil decides to use his knowledge of the loop to change himself and others: he saves people from deadly accidents and misfortunes and learns to play the piano, sculpt ice, and speak French.During one iteration of the loop, Phil reports on the Groundhog Day festivities with such eloquence that other news crews stop working to listen to his speech, amazing Rita.Phil carves an ice sculpture in Rita's image and tells her that no matter what happens, even if he is trapped in the loop forever, he is finally happy because he loves her.At this point, Rubin recalled a brief story concept he had written two years earlier that followed a man who woke every morning to find it was the same day repeating.[9] He likened his original script to the 1949 British black comedy film Kind Hearts and Coronets, particularly the flippant way in which Phil's multiple suicides are shown.[5] By the early 1990s, Ramis had begun moving away from involvement in the anti-establishment and anti-institutional comedies, such as Caddyshack (1980) and National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), that had defined his earlier career.[4] They also discussed whether it was ethical for Superman—a superhuman being with the power to save the lives of countless people and prevent disasters—to effectively waste time on adventures with his partner Lois Lane.[18] He emphasized Phil's smug attitude as a means of distancing himself from others, giving him a defined story arc as a classic comedic lead character deserving of his punishment.[21] Phil's journeys outside Punxsutawney were excised, as Ramis did not want the audience becoming too focused on what the rules of the loop were and felt that keeping the story within the town made it more claustrophobic.[34][35][36] Hanks was Ramis's first choice, but he rejected the offer, rationalizing that he was typecast portraying nice people, and the audience would be expecting his inevitable redemption, whereas Murray was "such a miserable [son of a bitch] on- and off-screen" that the outcome would be less predictable.[37] Murray and Ramis had a longstanding friendship and collaborative relationship, having worked together since 1974 on many projects and five films to great success, including Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters (1984).Several local businesses banded together to oppose the film's presence, concerned about the influence the production would have on both the town square and storefronts over an indeterminate amount of time.[59][60] As production costs rose, films pitched at both adults and children offered a greater chance being profitable both at the theater and in the ensuing home video rentals.[64][65] There were blockbusters like Mrs. Doubtfire and Indecent Proposal, critical favorites such as Schindler's List and Philadelphia,[66][65][67] and future classics, like Dazed and Confused, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.Murray did not attend the low-budget event, whose guests included comedian Rodney Dangerfield and actresses Catherine O'Hara, Mimi Rogers, and Virginia Madsen.[92] In Turan's opinion, Groundhog Day started as a traditional Hollywood story, but was earnest enough to convert the audience by the end, and had a "romantic innocence" that prevented it becoming formulaic.[97] In a then-unprecedented move, in late 1993, Columbia Pictures sent over 4,500 members of the Academy Awards voting committee a custom box containing videotapes of nine of their eligible films.[6][107] Similarly, author Leon Arden attempted legal action, claiming the film plagiarized his novel One Fine Day, which he had unsuccessfully pitched as a script to Columbia Pictures, about a man repeating April 15.[124] In April 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a special one-night screening of the remastered film at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California."[137] Groundhog Day can also be interpreted as a secular tale in which Phil is experiencing an existential crisis where primal self-indulgence is no longer satisfying, causing him to fall into a depression that he escapes by taking ownership of his own self-improvement; he then uses his improved persona to benevolently help others.The consensus reads, "Smart, sweet, and inventive, Groundhog Day highlights Murray's dramatic gifts while still leaving plenty of room for laughs."[186] Several filmmakers have spoken of their appreciation for Groundhog Day or cited it as an inspiration in their own careers, including David O. Russell, Terry Jones,[30] and Jay Roach."[4] It has been referenced across a range of media, including the 1998 novel About a Boy,[202] the music video for the Craig David song "7 Days," and the Doctor Who audio drama Flip-Flop, that features a time loop on the planet Punxsutawnee.[206][207][208] In 2018, the New York Museum of Modern Art debuted a series of films chosen by polling 35 literary and religious scholars, which started with Groundhog Day.Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son was developed by Tequila Works and published by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.
Harold RamisDanny RubinTrevor AlbertBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottJohn BaileyPembroke J. HerringGeorge FentonColumbia PicturesFox Village Theatrefantasy comedyGroundhog DayPunxsutawney, Pennsylvaniatime loopStephen TobolowskyBrian Doyle-MurrayMarita GeraghtyAngela PatonRick DucommunRick OvertonRobin Dukespec scriptPrincipal photographyWoodstock, IllinoisBAFTA Award for Best Original ScreenplayCaddyshackGhostbustersLibrary of CongressNational Film Registrya 2016 musicalPittsburghWestern PennsylvaniaPunxsutawneySonny & CherI Got You BabegroundhogPunxsutawney Phildéjà vuKen Hudson CampbellDavid PasquesiRichard HenzelHynden WalchMichael ShannonAnne RiceThe Vampire Lestatarrested developmentHear No EvilIt's a Wonderful LifeA Charlie Brown Christmasin medias resblack comedyKind Hearts and CoronetsCreative Arts AgencyNational Lampoon's VacationClub ParadiseSupermanLois LaneKübler-Ross modelcatharsisexpositional narrationgreenlightChevy ChaseTom HanksMichael KeatonMeatballsKevin KlineTori Amoslocation scoutingmain streetMineral Point, WisconsinBaraboo, Wisconsintown squarePlanes, Trains and AutomobilesMcHenry, IllinoisCary, IllinoisHollywoodMohawk hairstyleIllinois Railway MuseumLoves Park, Illinois1993 in filmpremiereFox Theater, Westwood VillageWestwood, Los Angelesrecessionhome videorentalsE.T. the Extra-TerrestrialStar WarsHome AlonePG-ratedsleeper successFree WillyLast Action HeroJurassic ParkMrs. DoubtfireIndecent ProposalSchindler's ListPhiladelphiaDazed and ConfusedThe Nightmare Before ChristmasFox TheaterRodney DangerfieldCatherine O'HaraMimi RogersVirginia MadsenScleroderma Research FoundationCrystal Lake, IllinoisPresident's DayWayne's WorldSommersbyFalling Down10th highest-grossing film of 1993Cliffhangerbox office returns to the studioCinemaScoreKenneth TuranHal HinsonTootsieThe Twilight ZoneRoger EbertScroogedDesson ThomsonJanet MaslinThe Hollywood ReporterNew Statesman