St. Vincent

Dir: Theodore Melfi

2014

****

Theodore Melfi's feature film debut St. Vincent was the surprise feel-good film of 2014. It is quite remarkable for a directional debut and although there is an argument that says that if you put the great Bill Murray in front of a camera then magic will happen, Melfi clearly has a unique eye and is a talented writer. It is a simple story about a young boy called Oliver (played by the impressive young Jaeden Lieberher) who moves to a new neighbourhood with his mother Maggie (played by Melissa McCarthy) and next door to a grumpy old man called Vincent (Bill Murray on fine form). When their removal truck knocks a branch off a tree and onto Vincent's banged up old car, he sees an opportunity to ask for money. Up to his neck in dept, Vincent lives a life of smoking, gambling and drinking and isn't initially the sort of neighbour you'd desire to live next door to but over time and out of necessity, Maggie leaves Oliver in his care (for a fee) while she works overtime at the local hospital. Having something of a troubled childhood and experiencing the tough times of being the new kid in class, Vincent is full of good but inappropriate advice. However, Vincent's tough exterior is slowly peeled away to discover quite a warm person with a few unexpected revelations. When Oliver is given the task of writing a school paper on modern day saints by his priest teacher (played by Chris O'Dowd), Oliver knows just who he thinks fits the description. It's a very heart-warming affair which is fairly light on clichés and emotional blackmail. The performances are great, Murray is on top form and young Jaeden Lieberher is clearly going to go far. Naomi Watts is also good in her supporting role as Daka, a pregnant Russian prostitute that Vincent goes to for physical affection and I actually quite liked Melissa McCarthy for once, although I would argue that anyone could have played her role. It is sweet and simple, tender and uplifting and a very easy film to watch. My favourite scene however is right at the end when the final credits are rolling. Melfi filmed Murray listening to music, to which he sings along to, while watering the plants in his back yard. It's such a simple but character building scene that doesn't really have a place in the film but is just simply wonderful to stare at. A little bit of Murray magic before it’s all over. It really is a joy from start to the very end.