Quiet, unassuming, and featuring fantastic performances by some titans of American acting, Get Low, directed by Aaron Schneider, is one of the most pleasant surprises of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It’s very odd little movie set in the 1930s about a hermit who wanders into a nearby town for the first time in years to plan his own funeral. Robert Duvall gives one of his first lead performances in years and is amazing as the broken man with a dark secret.

Fortunately Get Low isn’t a purely depressing meditation on life. Surprisingly, it’s quite a funny and sweet little movie despite the occasionally difficult subject matter. Much of this can be attributed to Bill Murray, who co-stars as a struggling funeral home director who helps organize the rather odd event. The man brings his patented deadpan wit to the proceedings and it’s impossible not to laugh whenever he’s on screen. Sissy Spacek also shows up as Duvall’s possibly long lost love and gets an opportunity to show off her acting chops in the most rewarding role she’s been given in years.

Get Low is a remarkably restrained and mature movie, making it all the more surprising that the project has come from a first time filmmaker. Director Aaron Schneider immediately establishes himself as a talent to watch, coaxing masterful performances out of veteran actors who have been making films for decades. Unfortunately Get Low has no distribution in place yet, but I’d imagine it’s only a matter of time. The movie is just too strong, plus it’s got Bill Murray. Movies with Bill Murray don’t sit on shelves.-CV