St. Vincent (2014)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Good movie but grossly overrated

Fresh and Exciting

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I really enjoyed this film.Bill Murray gives a typically great performance in it as the titular "Saint" Vincent. The name is ironic in that he is actually very much a jerk. He's selfish, slovenly, arrogant, rude, and just all around ill- tempered with nothing but faults.But when a single mother with problems moves in next door (running over his fence in the process) as much as he pushes them away he ends up connecting with the kid, first because he really needs the babysitting money the mom will pay him, but he soon comes to like the kid despite himself.It's the kid who really comes to care about him though. And no matter how much Vincent pushes him away the kid sees something good in him which nobody else, Vincent included, can see - or remember.

There is nothing too original about St Vincent but heartwarming performances by the actors make it work despite the clichéd script.Bill Murray is the curmudgeonly Vincent. Mean, bad tempered, money problems, drinks too much and gambles even more. The only friend he has is a Russian prostitute he pays for sex.When young kid Oliver moves in next door with his single mother, Vincent is paid to babysit him. He teaches him life lessons such as to stand up to bullies, going to bars and the race track.Oliver also learns more insightful things about Vincent. He wants to do the best for his wife, now in a home and suffering from dementia. As a younger man he was a heroic soldier that could always be relied on.The film has nice support from Terrence Howard as a loan shark, Naomi Watt as the working girl and Melissa McCarthy as Oliver's mother.It has a nice soundtrack, few surprises but is an easy watch and Murray seems to be enjoying himself.

The type of mid-budget star-vehicle that gets sold in production meetings with the caveat that it's "a feel-good movie." With Bill Murray acting like a lovable jerk (not a big stretch for Murray), "St. Vincent" also has the earmarks of a project groomed and designed to generate Oscar buzz--it has 'prestige' by way of its edgy but essentially warmhearted presentation. A grouchy Vietnam veteran in Brooklyn inadvertently becomes a babysitter for the little boy living next door after his parents split up and Mom has to work all day at the hospital. Fill-in-the-blanks screenplay by director Theodore Melfi has absolutely no surprises up its sleeve, and Murray is no longer the inimitable rascal you hate to love (he's present, but I question his sincerity). The picture isn't unique--it doesn't feel fresh, it doesn't tear you up--and Oscar did not come calling. I'm not even sure what Melfi was ultimately aiming for here (beyond setting up his happy ending), especially with the anticlimactic casting of Melissa McCarthy as the child's harried mother (she has little to do but react and scold). There's not a convincing scene in the entire 102 minutes, but some audiences may respond to its 'endearing' qualities, which is what the people behind "St. Vincent" had planned for all along. ** from ****

I saw ST. VINCENT last night! What is Saint Vincent? It's only is the newest film starring everyone's favorite misanthropic wise-ass Bill Murray! The movie tells the tale of the sullen and wildly unlikable Vincent, a drunken old cuss who's life gets unwillingly jostled out of bed by his new neighbors a young boy named Oliver, played by newcomer Jaden Lieberher and his over stressed mother, played by Melissa McCarthy. At first Vincent sees his new neighbors as a way to scam some much needed cash, but as the bonds between he and Oliver grow, the grinchly old man finds a friendship that he was not prepared for.In a lot of ways, this film is like version of Denis the Menace with Bill Murray's character being the source of all the mischief and believe me, there's a lot of it. From pregnant strippers to horse races and every human vice in between, this movie shows it all and in very funny ways. It also has a lot of heart and it really puts what many would call a one dimensional character into a full three dimensions by the end of the film. The chemistry between McCarthy, Lieberher and Murray is really fun to watch in this movie and the rest cast is really funny here as well with Chris O'Dowd as Oliver's teacher and Naomi Watts as Vincent's Russian hooker girlfriend. In short if you liked Bad Santa or The Bad News Bears, you'll like this movie too. If I had to say anything bad about it I might say that it's a little too relaxed in it's pace but in reality, what Billy Murray film has ever made it's bones by being fast paced and taught? It moves to the beat of it's own drum and does very well for itself. St. Vincent gets a 3.5...out of 5