St. Vincent (2014)

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 ****

Fmovies: The grumpy and unpleasant Vincent (Bill Murray) is a veteran Vietnam sergeant completely broken that gambles in horse races and owes money to the shark Zucko (Terrence Howard). He is a regular client of the stripper Daka (Naomi Watts) that is closed to him. When the CT operator Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) moves with her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher) to the next-door house, Vincent offers to babysit him to make money. Maggie, who is facing a divorce process, accepts and soon Vincent finds that Oliver is bullied at school. He teaches the boy how to defend himself; he takes him to visit Sandy (Donna Mitchell) in a nursing home; and to go to the horse races and bars. Soon they become friends and partners. When Brother Geraghty (Chris O'Dowd ) asks his students to prepare a lecture about a saint, Oliver learns the life of Vincent and understands his behavior.

"St. Vincent" is an entertaining dramatic comedy with great characters and dialogs. Bill Murray is very funny with his behavior and lines. Jaeden Lieberher seems to be a promising actor with magnificent performance in his debut. Naomi Watts and Melissa McCarthy complete the lead cast with also wonderful performances. It is impossible to highlight the best moments of this film. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Um Santo Vizinho" ("A Holy Neighbor")

As a picture of real life, and all the superficial BS, and as ugly as real life can be....spot on..thanks to all that brought this to the screen. VS the mind numbing Crapsicles they usually serve us in most movies. Murray is AWESOME as he was in the Razor's Edge..when he was at his tragic comedy best. Proud to be a Murray! Want to know what REAL life is like...go see this. This is by far one of his best roles. Human-yes, flawed-yes. Bring a few tissues. None of us are perfect but this makes us realize that our flaws make us, in other words, a saint. I think tat this is one of the Best Roles ever that I have seen Bill in. Sure, it is funny when he is the clown but watching this will break your heart....in a good way

St. Vincent fmovies. This movie is a touching story. It is about a boy who befriends a crusty curmudgeon in Vincent (Bill Murray) and discovers some facts of life. But the deeper story is that family is really the friends you choose and the wide cast of misfits are brought together by a mix of circumstances and events. They are lost but then are found. The story also showcases the lost heroes of Vietnam. These veterans are dying off and as a nation we have forgotten their contributions in this senseless war. The boy is the glue to the cast and he bridges the gap from the wide differences between the characters. I would highly recommend if and is sure to conjure up a tear or too. A real good feel movie that shows how saints are everywhere, everyday, check out St. Vincent. Bill Murray is a masterful actor that becomes the character,

Bill Murray shows his acting range in this film by playing a despicable human being that you can't help but to like, as Vincent, an angry old man who takes on the job of a babysitter to his new neighbor's young son in order to make some extra cash he surely needs.

Melissa McCartney, who plays the neighbor is also in the movie. I love McCartney, but it was obvious from the start that this is Big Bill's show and he's leading this dance, while Melissa and Naomi Watts, who also stars in the film are just tools to move the story along. A task any actress could have done, but having Naomi and Melissa makes the movie better to market.

I wish I got more laughs for McCartney, but like I said, this is totally Bill's ride, and it was a good one.

Bill Murray can mug with the best of them and in this film he is pretty much the whole thing. Playing a Vietnam vet, Vincent, who has seen better times, he parlays his drunkenness into opportunity. The film begins with him totally wasted, backing his car, an old woody convertible, over his picket fence. The next day, a couple of Hispanic movers bringing a middle aged woman (Melissa McCarthy) and her son to their new digs, damages a tree branch. Murray uses this to threaten her with a law suit unless she pays up. It's obvious that she doesn't have much money. It turns out that she and her son are escaping her husband, a philanderer, and the two are on the road to divorces. What ensues is a relationship that grows out of necessity as Murray is enlisted to look after the boy, Oliver, at significant cost to the mother. The kid now becomes a part of Murray's daily forays into irresponsibility: bars, horse track, joy riding, etc. He also brings the child to a hospital where his Alzheimers stricken wife lives. Murray is devoted to her, even though he has an ongoing thing with a Russian hooker, Naomi Watts, whom he may have impregnated. She has the heart of gold in a combative personality. The boy, Jaeden Liebehrer, is a gem of an actor. He has this fatalistic sense to him. He knows he will remain the perpetual victim, but when Vincent comes into his life, he begins to absorb tools to try to get by. Mom works sixteen hour shifts and has no idea of what goes on after Murray picks the boy up from school. What is heartening is that nothing is simple here. Murray continues his bad ways almost throughout, but we know he has a marshmallow center. With all the darkness in the world, give this one a shot.