The Best Of The Best Of Bill Murray On Film

Murray plays the neurotic, nervous wreck Bob Wiley, who follows his therapist (Richard Dreyfuss) on his family vacation. Murray’s performance made the Frank Oz flick a cult favorite since its release. [GoWatchIt]

Murray was the perfect choice to play down-on-his-luck neurologist Raleigh St. Clair in the Wes Anderson ensemble. His somewhat pathetic persona throughout the film was lightened by the constant presence of his latest test subject, Dudley Heinsbergen. [GoWatchIt]

After the success of Lost in Translation, Murray stuck to his dramatic side in Jim Jarmusch’s wholly underrated drama, Broken Flowers. Murray stars as the reclusive Don Johnston, whose life is turned upside-down when he’s anonymously informed he has a son who’s trying to track him down. [GoWatchIt]

Murray is Steve Zissou in the oceanic dramedy from Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach. Oceanographer and documentarian Zissou is devastated when his best friend is eaten by his latest subject of interest, the Jaguar Shark. In his quest to uncover the shark’s mysteries, he must also come to terms with the loss of his pal. [GoWatchIt]

The role of Dr. Peter Venkman was originally written by Dan Aykroyd for John Belushi. We’re not sure how the film would have faired if Belushi was the star, but Murray’s semi-improvised twist on Aykroyd’s script made Venkman one of his most memorable roles to date. [GoWatchIt]

When he can’t cope with being stuck in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with the crazed groundhog lovers any longer, pessimist Phil Connors takes his destiny into his own hands. Though critics and fans consider Rushmore Murray’s first major dramatic role, Groundhog Day is when we first saw the darker, more cantankerous side of Murray’s comedy. [GoWatchIt]

Right after Caddyshack, Murray teamed up with Ivan Reitman for the war comedy Stripes. Murray plays the hilariously incompetent Private John Winger alongside his late pal and frequent collaborator, Harold Ramis. [GoWatchIt]

We got a taste of Murray’s darker side in Groundhog Day back in 1993, but after a few cameos as himself and bit parts here and there, Murray tested the dramatic waters as Herman Blume in Wes Anderson’s second feature. After the success of Rushmore, Anderson and Murray soon became the Scorsese and De Niro of the indie world, and, to date, Murray has starred in seven of Anderson’s films. [GoWatchIt]

If it weren’t for freakin’ Sean Penn and Mystic River, Murray would have won an Oscar for his role as Bob Harris, a washed-up actor coping with a serious midlife crisis. Very rarely can a comedian successfully jump to drama without making the audience question their legitimacy, but Murray has done this time and again, and in Sofia Coppola’s second feature, midlife crisis or not, he’s at the top of his game. [GoWatchIt]

Hot off his Saturday Night Live trail, Murray took on the role of Carl Spackler, the Bushwood Country Club groundsman who lives in the course tool shed. The course gophers bring out the warrior in Carl, who does everything in his power to protect his beloved greens and chinch bugs. [GoWatchIt]