Murray is magnetic as a somewhat philosophical and aging gangster, although his role is almost too much of a stretch. His New England accent is sporadic at best, and he’s really too charming to be threatening, no matter how high the body count gets. He was a last-minute replacement after another actor dropped out of Riff Raff. Still, I’ll take Murray as a slightly miscast pontificating murderer any day of the week. A prequel starring his character might even be a better film.
Harris really carries the core of the emotional weight of the film, as a man caught between two worlds — his past and his present, as they collide and threaten everyone he has loved. He can perfectly embody the more refined, loving dad and the rough man with a past. He really ties the entire film together, and when the time comes, brings both vulnerability and toughness to the character.
“…the real superstar here is Coolidge.”
But the real superstar here is Coolidge. She shines as the too-drunk, too-rough, but charmingly nutty ex-wife. This will come as no surprise to fans of White Lotus, where she brings a similar level of charm to a slightly more sophisticated character. Her comedic timing is perfect, and she elevates a role that could have been a throwaway into something profound and transcendent. She can use comedy to highlight vulnerability in a way I can’t imagine from another performer. It is really something to show up Bill Murray and Ed Harris in a film, but Jennifer Coolidge is just that talented.
The rest of the cast is fine, but I’m sorry to say they feel like indie actors who wandered onto a set with superstars. I mean, Riff Raff is an indie movie, so there’s no shame in that. Being able to perform with Bill Murry, Ed Harris, and Jennifer Coolidge will be the highlight of their careers.
When Riff Raff takes chances and surprises us, it shines. It starts as a seemingly by-the-numbers family drama, but when the first body drops (at the hands of two comedians), we realize we’re in for that all-but-extinct Tarantino-esque brand of comedy violence. But where Tarantino is bold, the main shortcoming here is that Montiel plays it safe. Some of the shock value is undermined by the resolution, which wraps things up too neatly in a bow. Still, despite some minor shortcomings, the film is worth seeing for the performances of Coolidge, Murray, and Harris.
Riff Raff premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
"…Tarantino opened new forms of storytelling, of which this is a descendant."
