I really don't have a reason for today's Top Five outside of my enthusiastic admiration for Bill Murray. It's time my top five high-fived the only old dude I can identify with in just about any role he plays. I especially dig his more recent dramatic roles, even though such movies as a whole kinda fell flat (see Broken Flowers, Life Aquatic).

He's a roar even when he sits there with that sad snarky look in his eyes and wacky white hair (see Royal Tannenbaum's for the ultimate dry Murray performance). You know there's some zany Venkman cockiness ready to just explode through his sad-eyed dry wit at any moment's notice. With every role, even in Caddyshack, he has played the perfect wacko goofball going through something profound. Robin Williams and Jim Carrey often try this, and get applauded for it, but neither do it with the genuine style of Murray.

But enough with the praising, let's do the list. As movies, these aren't the most necessary things to see. I'm leaving out Stripes, Meatballs and CaddyShack because I said so. They might be funnier than these movies here, yea, but ultimate Murray? Eh. You are cutting your hem lines short for missing the Murray of THESE movies. Don't do that!

5. The Whipmaster
Okay, cheated already. This isn't a movie at all. But it's a Scene & Heard favorito! Scope this SNL clip post haste, holmes.




4. Space Jam
This was more cameo than role, but who didn't flip their wig when we saw Bill Murray romping around with Porky Pig and his airness, Michael Jordan, on the hardwood against cartoon hoop dunkin' monsters?

3. Lost In Translation
No one has lips more bovine than Scarlett Johansen. But the tension between her and Murray in this clever lil' flick about understanding was remarkable. The unspoken and sublime themes of this film made it much more than a movie about an old guy meeting a young girl in a bar in Tokyo. Not to mention, Murray aced it here. He was as sad and lost as he was willing to let go and put some color back in his life. It's like the old white man's "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

2. Ghostbusters
If I have to write some cleverly worded explanation as to why Murray pwns this flick, you should close your web browser, turn your computer off, leave your home, go out to a secluded field, and lay there for a very long time. While you're there, try re-thinking your life.

1. Groundhog Day
Just as Murray relives the same day, day after day, waking up to that cheesy Sonny and Cher song, this is a movie you can relive again and again with him. Who knew anyone could make a landmark movie in Punxatawny, PA?