St. Vincent

There is a school of film reviewing which suggests that a film is like a symphony, to review it, don't bother with minutiae, just listen for a false or off-key note, and deduct points accordingly.

By that approach, this film would be a 10 because there are no false notes.

And it is really that good.

The key to these sorts of films is trust your script, trust your actors, and trust the director to simply to give them lead and let them run. Which is precisely what we have here.

The iconic Bill Murray gives his most memorable performance since MEATBALLS -- which, BTW, launched the entire Canadian film industry -- even though it is not actually a comic role. Impressive.

Naomi Watts give her most memorable performance since MULHULLAND DRIVE where, as a glowing young ingénue, she stole scene after scene. She steals here too.

Even Melissa McCarthy, who many consider a scenery-chewer and over-the-top, is wonderfully restrained and actually creates an empathetic character.

Delightful.