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Day 1 Assignments
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Patrick Malone Analysis of Groundhog Day
I saw Groundhog Day when it first came out. I enjoyed it as a comedy with a quirky premise. What I now learned was to see it at a deeper level, not just the surface. I am recognizing the profound elements of this film.
1. The Change is going from an ego centric, self-centered person to a caring, giving person. Becoming the best person you can be.
2. Change Agent: Rita. She is a happy, kind, giving woman.
Transformable Character: Phil. He is the transformable character. He is only interested in himself and barely tolerates others. He talks down to Rita, Larry and everyone he comes into contact with.
The oppression is the continuing re-occurring day, Groundhog Day.
3. At the beginning we learn that Phil’s goal is to land a bigger, better position at a more prestigious TV network. Wanting to know if he would succeed lured me into the story. Also interested in seeing the groundhog day festivities.
4. Phil changed the most. His old way was self-centered, uncaring for others. His new way of being was caring, helping and loving others.
Rita is changed to a lesser degree. She originally saw Phil as the insufferable self-centered jerk he was, not a man she could be close to. Eventually, she saw the goodness in him and fell in love with him.
5. Phil is with the two drunks from the bowling alley he realizes he can do whatever he likes, it doesn’t matter because it will all be gone the next day. At some point he becomes attracted to Rita and each day he learns something new about her. He uses this knowledge to impress her and get her to like him. However, she sees through him and rejects him.
He then goes to a dark place and tries to kill himself several times. He fails.
6. Groundhog Day will keep repeating for Phil as long as he continues in his old ways. He eventually realizes he must treat others better and make the best of each day in order to stop this repeating cycle.
7. The most profound moments are when Phil admits to Rita that he is a jerk, and that she is an angel to him. Also, when Phil helps others, such as saving the old bum, fixing the flat tire for the old ladies, and catching the boy falling from the tree.
8. Profound lines: Phil: “I don’t even like myself”; “I am a jerk”; “You’re the kindest, sweetest, prettiest person I’ve ever seen in my life”; “The first time I saw you something happened to me”.
Rita: “Maybe it’s not a curse”.
9. The payoff is Phil is a changed man and his goodness causes Rita to fall in love with him.
10. The profound truth is that no matter how bad a day may be, we should always try to be the best person we can.
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Karl’s Analysis of Groundhog Day
Having seen this movie so many times (and being a cheap bastard) – I chose to read Danny Rubin’s Jan 1992 screenplay and watch the cut-up version on YouTube. So my answers may not totally translate to Ramis’ final film. I’ve also not looked at other responses – so mine may repeat what’s already been said:
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
I really hate Andie MacDowell as a leading lady. She’s adequate, but lacks a screen presence/ personality – imo.
AND…
There are lots of (subtle) layers to dialogue — especially throw-away lines. For the first time, I got the meaning behind – “Do you think Phil will come out and see his shadow?” — as in Phil Connors and his shadow-self, the negative poisonous version of himself.
1. What’s the CHANGE/ Transformational Journey?
Phil Connors changes from a flippant, self-centered, self-indulgent individual who sees life in terms of what he can get from it — to a sincere, philanthropic, humble member of society who finds pleasure in giving to others.
2. Change Agent: Rita influences Phil to transform. (although some might argue that Phil desire for meaning + Time really forces Phil to change. By the end, he’s no longer trying to do things to impress Rita — but instead to find true happiness)
Transformable Character: Phil Conners
Oppression: The blizzard that prevents travel and long-distant calls — trapping Phil in Punxsutawney. (And time itself which continually repeats.)
3. We’re lured into this journey by the clever idea of living the same day over and over. The audience lives vicariously through Phil enjoying the endless possibiities to “do-over” mistakes or decisions to see what outcomes we could get. We connect with this story because Phil takes a variety of approaches that we get to see/experience. Also… hey, it’s Bill Murray.
4. Phil changes the most abandoning his old ways to a new way of being.
From the start, Phil sees himself as being above everyone else. He talks down to Larry (camera guy), treats Rita as an object, thinks of the assignment as beneath him, and despises the small town and its people. On the ride to the event, Phil tells Rita & Larry – “people are morons.” He’s eager to get a big network job to leave the local TV station. He’s condescending to the Chubby Man (at the top of stairs) and Ms. Lancaster. But by the end, he brings coffee to Larry and Rita – even helps them carry the equipment. He does such a good job on his broadcast that everyone around him stand in silence to hear what he has to say. He’s kind and sensitive to the Chubby Man and Ms. Lancaster. He even helps out a ton of the townsfolks including the homeless guy who dies, the wedding couple (gives them tickets to Wrestlemania), catches kid falling from tree, prevents man from choking and helps old ladies fix a flat. (There are even more examples in the final ballroom scene.) But one of the best examples of this is how he asks Rita, “Is there anything I can do for you today?” as they wake up together and “Let’s live here.”
Sincere statements that show real change.
5.There are a number of ways to track Phil’s gradients of change.
One is through his broadcast. It goes from okay to horrible to professional… and in the end, to a very well-thought out exposé on what is winter and how it impacts us.
Phil’s motivations change. At first, he does things to please himself (e.g., robbing armoured truck, sleeping with Nancy) and tries to avoid difficult relationships (i.e., Larry, homeless guy, Ned). Then, he tries to end this time loop in any way possible. Followed by trying to bed Rita. And eventually, he chooses to better himself. This sort of goes through the stages of grief/death – <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
When he says “It’s alright, I am a jerk” and near the end to Rita, “I don’t deserve someone like you.” — we start to see that he’s realized that he needs to change – which is one of the first steps of changing… admitting that you have a problem.
6. Phil’s old ways are specifically challenged when he uses a lifetime to get every detail right in order to bed Rita, and yet she refuses him (slaps him) at every turn. Even using every trick in the book, he can’t get her to love him because he’s doing this from an insincere place. In the end, when he transforms into a more generous person who gives himself to other, it’s only then that Rita has a sincere desire to be with him (she pays to date him at the batchelor auction).
Rita challenges Phil when she confronts him on whether this is a “curse” or an opportunity.
7. some of the most profound moments in the story are: when Phil seriously asks Rita, what would she do in his situation? or the bubbas at the bowling alley, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place and nothing you did ever mattered?”
8. Some lines that stuck out to me as profound include the ones above as well as:
“if you only had one day to live, what would you do with it?”
“is this what you do with eternity?” (throwing cards into a hat)
and one that I only caught recently:
“Do you think Phil will come out and see his shadow?”
9. The ending pays off all the set-ups by having nearly everyone in town be affected by Phil, like Phil and want to be with him. Also, Phil is much happier as an individual and less of a wise-ass. Because Phil has learned to better himself (piano playing, heimlich maneuver, reading philosophy), he’s able to contribute more to society and make their lives better.
10. The Profound Truth in this film seems to be to live everyday like it’s your last. Also that doing for others will give you more joy than doing things only for yourself.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by karl gromelski. Reason: revised to complete e-mail assignment request
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by
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Brenda’s Analysis of Groundhog Day
What I learned doing this assignment is that the change agent can be someone who doesn’t know they’re going to change the character, and they don’t have to have a big part. Rita was just reacting to all the changes that Phil was going through, and her “casual” comment is what caused him to change.
I also like how the writers made Phil a likable character because he’s really not a likable character in the beginning of the movie. He’s the Alice character from Wonderland or the Dorothy character in the Wizard of Oz, who is a jerk, and the audience gets to go with him on this journey of “falling down the rabbit hole or getting whisked away to Oz in a tornado”. We don’t like him at first but we feel sorry for him because he’s in extraordinary circumstances. Then when Phil starts to explore what his world is really like, we relate to him because he’s doing all the things we might do. The audience lives vicariously through Phil’s journey, and that sucks the audience into being able to relate to Phil.
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about?
For the audience, if we could see the consequences of our actions on ourselves and people, we would change them for the better.
What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
A self-centered TV weather forecaster has to live the same day over and over again so he can see experience the effects of his attitude on life and other people
2. Lead characters:
– Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Rita Hanson is the change agent and she is the right character because Phil wants to be with her, and he has to change to have her fall in love with him.
– Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Phil Connors is the transformable character and he’s the right character because he starts out as a unlikeable character, so he has much to learn from this journey.
– What is the Oppression? Phil’s self-centeredness.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey?
What causes us to connect with this story? We go on this journey because of the plot device of living the same day over and over again. It’s intriguing and allows the audience to on a what if journey with the main character. Phil explores what it would be like from taking advantage of it and having fun, to getting depressed about it, and finally to using the day as an adventure to learn new things.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: Phil is a self-centered TV newscaster who only thinks about himself, is sarcastic and rude to people, and who thinks the town is the full of backwards people.
Identify their new way at the conclusion: Phil has become a kind and caring person who now wants to live in the town forever.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
a. Phil tried to tell Rita but she doesn’t believe him.
b. Phil then tested his situation to see if it was true and found he could anything he wanted, so he went a crime spree.
c. Phil then used to his advantage to sleep with all the attractive women in the town.
d. Phil then tries to hook up with Rita and it works, but then it fails over and over again and he falls in love with her in the process of spending so much with her.
e. Phil gets depressed about this situation and tries to kill himself over and over again.
f. Phil confides in Rita again and she suggests he try to see his new circumstances as a blessing
g. Phil changes and helps people.
h. Phil tries to help a homeless man and he dies every night, so he realizes that helping people doesn’t always change their future.
i. Phil forgets about Rita and is more interested in helping people and this change in his attitude attracts Rita to Phil. She now chases after him, and after not being concerned about hooking up with her he wakes up to a new day.
j. Phil and Rita are together and he tells he want to live in the town he once despised.
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
a. Phil’s self-centeredness leads him to take advantage of the his new situation and he has fun with it. But when he tries to seduce Rita he sees that his old way of taking advantage of his advance knowledge of her actions doesn’t work and she rejects him.
b. Phil tries to kill himself over and over again to not deal with situation hoping to escape the situation. But his belief that he could escape the situation by killing himself doesn’t work.
c. Phil changes and starts helping people thinking that’s all he has to do.
d. Phil tries to help a homeless man and has to come to grips that doing good things to people doesn’t always change their life, but you need to keep doing them anyway because it makes you feel good.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
a. When Phil realizes that not having consequences to whatever he does is depressing and he tries to kill himself.
b. When the homeless man dies, and Phil realizes that he was helping people to still feed his own ego somehow and not just for the joy of helping people. He learned that he had to help people so he could feel good about what he was doing and be selfless, and not be attached to the consequences.
c. When Phil tells Rita he has more important things to do than to talk to her, as an audience you feel the depth of his change.
d. When we see Phil playing piano and feeling good about making people happy.
e. When see a humble Phil at the party and not an egocentric Phil.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
Phil: The worst part is that tomorrow you will have forgotten all about this…and you’ll treat me like a jerk again.
Phil: I’ve killed myself so many times, I don’t even exist anymore.
Rita: I don’t know, Phil. Maybe it’s not a curse. It just depends on how you look at it.
Phil: No matter what happens tomorrow…or for the rest of my life…I’m happy now because I love you.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
a. The character setup of Phil as a selfish narcissistic person is paid off when we see and experience his character change.
b. The relationship between Phil and Rita which was setup when she rejected him was paid off when she’s the one who has to chase after him and they finally end up together when he’s changed his character.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie? A kind person ends up with love and so much more.
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Pat’s Analysis of Groundhog Day
What I learned doing this assignment is a movie I didn’t “get” before has meaning. By using the map, I was better able to digest the movie and understand why it is deserving of the accolades it received. I hope to use the map to make a better screenplay.
1. Read the example I’ve attached of my analysis of THE MATRIX to get a real feel for how to do this kind of analysis.
2. Watch the movie GROUNDHOG DAY to analyze it.
3. As you do, answer the questions below to analyze what makes this a Transformational movie.
We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
2. Lead characters:
– Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
RITA is the opposite of Phil. She is pleasant, positive and doesn’t mind speaking openly about his flaws. Also, Phil is interested in her so through their time together, she is a logical choice as a change agent.
– Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
PHIL is a jerk. He’s negative and doesn’t mind sharing his feelings of negativity with others.
– What is the Oppression?
Most notably, Phil’s behavior and demeanor toward others is his oppressor. Phil is his own worst enemy. On the surface, Phil believes having to relive Groundhog Day is the oppressor.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
· Relatability:
o Phil is dissatisfied with his job, evidenced by his lackadaisicalness.
o His co-workers disrespect him by not retaining knowledge about him and overinflating the value of his work
· Irony:
o Phil shares a name with the Groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil
o The towns people are excited about of Groundhog Day, but he despises it
· Anticipation:
o Will Phil leave the network?
o How will Phil’s relationship with Rita develop, it at all?
o Will the blizzard arrive? If so, how will affect him?
o How will Phil manage when he is forced to return to Punxsutawney?
o Is Phil being real with Rita or is this just another con?
o Will Rita and Phil get together?
· Intrigue:
o What’s happening to Phil?
o Why can’t fill die?
o How is Phil suddenly omnipotent?
o How can he predict the future?
o What’s up with the homeless man?
· Confirmation
o Phil has a thing for Rita
o Phil will likely pursue Rita.
o Rita outbids everyone in the charity auction signaling he has changed and he’s the right one for her.
· Humor
o Seeing Phil fumble, making one mistake after the other, until he figures it out.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.“
· Identify their old way:
o Sarcastic
o Arrogant
o Condescending
o Sexist
o Distant
o Selfish
o Inpatient
· Identify their new way at the conclusion:
o Sincere
o Selfless
o Authentic
o Interested in a meaningful relationship
o Embracing & belonging
o Generous with his time
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
· Being indifferent and overconfident to questioning his own reality. He senses a loss of control and admits he needs help and seeks it from Rita, a doctor, and a psychologist with no consequence, accentuating the point that the solution doesn’t reside with others
· With no help, Phil confides in 2 locals and sets off in an adventure, evading the police, breaking common-sense rules. There’s no meaningful change. Going off the deep end is not an answer.
· Phil learns to avoid some of his old mistakes by being nice to Mrs. Lancaster, even kissing her, and plans to stay an extra day. He also avoids the sinkhole. But he persists with some of the others e.g., punching Ned. Just when we think is becoming a nice guy by asking the lady in the restaurant questions about her life, we realize he only asked so he could pick up another woman.
· Phil attempts to be Mr. Nice Guy with Rita – changing his drink order, changing the toast, making a snowman, dancing in the carousel, planning to show her one thing and kicking her out. He doesn’t keep his promise. She slaps him. He’s still manipulating.
· Rita repeatedly slaps Phil, symbolizing he’s still relying on manipulation to win her over. This begins to break him down as he searches for the answer how to win her over. Phil turns cynical and outright mean, realizing he has no answers as to how to break the cycle.
· Desperate Phil kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and makes several suicide attempts. He drives over a cliff, smashing the roof and the truck is engulfed in flames, he drops a toaster in a tub of water, he stands in front of oncoming truck, and jumps off of a tall building. It accentuates the point that a physical death is not the solution.
· Phil accepts his fate of reliving Groundhog Day. Rita offers to follow him around for a day as a witness. He confesses his flaw of being a jerk. When she stays the night, he’s a gentleman and doesn’t make a pass at her.
· Phil actually becomes a nice guy. He gives money to the beggar, brings coffee to Rita and Larry. He gets to know Larry, is nice to the co-occupant in the Inn, and he’s so nice to Ned that even Ned can’t stand it.
· Phil begins to take chances, a sign of being open to vulnerability. He notices the music in the coffee shop and takes piano lessons. He struggles through the lessons. He shows his hidden talent by making an ice sculpture. He is now focusing on himself, but in a different way. He no longer focuies on his misery but on how he can become a better human being.
· He sees the old man struggling and takes him to the hospital. He refuses to accept his death and demands to see the chart. Somehow, the old man is revived, but the old man dies again. A sign that even acts kindness may not change life’s course for others. Another person’s life is beyond his control.
· Phil becomes selfless: he makes a new, meaningful report on Groundhog Day. Saves the boy falling from the tree, repairs the old lady’s flat tire, performs the Heimlich maneuver on a restaurant guest. Not only attends the Groundhog Day dinner, but plays a piano jam at it. He impresses Rita. He is humble refusing to speak about is acts of kindness as others make positive declarations about him.
· After winning Rita over with authenticity, he awakens the next morning with her by his side. The radio broadcast plays, “I’ve got you, Babe” but Rita lies next to him and the radio broadcast finally changes. Phil has found happiness.
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
· Day 2 -. It can’t still be Groundhog Day. The DJ’s used a tape. But they didn’t. It’s still Groundhog Day.
· Day 3 – Maybe it is me. Phil admits he has a problem. He will ask others to help him fix it, but they can’t.
· Phil tries many different approaches to break the cycle of Groundhog Day. Physical destruction of objects that signal the cycle. It doesn’t work.
· Manipulating others. It doesn’t work.
· Physical Self destruction – doesn’t work.
· After Phil exhausts his external solutions, he turns inward. As he makes changes, the world responds but not enough to break the cycle or to find true love.
· Once Phil learns to be authentic, positive, consistent changes happen. It’s not them, it’s him.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
· When Phil realizes he’s reliving the same day over and over.
· When he realizes it’s out of his control.
· When he attempts suicide and nothing changes.
· When he whispers nice things to Rita, focusing on her character, as she sleeps.
· When Phil tries to save the homeless man but can’t.
· When Phil shows signs of vulnerability, winning others over.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
· When on his car adventure with the 2 locals:
“You make choices and you live with them.”
· When stuffing his face in front of Rita, she quotes Sir Walter Scott:
“The wretch, concentered all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”· When Rita slaps him for coming on too strong:
“That’s for making me care about you.”
· When Phil exhausts all of his avenues to break the Groundhog Day cycle:
“I’ve come to the end of me. There’s no way out.”
· When his whispers of sweet nothings are about Rita’s character, not his desire for sex
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
· Phil tries to die physically but that isn’t the answer.
· Phil becomes selfless and authentic and that’s the answer to breaking the cycle and finding happiness from within.
· We know the cycle is broken when he wakes up and Rita is lying next to him and the radio broadcast changes.
· Phil no longer wants to escape Punxsutawney, but wants to start a new life there.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
· Change comes from within.
· You are the choices you make.
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Analysis of Ground Hog Day
1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the transformational journey of this movie?
The change in this movie is about a man, Phil Conners (Bill Murray) who is very self-centered, egotistical, and rude. He really doesn’t care much about other people, and it could be argued that despite his self-centeredness, he doesn’t really care much about himself, either.
The change, or transformational journey takes place as a result of his interest in Rita (Andy McDowell). Rita is everything that he is not-she is kind, professional, modest, etc.
He makes the transformation of being a self-centered individual to becoming a selfless, caring human being, initially because he knows that is the only way that he could ever be with Rita.The journey for Conners is becoming someone who Rita could be interested in. When he repeatedly gets it all wrong, he is doomed to repeat the day again and again until he gets it right. When he thinks that he’s just going to continue to fail, and also knowingly refuses to change, he attempts to kill himself repeatedly.
2. Lead Characters:
– Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Andy McDowell’s character is the change agent. The reason that she is the right character to cause the change, is because Phil Conners falls for her almost immediately-a “love at first sight” scenario. Because her character represents the good in the world, and because of his interest in her, Conners is willing to change to become a better person for her. His initial attempts at changing are not strong enough, so is sent to repeat the day over and over again until he gets it right.
– Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
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Bill Murray-Mr. Conners is the character who can change the most in a positive way. He is the right choice to make the profound journey, because there is so much lacking in his character in the beginning. He is the one character that can make the most profound journey to becoming a much better person.
– What is the oppression?
The oppression is time, and the repetition of the same day, over and over again. It could also be reasonably argued that Conners moral character is also the oppression, because as long as he embraces it, he cannot change, and therefore, he would never be worthy of Rita.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
I believe that we are initially lured into this journey because of Conners outrageous behavior. We want to see what is going to happen. It is also curious that such an irascible man was obviously attracted to Rita the first time he saw her-so you get a glimpse of a human trait or vulnerability, which his character does its best to hide.
4. Looking at the characters who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way. Identify their new way at the conclusion.
Conners old ways were to be selfish, self-serving and apathetic. He transformed into a caring person that helped others. At first, a viewer is much like Rita-we doubt his intentions, and they appear to be false, just a means of “getting the girl.” As Conners progresses through his daily reincarnations, he begins to see things a little differently, and acts out of good will, without even letting on what things he did to help others to Rita. This is where the audience begins to believe him to be more genuine in his motives.
5. What is the gradient change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
This movie shows the gradient change very well. Just the fact that Conners is doomed to repeat February 2<sup>nd</sup>, over and over again until he “gets it right,” demonstrates how he has to raise the bar for his own behavior, until he masters it, and isn’t just going through the motions, but actually becoming a better person.
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective and make a change?
When Conners initially starts to change his behavior because he wants to be with Rita, her attitude and feelings toward him improve, little by little, just as his behavior changes little by little. As he sees these shifts in her attitude toward him, he begins to change.
At one point he tells her “I’m a terrible person,” and she disagrees with his assessment. It becomes obvious that he does not feel worthy not only of her, but of happiness. Perhaps this is a result of losing his first love, which he states in the beginning of the movie, that he will “never have again.”
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
The most profound moment of the movie is when he is lying in bed with Rita, and he leaves her alone so that she can sleep. He is content with the fact that she is there.
The other profound moments are: when he tried to save the old man from dying on the street, the kid falling from the tree, the man choking in the restaurant and helping the old ladies with their flat tire.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
The most profound lines in the movie are also from the scene where they are in bed, and he says that he doesn’t deserve someone like her, but if he ever could, he would love her for the rest of his life.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
The ending payoffs come from the people of the town now admiring Conners, having the respect of the camera man, and winning the love of Rita.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
The profound truth of this movie would probably be that everyone is capable of giving/receiving love, but you have to act the part (be the person), or you can fall short of being worthy of it.
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Edward Brown’s analyses of Ground Hog Day
1. Change is about going from self centeredness to caring about others as shown by weatherman
2. Change agent is producer. She is romantic reward who demands not superficial but internal transformation.
3. We are lured into journey by opening that right away dramatizes Weatherman is jerk. Friendly fun Ground Hog Event is inviting setting/event. Also, we see ourselves somewhat thru weatherman. Plus, it’s obvious attractive male and female as hostile should be romantic partners
4. Weatherman changed the most. However, producer changed to being open and appreciative of is new personality. The camera man is dramatic contrast by always being critical.
Old way was resenting/cynical of Ground Hog event and towns people. New way was accepting situation and going from self centerness to being a Go-Giver.
5. Weatherman went from protesting cynic to stages of grief to acceptance to buy in caring guy and learning piano. Piano progress was great way to show gradient of change..
6. Old way was challenged because it did not work. Weatherman’s old beliefs of he was just doing time in this job site to being scoffed at, to being spurned by “romantic interest” producer, and just being unhappy enough to commit suicide.
Also, the growing acceptance of producer to weatherman rewarding him with gradient of improvement.
So, seeing old homeless man in decline, who was not same everyday, but everyday being worse, had to be variable showing life was terminal so best enjoy it.
Aristotle said happiness is ultimate goal. As Phil changed, he got happier per producer and community feed back.
7. Profound moments: suicide attempts, trying to save old man, making snowman, saving old ladies, kid, choker, and big party scenes and producer’s acceptance per bid $388.25. and waking up next day and walking out in empty street.
Also, how attempts to be slick superficial cons being rejected. Rejection = old ways not working.
8. Profound lines start with every morning DJ’s line and then finally at last different.
Telling kid be more appreciative or won’t catch him next time. All the great lines at party.
Camera man’s cynic lines. Phil’s bed lines next day. Guys saying everyday was same showing for “Normal” people there is no gradient.
9. Phil’s cynical attitude toward town’s people and scheming to seduce Producer are trans formed with at party town people thanking Phil, Phil being great piano player, and formally spurning Producer bidding $388.25, probably all her ready cash = her appreciation of new Phil and “staying.”
10. Profound message is don’t get trapped in self centered cynical everyday boredom with alcohol type escape but progressively enjoy term limited life more by being Go Giver caring buoyant person.
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We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The change is about an ego centric weatherman named Phil Connors who is trapped in his own world, which he thinks is fine. He realizes his repeated day is a trap and he must change his way of thinking and interacting with people in order to move forward. The transformational journey is the constant reminder from day one called, Ground Hog Day, of how this journey began manifesting itself by making one day seem continuous.
2. Lead characters:
o Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
As crazy as this sound, it’s the ground hog, the people in the town and Rita that forces the change because in Connor’s perception this celebration keeps happening and as a reporter he has do this assignment. I begrudgingly say Rita because she is focused on producing and she became engulfed by him and he admitted she helped in the change.
o Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Phil Connor is the Transformable Character who makes the change because he keeps waking up to this same ‘reality’ until he finally sees the need to change- but not without resistance.
o What is the Oppression?
Phil subconsciously tries to outwit his own fate by trying to still be himself and thinking he can change his fate.
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3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
I was lured by the same characters (including) his co-workers meeting him each day and saying the same words. What made this brilliant, was in Phil’s unconscious state of mind, he only needed to be stuck in the blizzard and turn around once, he knew it was coming and so he didn’t run or think the weather would drive him back so after he reported each day, he stayed in town and at first developed relationships with the people in a halfhearted effort… That was key because then he had to face his own dilemma in that town.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
His producer (Rita) changed. When Phil changed, they had no choice but to change. At first, Rita was business like and very professional about completing the tasks but later became more intimate with Phil and more engaging and vice versa. This movie reminded me of a speech I gave on racism to some young black students. I told them if you make that dramatic change that moves the “needle” others around you have no choice but to change. In the process of changing, Rita not only liked him but found reasons to fall in love with this guy who had all these talents/skills that unfolded the more he evolved. The cameraman even felt more wanted and was the beneficiary of a good reporter.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Step by step focused on how he started treating people. At first, he was belligerent, rude and condescending. But as time revealed itself, he kept waking up to his own reality. He first didn’t like the reality because it gave him the same results and showed him about self. He tried to change the rules and still be himself and he still got the same results, He even kidnapped the ground hog and thought that at least the fiery crash would end this ‘nightmare’ but his lethargic decisions to change with concessions netted him the same results. For example he not only tried to seduce an old class mate Nancy but he called her Rita! Then, as he opened up to people each day, you could see him changing. He tried to help the old man, he even tried to convince Rita in an odd way by telling her about the people in the town (who’s getting married, who’s gay, the bus boy dropping the tray and Larry talking about leaving before the storm hits…)
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
No matter how smart he thought he was, at the end of the day, he woke up to the same song, he stepped in the same puddle and met the same insurance agent each morning. When he changed, he dodged the puddle, he bought insurance from the agent, learned piano lessons, and played live, etc. Those were signs that the old ways were being challenged and his beliefs that he could be taught music, that he could save a boy’s life who was falling, that he could change (no pun intended) the tire for some women in a car…things he would not have done before.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
The profound moments in the movie, not necessarily in this order:
Kidnapping the groundhog, the car chase and the fiery crash with him and the ground hog in the truck and the other attempts to rid himself of self by standing in front of a truck, jumping off a ledge, electrocuting self in the tub. (trying to think of ways to rid self of self without changing; thus stubborn, hard to change.)
The ice sculpture he made of Rita (he had truly found his way to change).
His final reporting of the ground hog day ceremony (the ultimate change in him as a reporter and a person)
Rita, the producer, out bidding other women at the show for Phil (humility).
Phil waking up with Rita to a new day (finally gaining self-realization.)
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
His final on camera appearance as a reporter seemed to touch on everything. Also, the quiet time in bed with Rita and professing his love for her while she was sleep and how he thought she was always beautiful and how she helped change his life. He not only seemed sincere but it was more in line with seasonal change and how important it is for us all to be ready for change.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
The final bed scene was predictable but maybe necessary to set the tempo for a wonderful ending and what one might call the payoff…live to see and appreciate another day.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Maybe I’ll use a line from my script, where the main character tells his son at breakfast after they talked about the challenges of going to school with students who make fun of you as you discover yourself…”you be the change you want the world to be…” -
1. The Change is going from toxic person to a not toxic person. Becoming the best person you can be.
2. Change Agent: Rita. well rounded good person.
Transformable Character: Phil the reporter…
The oppression is the day repeating over and over and being trapped in this sequence with what seem for eternity.
3. At the beginning we get a sense of Phil, and because its Bill Muray, it signals the audience oh this guy is funny and likable, but right now hes being a jerk.. so we know something is going on here..
4. Phil changes the most, his old ways to his new way of being a caring man.
Everybody in town is affected by the new Phill, in a more positive way, and Rita’s perspective of Phill changes… accepts him for who he really is… a good hearted guy..
5. Phil is with the two drunks from the bowling alley he realizes he can do whatever he likes, it doesn’t matter because it will all be gone the next day. At some point he becomes attracted to Rita and each day he learns something new about her. He uses this knowledge to impress her and get her to like him. However, she sees through him and rejects him.
He then goes to a dark place and tries to kill himself several times. He fails.
6. Phil tires everything but be the best version of himself. that’s the last thing that he does… and I don’t think that’s what he knew he had to do.. I think he exhausted himself tirelessly , he realizes what a shitbag he is because of how others around him react to him, and him not getting what he wants.. and by a miracle.. he is able to repeat the same day.. until he gets it right.
7. For me a great profound moment is the montage of him being rejected… he reaches a wall, where his old ways just wont get him to where he needs to be…
8. Profound lines: Phil: “I don’t even like myself”; “I am a jerk”; “You’re the kindest, sweetest, prettiest person I’ve ever seen in my life”; “The first time I saw you something happened to me”.
Rita: “Maybe it’s not a curse”.
9. Phil has changed, but it took time, effort, he took it upon himself to become a better man…
10. golden rule, treat others the way you want to be treated…
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The transformational journey of Groundhog Day is the main character Phil Connors changing from a self-centered, cynical, shallow on-air persona, to a broad-minded, cultured, talented, romantic humanitarian.
The Change Agent Rita – she has power over Phil to make a change when he sees how she behaves as a well-rounded, cultured, sensitive, caring person (all the traits he does not initially possess).
The Transformable Character is Phil Connors, and he is rife for the change as he has no depth nor compassion/lacks humanity and empathy at the beginning of the movie.What is the Oppression? The Oppression is the timeloop – the prospect of having to live the same day over and over.
We are lured in by the prospect of time travel – the timeloop that inadvertently happens to Phil. We connect with the story as we are intrigued by Phil’s daily timeloop, reliving the same day over and watching what he does with his time (to allow the change to happen).
Phil is changed most – his profound journey is one of self-exploration, becoming open-minded, willing to tackle new outlets and embrace culture in order to find love (to woo a woman indifferent to his shallow character at the beginning of the film).
The gradient change is how Phil changes as a man – he becomes sensitive, caring, interested in others (empathy), and ultimately learns how to become a true human in all senses.
The old way is challenged as Phil must come to terms that he is living in a timeloop and finally realizes that he can either go through the same motions day after day, or use his time to evolve and become the man Rita would want to fall in love with.
I believe the profound moments of the film are when Phil first begins to learn about Rita and how he can use the timeloop to dupe her into falling for him (presumably for sex/conquest), but then realizes after some time that his evolution is far more important than just wooing Rita to conquer her romantically. Also, when Phil realizes he can help people in need (as he is already aware they require help before they know).
RITA: “When you figure out what you want, would you just let me know?” – I think Phil hears her say that and realizes he doesn’t really want what he thought – he wants Rita to truly fall in love with HIM, and that he is not yet worthy of her love.
The ending pays off as Phil emerges as a truly whole person, and has the rest of his life (after the timeloop has stopped) to actually BE the man he never thought he could be (or wanted to be). His self- enlightenment is complete.
The profound truth of this movie is that we can always make small changes in our daily lives to enrich ourselves and others – we can always DECIDE to be better.
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Sherri D. Coffee – Analysis of Groundhog Day
1. What is the Change? The change of this movie takes an egocentric, self-absorbed, and sarcastic man Phil Connor and presents him with a situation that he finds unbearable until he discovers love and compassion. What is the Transformational Journey? Phil is apathetic and condescending to everyone he meets. His journey is to move from the self-absorbed numb place he exists to a kind, compassionate, and caring person who obtains joy from helping others.
2. Lead Characters:
Change Agent: Rita is kind and caring but objective in her ability to see Phil’s flaws.
Transformable Character: Phil is the right character to deliver the profound journey because his flaws are relatable.
The oppression is living the same day over and over with no hope for escape in a small town he despises.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? Phil is desperate to escape the town but is forced to stay due to the blizzard road closing. His desperation is relatable. What causes us to connect? He is stuck in the town he loathes and is faced with relatable obstacles. Cold shower, obnoxious insurance salesperson, and the repeat of the same day creates an empathy for Phil. What if we were trapped in the same day for an infinite amount of time?
4. Looking at the characters, who are changed the most, what is the profound journey.
Old way: Phil is obnoxious. He is so self-absorbed, that he can only express contempt judgement on people, places, and situations. He is also manipulative. He initially uses his predicament to his advantage by seducing women with his new knowledge.
New way: Phil becomes interested in life again. He opens up to provide people help when they need. He becomes humble. The love he feels for Rita allows him the vulnerability to become a caring man.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps does the Transformational character go through as they were changing?
We meet Phil and he tells Rita and Ned he will be leaving the station soon.
He meets adversary when he is stranded in the town and wakes up at the same time to the same song and experiences the same day.
His interactions with the same people show his change. They highlight his thought process. The symbol of the puddle of water becomes the reminder that he is still stuck in his old way.
He finds out he can kill himself yet still live. The adventures provide Phil a framework for him to open himself up to life. With each adventure, he is changed. When he misses the puddle, he marks a growth moment.
When he asks Rita what her perfect man is, he listens to her response and tries to become that man. When he resorts to the only method he knows, manipulation, she sees through his game and calls him out. He realizes that he cannot just manipulate his way into her heart.
He begins to become a more authentic person by performing good deeds and expanding his world. From ice sculpting and piano lessons to helping the homeless man and saving the child from a tree fall, Phil embarks upon a personal soul melt.
With Rita, his interactions and conversations become more authentic and less manipulative.
Ultimately, Rita sees his sincere love and opens up to the relationship.
6. Old way challenged? When he manipulates Rita to obtain her love. She calls him out. He must change. Rita too must change. She sees through Phil’s manipulative attempts at love. But she continues to observe his evolution. When people in the town praise Phil for all he has done for them, she takes another look at him and is able to see the change.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie? When Phil declares he will not “take it like a man” and “not going to abide by rules anymore” he is stating his intent to change. When Rita tells him he will “never love anyone but yourself” and slaps him “for making me care about you.”
When Phil kidnaps the groundhog and drives off the cliff, Rita and Ned watch.
When Phil hands money to homeless man, brings coffee to party, and begins to talk to townspeople.
When Phil shows Rita his ice sculpture of her face and he tells her he could sculpt her face from memory.
When Rita wakes up on his arm and it is a new day. Signals that Phil has completed his transformation.
8. Most profound lines of the move? “Cold out there everyday” Phil states his view on life. “Is there anything I can do for you today?” Phil transformed as a caring individual. “Today is tomorrow” Phil states the reality of what he has learned. The moments of today are the tomorrows. When Phil tells Rita she is the “kindest, sweetest person that I’ve ever met.” ” Wanted to hold you. I don’t deserve someone like you.” and see quotes in answer 7.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? He stares at Rita when Ned points her out as his new producer. He likes her. His journey is based on his love for her.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie? The power of love can transform even the most wretched of souls.
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1) CHANGE – Phil Connors is a self-centered, pompous, sarcastic man with a sharp wit at the beginning of the movie. He tolerates the people around him (just barely) and uses them without compunction. We learn much later that he is also (of course) insecure, but he covers it well at the beginning. His ‘journey’ is disingenuous through the first half of the movie. He takes advantage of his situation to work his way into women’s lives, especially Rita’s, but when she calls him out (right at the middle of the movie) he begins his true journey. He learns depression and suicide do no good, and he eventually begins to get to know the people around him and help them when he can. He transforms into a kind, humble man who no longer has to bully people and manipulate his circumstances to his advantage. His transformation is complete (and the day ends) when he can sincerely say, “no matter what happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.”
2) LEAD CHARACTERS – Change Agent: Rita is the one person that Phil can’t bully or dominate, and her relentless good will towards him (and everyone else) helps Phil recognize what a selfless, kind person is. Transformable Character: Phil is the character in dire need of change. If he can change, anyone can. Oppression: Groundhog Day itself is the relentless force that never stops.
3) CONNECTION WITH AUDIENCE – Phil’s goofy take on the weather makes him oddly likeable in the very first scene. When he mistreats his colleagues with his sarcastic wit, we laugh, probably because he is only saying out loud the things most of us would think about these not-too-likeable characters, but would keep to ourselves. We also wonder why the others tolerate him the way they do. It can’t be just because he is the ‘talent.’ Willard Scott aside, weathermen aren’t generally well-known celebrities, so we’re intrigued as to how these relationships work. We think Phil will get his come-uppance, we’re just waiting to see how..
4) OLD WAYS VERSUS NEW WAY – Old way: Phil bolsters his insecurity with his constant disparagement of his colleagues and anyone else with whom he comes in contact, and he manipulates his circumstances to his advantage. New way: Phil recognizes other people’s worth, and decides to accept and be happy in whatever circumstance he is in.
5) GRADIENT OF CHANGE
a. “People are morons…they’re hicks.”
b. Ridicules old man; ridicules Ned Ryerson
c. “What if there were no tomorrow? We could do anything we want.”
d. Kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil.
e. Learns details about Nancy Taylor to seduce her.
f. Learns details about Rita for same reason, but fails.
g. Recognizes hopelessness of situation and tries suicide.
h. Begins real change – helps old man, buys insurance from Ned, changes tire, saves man’s life, takes piano lessons.
i. When he can finally say, “No matter what happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now,” the day ends.
6) BELIEFS CHALLENGED – In the first half of the movie, Phil is true to character, only pretending to change to worm his way into women’s lives. When Rita finally calls him out, he seems to understand his depravity, but feels helpless to do anything about it since he lives the same day over and over. When depression and suicide don’t work, he finally understands he can do things to improve himself and improve his relationships with other people.
7) PROFOUND MOMENTS –
a. In the bar with the drunks, he asks “What would you do if you were stuck in the same place, and everyday was the same, and nothing you do matters?” One responds “Bout sums it up for me,” and you realize Phil just (briefly) understood what his whole life had been like, not just the days he’d repeated.
b. After Phil begins his real change, I felt every scene with the old man was profound, but especially the last one, where he realized he couldn’t save the man’s life.
c. After he makes the ice sculpture for Rita, he comes to the realization that gets him out of the cycle. “No matter what happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.”
8) PROFOUND LINES – I’m not sure I know the difference between a profound line, and a line with profound subtext. Is there one?
a. “Someday somebody’s gonna see me interviewing a groundhog and think I don’t have a future.”
b. “What would you do if you were stuck in the same place and everyday was the same, and nothing you do matters?”
c. “Maybe the real God uses tricks, or maybe He’s not omnipotent, He’s just been around so long, He knows everything.”
d. “No matter what happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.”
9) PROFOUND ENDING – Rita has willingly spent the night, the banter on the radio is different and the snow is still on the ground – all payoffs from earlier scenes. When he says “Let’s live here – we’ll rent to start.” you know he’s really changed.
10) PROFOUND TRUTH – Selfless love is the only thing that really works, and it allows you to take each day as it comes.
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another insight: I attended seminar on comedy. Basic take away, have ordinary protanonist who keeps trying and failing and finally makes it
Now with Ground Hog, this fits pattern. the presenter used this as example.
Here is what was new insight, he said the producer/writer redid original script to have gradiant of change be some M gee I can’t spell it maybe maslow stages of grief where griefer goes from delinal to (yes I cant spell) to acceptence.
So Phil starts denying what happened to finally accepting it and learning piano and being Go Giving good guy
great gradiant of change
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Linda’s Analysis of Groundhog Day
I learned that I had a more satisfying experience of the movie when I analyzed the transformational journey and am learning the steps for how to create one in my own writing.
The Change/Transformational Journey: Phil transforms from a bored, sarcastic jerk who thinks nothing he does matters to a man who has found meaning in his life by loving and caring about others people.
Change Agent: Rita; she’s a producer and is unknowingly producing a new script for Phil’s life.
Transformable Character: Phil is such a self-centered egotist that he’s great for showing how caring about others makes life worth living.
Oppression: reliving the same day
Lured into the profound journey; connect with the story: Phil is so unhappy due to his own attitudes that it’s interesting to see how and why he will find happiness. And there’s the possibility of a love interest with Rita.
Characters who changed the most:
Phil: Old way–bored, sarcastic, believes nothing new ever happens in his life; New way: engaged, considerate, sincere, appreciates a life that involves relationships with others
Rita: Old way–superior attitude, rigid, naive; New way: willing to give Phil the space to change and grow, appreciative of his versatility
Gradients of change: Moved from
*glib
*self-serving and egotistical
*breaking all the rules
*manipulating to get what he wants from people
*failing miserably at break the loop with his old and desperate ways
*trying to get Rita to believe he’s a god
*making use of the time by taking piano lessons, helping people, even saving lives
*dropping the sarcasm and performing acts of kindness
*being beloved by the townspeople
*sincerely loving and being loved by Rita
Old ways challenged: being mean and sarcastic aren’t serving him well; starts feeling better about himself and life when he begins to care for and save the lives of the town homeless man, the boy falling from the tree, the insurance agent
Most profound moments:
He cares about the homeless man and is troubled when he dies the first time
When he’s truly falling in love with Rita and is deeply disappointed that he’s still in the loop
The party when Rita bids on him with everything in her checking account
Profound lines:
“Ned: What are you doing for dinner?” Phil: “Something else.”
“What if there isn’t a tomorrow?”
“If you only had one day to live, what do you do?”
“What do you want out of life?
“No matter what happens for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.”
Ending Payoff from Setups: Rita wants nothing to do with him and she’s in love with him by the end. He’s a jerk at the beginning and a nice guy at the end.
Profound Truth: Love makes an endless day happy and fulfilling.
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What I learned doing this assignment:
I learned how amazingly powerful a tool like suspending time can be and how willing we are to play along with the incredibly unbelievable idea of the day that won’t end to join the transformational journey – we will suspend disbelief enough to buy in to something incredibly fake in a fictional character’s life and at the end, feel something real about our own.
What is the CHANGE this movie is about?
What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? From selfish, egotistical talented but pain in everyone’s ass weatherman, Phil Connors transforms to giving loving romantic irresistible everyman’s attainable dream – someone who stands out in an ordinary world and makes it seem like something special if you only really try.
Lead characters: Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
The change agent is the ‘curse’ he brings upon himself, to be trapped in the same day. Honorable mention to the storm he confidently and repeatedly predicted wouldn’t hit them and the town he dreads spending a moment in.
is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Phil. He’s fake charming when he has to be, but always out of superiority. He simply doesn’t care about anything except his ambition and his needs. What is the Oppression? The day that will not end. The constant meaninglessness of life – especially life in a small town, where nothing seems to matter anyway, small, stupid people living small lives – his perfect personal hell.
How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
We have all felt powerless to change our day to day lives, we’ve all felt that “ we’re stuck in the same place and nothing we do matters” (bout sums it up for me – bar dude
Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion
New way at conclusion – he genuinely loves being nice and humble and helping people – as many as possible as often as possible and in a way that means something special to them
What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
At first he just wants the girl. Then he wants to make the most of it. Then, when confronted with this amplified version of the empty, self-centered universe he has created, until his main goal is to end it all. Then he needs to be the best human being – friend, lover, insurance client, auto club, humanitarian healer to the old man – saver of falling children etc… he can.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
Time is suspended to give him as long as it takes to change. What are the most profound moments of the movie? Every time he tries to off himself in every way he can think of His moving speech at the Groundhog Day Event When he wakes up to the next day next to her What are the most profound lines of the movie? When he asks, ‘what would you do if nothing you did mattered’ (bout sums it up for me) How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? His devotion to the needs of others and his desire to help them at the end of the transformational journey is as extreme as the distain and lack of concern we saw in set-up scene after set-up scene throughout the movie.
What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Life lived only for self is empty and can seem hopeless and endless, but wherever there are people to care about and to let care for you, the possibilities for happiness and fulfillment can be unlimited.
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