Day 1 Assignments

[Eric Humble]

Eric Humble’s Analysis of GROUNDHOG DAY

What I learned: This was an eye-opening experience. I’ve been well-versed in the Mini Movie Method since taking the class with ScreenwritingU 10 years ago, and that model is ideal for structuring a transformational journey of the lead character… except I’ve often struggled with the character arc despite this. I’ve never really analyzed a movie by looking at things such as the change agent and the oppression, and when you examine this movie beat by beat you see how the gradient of change is achieved with a mini movie structure but also on a deeper level. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the program and how to apply these concepts to my current outline!

What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?

Phil Conners changes from a self-centered prima donna who looks down on everyone as “morons” to someone who helps everyone he interacts with in the town. He changes from SELFISH to SELFLESS.

Lead characters:

Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?

Rita — she’s grounded, is empathetic of other people, particularly small-town people. Phil’s opposite. She’s the right one to cause the change because Phil falls in love with her and can’t shake the attraction – which forces him to change his ways in order to be the person she needs him to be.

Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?

Phil Conners – he starts as ego-centric and looking down on the people around him and goes on a journey of discovering that instead of acting aloof and using others, his life is more fulfilled by interacting, helping, and engaging with others. From SELFISH to SELFLESS.

What is the Oppression?

Having to relive the same day over and over.

How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?

Phil starts the story as a selfish jerk, but he’s funny and charming even when being rude everyone around him. We’re lured into the journey because Rita is a likable character as his counterpoint. Her presence keeps the movie from being too mean – and instead gives us hope that Phil can be more like her and see the world the way she sees it.

The oppression is something we experience along with Phil, so even when he’s acting in selfish ways, we’re still fascinated by how he’ll solve the oppression.

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:

Phil is changed most. His profound journey is from selfish to selfless.

Old way: ego-centric; ambitious, looks down on everyone else as “morons;” mocks people, uses them to get what he wants.

New way:

What is the gradient of the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?

-Denial of the situation

-Tries to get help in the traditional ways: asks Rita for help, sees a neurologist, then a psychiatrist.

-Decides that since there will be no consequences, he won’t live by “their rules” anymore and breaks the law, acts impulsively, eats whatever he wants, manipulates people knowing that he’ll be able to use what knowledge he learns the next time around, robs an armored car; makes the world his playground

-Uses what he learns about Rita day after day to engineer her “perfect day” in order to seduce her

-When this proves to never work, he spirals into depression until he takes the drastic step of kidnapping the groundhog – and killing himself.

-After surviving death many times, he appeals to Rita for help in earnest… and has a realization that he’s been a jerk when she treats him with genuine affection on the one time he has no agenda with her.

-He starts trying to better himself and learn new skills – which causes him to start interacting with the people of the town in non-selfish ways.

-Even after trying to be better, he realizes he can’t save the old man from dying… and confronting this death causes him to live for the moment.

-Phil is kind and thoughtful to everyone in the town without agenda and achieves true happiness – which is what finally wins Rita’s heart… and breaks the curse.

-He ends by expressing that he wants to live in the town he said he didn’t want to spend another minute in at the beginning.

How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?

-needs help and in desperation, goes to Rita, whom he’s belittled and patronized thus far.

-despondent, he drinks with the two guys he called “morons” in the diner earlier, then has a wild adventure with them as he decides to drive erratically and lead the police on a chase to see if he’ll face consequences the next day or simply relive Groundhog Day again

-he manipulates Nancy using the knowledge he gains from a previous Groundhog Day… but finds himself thinking of Rita while seducing her

-he does everything he wants without consequence, but can’t stop being attracted to Rita

-tries the same act on Rita, but always blows it when she repeatedly sees through his manipulation – because she’s not a moron and can see through his act to his selfishness each time

-he tries to kill himself over and over only to survive death and relive the same again

-he appeals to Rita with the truth and enlists her help without an agenda – and forms a genuine bond with her in his newfound humility

-he decides to be kinder to people and sets about using his time to better himself and learn new skills.

-He discovers the old homeless man is going to die this day and tries to save him – but no matter how much he tries to give him a day of care, it always ends with the old man dying… and Phil learns true humility in the ways he can’t help others with his eternity.

What are the most profound moments of the movie?

-Phil approaches Rita for help without any agenda. During their day together he has a moment of self-realization that to her he’ll be the same jerk he’s always been in the morning again. The sequence ends with Phil in bed reading to Rita and as she falls asleep, he tells her he’s never seen anyone who’s nicer to people than her.

-Phil learns the old man passed away and makes it his mission to try and save him – but is never able to. He learns real humility in the things he can’t accomplish during his eternity on Groundhog Day.

-Phil is selflessly kind to everyone in the town and uses what he’s learned to their benefit, accepting that it won’t change his situation… culminating in making an ice sculpture of Rita’s face and confessing to her that no matter what happens, he’s happy in the moment as a kind person… which ultimately wins her over and allows him to move on to the next day.

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

-“She’s fun, just not my kind of fun.”

-“Some people would look at this glass and say it’s half full. Others would say it’s half empty. You look like a half empty kind of guy, am I right?”

-“I could never love anyone like you, Phil, because you’ll never love anyone but yourself.”

-”The worst part is tomorrow you won’t remember any of this and you’ll just think I’m a jerk again. I am a jerk.”

-”I’ve never seen anyone who’s nicer to people to than you.”

-”The first time I saw you, something happened. I never told you. But I knew I wanted to hold you as hard as I could. I don’t deserve someone like you. But if I ever could, I swore I would love you for the rest of my life.”

-”Sometimes people just die.”

“Not today.”

-”No matter what happens tomorrow or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.”

-”You said stay so I stayed.”

-”Do you know what today is? Today is tomorrow. It happened.”

-”Is there anything I can do for you – today?”

“Let’s live here. We’ll rent to start.”

How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?

During his final day, Phil interacts with all of the characters who have been peripheral around the town – learning from all the things he’s observed so far. He plays the piano at the party he initially refused to go to and becomes the star of the show. He sculpts an ice sculpture of Rita – a callback to Phil walking despondently past ice sculptures early on. He buys insurance from Ned Ryerson, saves the mayor from choking, and rescues the women with the flat tire – all showing how he’s changed from looking down on the people of the Punxatawny to being humble and generous with them. He spends the night with Rita – and she’s still there in the morning even though the same song is replayed on the radio… and ends the movie by declaring that he wants to live there from now on.

What is the Profound Truth of this movie?

Being selfish and ego-centric is isolating and makes you cynical. Being selfless and kind brings happiness and contentment.

[Constance Gillam]

Connie Gillam’s Analysis of Groundhog Day.

Eric did a great job of analyzing the movie. This is not my favorite movie; it was hard to see it as a profound one, but I tried to watch it with an open mind.

Phil as the transformable character was egocentric, narcissistic, and a prima donna.

Phil at the end of the journey had grown to appreciate people’s differences and respect them for those differences.

Did I feel like I’d gone on this journey with Phil? No.