Bill Murray Gets Standing Ovation For 'St. Vincent'

Oscar watch continues at the Toronto Film Festival, where Bill Murray received a standing ovation for his work in St. Vincent.

In St. Vincent, Murray stars as the titular Vincent, a sort of deadbeat, ‘rough around the edges’ man who lives next door to a single mother and her young son – played by Melissa McCarthy and newcomer Jaeden Lieberher. St. Vincent is the first feature from director Theodore Melfi.

Murray’s performance is already earning the famed comedic performer Oscar buzz. Murray has not been nominated for an Oscar since 2004, when he was considered a front-runner for his work in Lost in Translation. St. Vincent premiered to mixed reviews, but critics agree it’s Murray’s film.

“Who but Murray could have played Vincent, a drunken curmudgeon who somehow manages to seem all the more lovable with each poor life decision he makes?” wrote Variety critic Peter Debruge.

St. Vincent premiered at the Toronto International Film Fest on Friday, Sept. 5, dubbed Bill Murray Day by the festival. To celebrate Bill Murray Day, TIFF hosted screenings of Murray classics Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Stripes on Friday, all leading up to the big premiere of St Vincent.

Before he walked down the red carpet for St. Vincent, Murray delighted audiences by participating in a special Q&A event following the screening of Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman was also on hand, as was Scrooged screenwriter Mitch Glazer. “I knew then that I was going to be rich and famous…and be able to wear red clothes and not give a damn,” Murray joked.

Murray and Reitman also took the opportunity to remember their Ghostbusters collaborator Harold Ramis, who died last year. “There was an elegance to the way he delt with people,” Murray told the crowd.

The buzz out of Toronto has led The Weinstein Co. to move up the release of St. Vincent. The film will open in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 10, have a limited release on Oct. 17 and have a wide release on Oct. 24.