St Vincent

In one of his rare performances, Bill Murray stars as a babysitting curmudgeon in the touching comedy St Vincent.

Bill Murray, right, and Jaeden Lieberher in a scene from the film, St. Vincent. AP

Bill Murray can do no wrong. Whether he's crashing parties, or appearing in light entertainment, the Ghostbusters star brings a gravitas to any performance, even avuncular misfits. Here he plays the curmudgeon Vincent, so mean he charges his financially challenged neighbour (Melissa McCarthy, in a surprising straight role) babysitting fees when she's stuck at work saving patients.

He’s also a drunk and a gambler who hangs out with unsavoury types, including Naomi Watts, playing a call girl with a Russian accent so scary it would make Vladimir Putin break into a sweat.

But what first-time writer and director Theodore Melfi wants to know is whether Vincent actually has a heart of gold. Revolving around the friendship that develops between Vincent and Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher), the boy he babysits, the film contains surprising revelations that will tug at your heart strings as much as play with your funny bone.

St Vincent will be shown during a free screening at 8pm Wednesday, December 10 at The Beach and again in Madinat Theatre at 10pm Tuesday, December 16.