Jim Jarmusch movies--why don't I love them?

[jane_pippin]

I've seen his movies, sometimes more than once. And, I like them. A lot. But, I don't love them. I don't know why. Maybe you can tell me what I'm not getting or missing.

Now, I've seen (and liked) Mystery Train, Down by Law, Coffee & Cigarettes, (which wasn't so hot but I still liked it), and last night I watched Broken Flowers. They're all quirky, stylish, well acted stories. That's part of why I enjoy them. But the more I think about it, it's also what's keeping me from loving them, I think. Something about them--let's call it a sense of self-awareness, for now--just feels, not off, but that something's missing. Maybe. Or maybe it's that nothing is missing. That all this unconventional storytelling is really, conventional.

For example, in Broken Flowers, like his others, when I watch it I'm hyper-aware of "place." Of colors, sounds, moods, little details and so on--which is fine. It's supposed to be that way. But I'm also hyper-aware that it's supposed to be that way. That this shot of this thing with that color and that sound was a choice, and it's like the shot is saying "see, I did it that way for a reason." Or, "this story was inspired by Film Noir, or classic detective movies, etc." Which, again, is fine. It's not like it's news that everything in film is a choice, or that directors often work with a nod to genres of the past. And, again, I think he does all of that really well.

I don't know if I'm explaining this at all well. I guess it sometimes feels like I'm watching a really hip, likable, film school textbook come to life. And I like it. A lot. But I don't love it. Is it just me? Should I be watching them with something in mind? Am I missing something? Am I way off? Help me out, film nerds.


(I'm going to clean the house a bit and do some other things I need to do, so if I'm not around for a while that's why. I'll check in when I can to see what you have to say. Thanks. :hi: )

[RetroLounge]

1. I just watched Broken Flowers

It was very good. I liked it a lot. I did not love it.

and it was depressing as hell...

RL

[jane_pippin]

6. Was it? I have to watch the last 15-20 minutes again

because I watched it late at night and managed to fall asleep just before the end, which I hear is good and depressing.

[davsand]

2. His characters are not always "lovable."

You might kind of like them, but not really LOVE them. They are (like real life people) frequently a mix of good and bad emotionally. Is THAT what you are reacting to?

Some of his films are also kind of "strange feeling" in terms of the sequencing (Mystery Train comes immediately to my mind) because they jump perspectives. One section is from one perspective then it jumps to somebody else. I've noticed that Jarmusch has used that more than once, and while I think it is a neat device, it gets to be a pain if the character list is too long. Did you find that disturbed you?

I loved Down By Law, and want to get a copy of that movie. Did you rent that online or was it from somebody's personal collection?


Regards!



Laura

[jane_pippin]

7. I think it's, as another poster mentioned, the emotionlessness of them.

And even that I can appreciate to a certain extent. I like the characters, I like the strangeness, I like the style, but someone else pointed out that they don't really "say" anything. And that's ok--I don't necessarily need a film to say something to like it. I think that just might be it. Because then you can, if you want to think of it that way, say that the absence of that "thing to say" can itself be a thing said. Hmmm...I think that's it.

Down by Law is on DVD now, by the way. There's a really nice edition--2 disc set, I believe--that has all kinds of great extras. The boyfriend is a huge fan so he bought that.

[henslee]

3. Not just you. While Jarmusch is a decent enough/smart enough guy,

he doesnt have that much to say. He does have that gritty, ciggie smoking, East Village artsy guy vibe down. And he's got a nice head of hair. These two things can take you far. I liked Down By Law. While we're on the subject of overrated artsy filmmakers, lets not forget that rockstar-suck- up hippie with a crew cut, Wim Wenders who hasn't made a decent flick in ages. He used to "have" it.

[jane_pippin]

9. Ah, I think that's what it is.

I don't know if I'd say he's overrated because I do like his work a lot and there's plenty to like about them. Well, maybe a little. But I think you're right about them not saying anything. (Which, as I said in another post, I think I'm ok with but it does make it hard to love movies like that. For me anyway.)

Thanks for helping me think about this.

[henslee]

14. It's funny that not knowing why you don't love Jarmusch films is gnawing

at you. Hee.

[cemaphonic]

4. I'm the same way

I love Down by Law, but then, I'm a huge Tom Waits fan. I think part of it is that he seems to operate from a stance of extreme emotional detatchment, but I like other filmmakers who do the same, so that can't be the only thing.

[jane_pippin]

10. That's a good point, about the emotional detachment.

I mean, it's not like his movies are emotionless but there is a distance there at the same time. I think Down by Law is my favorite of his. Someone else mentioned that he doesn't really "say" anything in his movies. I think that combined with your point is what's keeping me from loving his stuff. I don't think either of those things are bad--I can respect it--but it's a hurdle of sorts.

Welcome to DU, by the way. :hi:

[cemaphonic]

5. I'm the same way

I love Down by Law, but then, I'm a huge Tom Waits fan. I think part of it is that he seems to operate from a stance of extreme emotional detatchment, but I like other filmmakers who do the same, so that can't be the only thing.

[grace0418]

8. I loved Mystery Train and I really, really liked Broken Flowers.

But I *H*A*T*E*D* Dead Man. I saw that one in the theater, too, and wanted to tear my hair out by the end. I just figure that some things resonate with me and some things don't. I don't have to like everything that an artist does. But I do respect that Jim Jarmusch tries to do some different things with his films.

[jane_pippin]

11. I haven't seen that one yet.

What's it about?

I agree with you too--maybe it's just as simple as a matter of personal taste. That could be. I do really like his work though. I'm glad he does what he does.

[grace0418]

12. It came out about 10 years ago. It stars Johnny Depp (who I love) and it's

in black and white. It's a western, sorta. I'm not sure I could adequately describe what it was about because I spent the whole time wanting to scream. I don't know why I didn't just leave, but I was with friends and I thought they were enjoying it (one was, the other hated it as much as I did). I will say that the cinematography is gorgeous. But something about the pace and the story was really rubbing me the wrong way.

Oddly enough, Mystery Train has always been in my top 20 favorite movies. And I'd probably have to say that Dead Man is in my top 20 movies that I really hated.

[supernova]

13. Dead Man

really sticks with you. Plus I enjoy William Blake.

I enjoy it, but I've seen it several times and I learn something new upon each viewing. I tend to think of it as an anti-Western allegory.

Here's a fan site with a bunch of info to understanding Dead Man:

http://home.earthlink.net/~lkritikos/deadmanhome.html