MovieChat Forums > The Limits of Control (2009) Discussion > Art Imitates Life *Possible Spoilers*

Art Imitates Life Possible Spoilers

posted 15 years ago by Mitchmuse
8 replies | jump to latest

01. Art imitates life in this movie quite well. What I found particularly a breakthrough in this screenplay was that the writer/director, Jim Jarmusch, observed, & studied this profession as it is.

02. The slow pace of the film reflects the reality of the patience, planning, diligence & waiting that this profession requires. It is not revealed who, or whom, is behind the job, but it is apparent that very careful planning involved many exchanges, with what appeared to be riddles to the audience, but were indeed coded messages of instructions. What is revealed is a repeated message from time to time, that gives a clue about the intended target.

03. The title delivers exactly how this man operates within the scope of his profession — he exercises extreme control & focus on the end game.

04. This line of profession attracts all types, as seen by the various contacts made along the way, which lead up to the finale. Some are just very average, others odd, & as hinted on the train — completedly out of the game — imposters.

05. This movie is not for those in a hurry & cannot watch an action film without
breakneck speed, FX or 'contrived smart talk'.

06. The film was not damaged by all the currently known 'Hollywood' action stars. The small sprinkle of very seasoned professionals, i.e. John Hurt, Tilda Swinton & Bill Murray, do not take over, nor distract from the movie.

07. It really is not an exciting profession.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Zoomorph 15 years ago

All Jarmusch films (that I've seen) are slow paced and artistic just like this. Your praise would be a lot better placed on Down By Law. Realistically hitmen don't travel around the country exchanging cryptic notes any more than they can kill 1,000 people in your standard action flick, nor do women randomly appear nude in your bed.

~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

[–] oOgiandujaOo_and_Eddy_Merckx 15 years ago

I bet the next revelation you're going to give us is that Monty Python's Life of Brian isn't realistic either.

"He was pink and white, and all the colours you'll never see."

[–] narcolepticsloth 15 years ago

Take that back you scallywag!!

[–] PRiiCEY 15 years ago

I didn't take that away from the film myself. I thought the main character had actually passed away and this was him living through his subconcious in a very dreamlike state. I think there are a lot of interpretations that can be taken from along the way every person he meets seems like some sort of clue I felt. Bill Murray's character gives away the most but still in a very cryptic manner as it's hard to decipher what he's referring to as "control". When American asks Lone Man How did you get in here? To which he replies I used my imagination only adds to the fact that there is some sort of dream state going on here.

I thought the people he met could have been people he had killed in his life. There was always a looming state of paranoia none of them would drink from him in a fear of being poisoned. Bill Murray's character "American" says "I suppose by eliminating me you will be eliminating control over some *beep* artificial reality" I almost saw Bill Murray as a Devil like controller over the subconcious afterlife. American also says before the guitar string is out that "your minds have been so polutted with crap... you have no idea how the real world works" another clear explanation would be he's some sort of Politician but I feel there was very much a deeper meaning to what he said.

I've been thinking about the way the film ended also coming almost back full circle as if he could have to live through this dreamlike afterlife perpetually but now something would be different with the American dead. That song the man sings "Send him to the cemetery, so he can see how the world works" then the woman repeates those lines I definitely think this was Lone Man's afterlife.

I can't help but being vague as I have to watch again but this is definitely a film open to interpretation I'll watch again and see what else I see within it. The quote from John Hurt's guitar character and on the back of the truck says La Vida Non Vale Nada which means roughly Life Is Not Worth Anything that's further proof I feel that life and afterlife is just some ongoing subconcious thought up by us.

[–] narcolepticsloth 13 years ago

I think this movie is great because of how balanced it is in its vagueness and ambiguity. It allows the viewer to really come up with some brilliant theories about the characters, their motives, etc. and interpret it as they may but not be wrong, even if their theories conflict with each other. I think the cover art is what sold me when I purchased it, well that and it was on sale. >.>

[–] hoov-4 13 years ago

Great post, so true. I give the movie a 10. My favorite line is when he says, no mobiles. I don't know why, but I love that dialogue. I can watch this over and over. It's unlike the "American" with George Clooney. Both are excellent movies in my opinion.

[–] coolbrett 11 years ago

So can you explain this film to me further then? Cos right now, even after reading your post, I find the movie to be pretty much pointless. Was the point of the movie to show how boring that 'profession' really is?