MovieChat Forums > The Limits of Control (2009) Discussion > anyone else think this is this director'...

anyone else think this is this director's best film?

posted 14 years ago by polysicsarebest
6 replies | jump to latest

Mystery Train, Broken Flowers, and Dead Man are neat little films, but for the most part, this dirctor's films are usually a bit too dry for me to get into.. they always feel overlong and don't seem to do much of anything that interests me. It's hard for me to criticize his work -- certainly, theres' nothing particularly BAD about ANY of his films -- but it's just not something I usually get into.

Along comes this film, which COMPLETELY blows me away -- I truly think this is up there with REFLECTIONS OF EVIL, NOTRE MUSIQUE, SONGS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR, SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY, and a few precious others as the best film of the decade.

Without getting too into what the film means to me, I think this was sort of an update on the classic film BRANDED TO KILL (which the director has noted as a big influence on his work before, there are tributes to it placed in Ghost Dog for example).

This film is a huge influence on me, personally speaking... I've watched it 10 times now. An absolutely incredible film experience. I hope he makes more films like this; at the top of my head, I can't think of another film of recent memory where sound and image came together in such a compelling and beautiful way. Simply an incredible movie experience, one that is rare and should be treated with the utmost respect for its rarity, as well as its quality.

10/10

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pre·ten·tious: characterized by assumption of dignity or importance.

[–] Linda_Nelson 14 years ago

I must agree. Not only was it beautiful to watch, it was beautiful to listen to. I can't wait to watch it again. I may have to buy it.

http://www.deliveredmovie.com

[–] peter-schramm 14 years ago

I think I've watched it six times now. I think it's an amazing film too. Compared to the mass entertainment stuff rolled out by the Hollowood studies its like comparing a banquet to a hamburger and fries.

I haven't seen that many Jim Jarmusch films so I'm unsure as to whether its his best film. I thought it was a whole lot better than Broken Flowers.

I bet Jim Jarmusch would love you to be a film critic. Actually I would too because its that kind of reaction that every human being needs to find.

Anyway - do me a favour - if you've watched it ten times then you might have noticed the following;

1) Did you spot the missing floor numbers on the hotel lift - it went from 4 to 7.
2) Did you spot the "Nude" girl disappear into thin air
3) Did you spot the double take when the Lone man disarmed the "Nude" girl

I don't read too much into them - I just wondered if I'm the only one that saw them.

[–] rooprect 14 years ago

I've enjoyed every Jarmusch film I've seen. More or less in this order:

1. Coffee & Cigarettes (though that may not count as a film so much as a collection of shorts)
2. Dead Man
3. Down By Law
4. Limits of Control
5. Night on Earth
6. Ghost Dog
7. Broken Flowers

Limits of Control was very challenging which I like. But it lacked Jarmusch's signature humour so I bumped it down a few notches. Without the humour, it seemed like it was taking itself too seriously at times.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 14 years ago

Without the humour, it seemed like it was taking itself too seriously at times.

I thought there were all sorts of moments that were mocking and almost hysterically funny from seeming so absurd. Egs. when the Lone Man is given his assignment and there is an interpreter when it's clear Lone Man understands perfectly what is being said to him. When the Nude tries to tempt him upon first meeting. My favourite part is the conversation between the American and Lone Man when the latter breaks into the compound. Just little exchanges that shimmer. Even the 'you don't speak Spanish' made me smile.

The universe has no centre and no edges. Reality is arbitrary.

[–] rooprect 14 years ago

Good points, and now that you mention it I agree the movie got off to a riotous start with the interpreter in the airport. I may have missed other comedic moments later in the film, probably because the delivery is sooo deadpan you really have to be looking for it. Generally that's the style of comedy I like... I guess I wasn't on my toes this time.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 14 years ago

I have to admit on my first viewing I didn't find it funny but 'deadpan' like you say. It's only with second and third viewings that I've enjoyed the surreal nature of it and found the dialogue humorous.

The universe has no centre and no edges. Reality is arbitrary.