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New Jim Jarmusch flick in the works! THE LIMITS OF CONTROL! Plus mini-review of Criterion's NIGHT ON EARTH!

Published at:  Nov 01, 2007 6:48:04 AM CDT

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I recently watched one of Jarmusch's early flicks, NIGHT ON EARTH, put out by Criterion. I wanted to write a review for it, but I ended up being so late after street date that I decided against it.

Mini-review warning!!!





I will say right now that I loved the film. Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Roberto Benigni, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Giancarlo Esposito all turn in great performances in this, an extremely entertaining episodic flick. It's about multiple stories that happen all over the world in a single night.

I like Jarmusch's films, but there's always a worry going in that it'll be really long and will take it's time... which isn't bad, of course, but sometimes you have to be in the mood to sit through a film like that, to appreciate it. So, I was surprised that NIGHT ON EARTH was so constantly entertaining. I don't know why I was worried about it because I always find Jarmusch's flicks entertaining, but this one in particular just flew by.

Anyway, I got my jones for reviewing that title out a little bit now, so I won't bug you anymore with that crap.

The real news is Jarmusch has set up his new film, called THE LIMITS OF CONTROL, at Focus Features.

It's about an outlaw (played by Jarmusch regular Isaach De Bankole) with some dirty work in Spain. They promise a Jarmusch-tastic cast of international stars, but say very little more.

More Jarmusch is good Jarmusch, right?




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    Readers Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 6:56:24 AM CDT

    Pooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot...

    by bill brasky

    Here's to Bill Brasky!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 6:57:13 AM CDT

    ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

    by bill brasky

  • Nov 01, 2007 6:57:48 AM CDT

    Halloween Candy gives me gas.

    by bill brasky

    Yeah!!! OK!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 6:58:57 AM CDT

    Roberto Benigni!!! Yes!! I very excite!!!

    by bill brasky

    Roberto Benigni does Borat, or Borat does Benigni???

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 7:00:03 AM CDT

    Bollocks

    by jimmy_scotland

    read above

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 7:12:41 AM CDT

    Ghost Dog

    by knuckleduster

    Any movie with rapping mafia is good in my book.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 8:20:01 AM CDT

    This Film

    by aquatarkusman

    Was probably the first of his I saw in the theater. Begnini generally annoys me, so I'd have to say my favorite sequence was Paris (Isaach De Bankolé and Beatrice Dalle), closely followed by New York, at least until Rosie Perez shows up and starts shrieking.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 9:27:13 AM CDT

    Tilda Swinton will be in it

    by milou

    I read in an interview from her in a french magazine (I'm french) that Tilda Swinton will play in the new Jarmusch film... Also this film is part of a deal made with the Orsay Museum in France (covering 4 films by Jarmusch, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Raoul Ruiz and Olivier Assayas) saying that the museum must appear in the film... So a part of the story will surely take place in Paris, France.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 11:22:11 AM CDT

    I liked him in Blue in the Face....

    by therealseveren

    funny stuff.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 11:41:58 AM CDT

    Night on Earth is considered an early Jarmusch flick?

    by tonagan

    God, I'm old.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 11:47:30 AM CDT

    i liked him in _straight to hell_...

    by duanejones

    ...which is also hugely funny, as are courtney love's pre-op looks in the film. between these aspects and joe strummer, dick rude, alex cox, the pogues, dennis hopper, elvis costello, &c., &c., why is this not the most famous cult film, ever? or, you know, like, the fourth most famous, ever? regardless, _night on earth_ is pretty weak jarmusch, i'd say, though it might be begnini's funniest role, ever, even more than his storied debut in jj's _down by law_. i was also surprised to read in the THR article mr. quint thoughtfully linked for our edification that _broken flowers_ was jj's highest international box office gross to date. not that i thought, like, _permanent vacation_ was going to outgross it, or any other film in jj's distinctively wack, lower-east-side übercool oeuvre. but it was pretty damn low-key, even for someone who generally operates in the lowest of keys. to follow up on q.'s comment about the "not much happens" quality of jj's films -- true, which is part of their minimalist charm. and there's something else in all of them, too...a certain left-field melancholy that lingers long in the memory. i left _browkn flowers_ like i usually do leave jarmusch films, thinking "is that it?" it is, and whatever "it" is stays with me for a long time afterwards. more jarmusch = good, fa shizz.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 2:09:35 PM CDT

    It's about damn time

    by doctor phibes

    I absolutely love his films, in fact he's probably one of my 5 favorite filmmakers. However, he just waits too long between projects. This one sounds really good though. Adding these "bankable stars" kindof worries me though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 3:05:21 PM CDT

    Awesome

    by bswise

    I love everything this guy has ever done, even the much-maligned Coffee and Cigarettes. This, however, sounds like a return to Dead Man/Ghost Dog territory, and I am psyched. FOr JJ fans, I highly recommend John Lurie's "Fishing With John" (1991). Jarmusch is also quite interesting hangin' with Sam Fuller in "Tigrero: A Film That Was Never Made" (1994).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 3:48:21 PM CDT

    one reason he waits so long between films...

    by duanejones

    ...he gets possibly the best deal of any filmmaker this side of, i don't know, spielberg. i remember hearing about a panel he was on with spike lee and other indie royalty, where jj described his standard deal for international distribution and video rights -- he not only got final cut in all his films, but ownership of the frickin' negative, etc., etc. spike & co. were pretty shocked, as well they might be. harder and harder to cobble together such a deal these days, i imagine...and you wondered why he never worked with miramax : }

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 5:22:04 PM CDT

    One good thing about Night on Earth

    by wired earp

    ...is that it introduced some of the Kaurismäki regulars to the world. Any fan of the best work of JJ owe it to himself to a few of those. Night on Earth is a cool enough flick, but not among the best of his work.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Nov 01, 2007 6:13:24 PM CDT

    The soundtrack to this film is terrific

    by 2for2true

    Especially "Hey Buddy, You Can Have That Heart Attack Outside."
    Tom Waits rules.

    Reply to Talkback

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