I recently stumbled upon some of the films of a great director named Jim Jarmusch. I saw Coffee and Cigarettes some time ago, but that was because of the film itself, & not the director. I mean, I didn't even know who Tom Waits was at the time, much less Roberto Benigni. But Netflix is a god-send - i do think.....
any-old-way, Criterion has the rights to Stranger Than Paradise, & Down By Law. 2 fantastic examples of what minimalist black & white film making with no major studio interruption can be. Stranger Than Paradise, his second film, centers around 3 disillusioned youths making a trip from New York to Cleveland to Florida. A sort of "Road" movie if you will. This film is still widely considered to be a landmark in modern independent film making. I guess it's one of those films where nothing incredible actually happens, but things do happen. Real things, to real people. Another appealing quality to Jarmusch's films is the embodiment to that of the Beat Generation- the look, feel, life & times of the "down & out".
Down By Law has some similarities with Stranger, the minimalist dialogue at moments & beautiful black & white cinematography help create that Jarmusch signature. But this film centers around 3 unlikely law breakers who by chance are thrown together to share one single jail cell. The 3 inmates (played by Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, & John Lurie) escape prison & start what seems like an endless journey through swamps, down dirt roads & through the deep south until they finally part ways at the end. This quasi-buddy film centers around the growing relationship between the 3 escaped felons as opposed to the escape itself. Roberto Benigni's broken English mixed with Tom Waits, being Tom Waits mixed with John Lurie's big town, small time pimp, make for an interesting blend of people. A strong bond is formed between the 3, but not the feel good mushy crap we all too often get from mainstream Hollywood films. This bond was formed out of forced desperation & it feels that way. The photography in this film is brilliant with "Robby Muller's cinematography cultivating an atmosphere of unreality amidst familiarity". (J O E P E T T I T , J R . - imagesjournal.com)
I will say Jarmusch's films to many will be an acquired taste. But once you grasp his vision, & really get what he's about, you'll be quietly blown away.
(I just figured out I might have a connection to Jim. He was born in Akron, OH in 1953. Not sure how long he lived there, but my Dad was born there in '58. Weren't all the schools back then K-12? Is it possible that Jim & my Dad ran into each other on the way to lunch? Subconsciously this might be why I like his films so much.)
As far as the "Sons of Lee Marvin", Jarmusch started this half-serious, half-humorous secret society composed of members that must have some sort of resemblance to the late Lee Marvin himself, or look like a possible son of Lee Marvin.
(for those who don't know, Lee Marvin was an actor from the 50's - 80's most known for playing roles as villains, soldiers or other hard-boiled characters.)
The aforementioned Waits, & John Lurie are said to be members while (Sonic Youths') Thurston Moore, Iggy Pop, Josh Brolin and Neil Young are also rumored to be members. The culmination of the society results in nothing more than "supposedly" getting together every once in a while to watch some Marvin films, a dull conclusion to the idea of a secret society, but I wouldn't be complaining holding company with those fellas.
No comments:
Post a Comment