The Limits of Control (2009; Jim Jarmusch)

[Stephen Chamberlain]

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http://images.apple.com/moviesxml/s/focus_features/posters/thelimitsofcontrol_l200903041615.jp g


The new movie from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch ("Broken Flowers," "Down by Law") is set in the striking and varied landscapes of contemporary Spain (both urban and otherwise). The location shoot there united the writer/director with acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle ("In the Mood for Love," "Paranoid Park"). Isaach De Bankole stars in the lead role for Mr. Jarmusch; this marks the duo's fourth collaboration over nearly two decades, following "Night on Earth," "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai," and "Coffee and Cigarettes." The film also features several other actors with whom Mr. Jarmusch has previously worked, including Alex Descas, John Hurt, Youki Kudoh, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton; and actors new to his films, including Hiam Abbass, Gael García Bernal, Paz De La Huerta, Jean-François Stevenín, and Luis Tosar. "The Limits of Control" is the story of a mysterious loner (played by Mr. De Bankole), a stranger, whose activities remain meticulously outside the law. He is in the process of completing a job, yet he trusts no one, and his objectives are not initially divulged. His journey, paradoxically both intently focused and dreamlike, takes him not only across Spain but also through his own consciousness.


This looks extremely promising given the talent involved: Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Gael Garcia Bernal, arguably the greatest cinematographer working today, Christoper Doyle, and of course Jarmusch. Not to mention that the soundtrack features Boris, Earth, and sunn O))). Very excited.

http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/the_limits_of_control

[popdisaster00]

I like Jarmusch. Ghost Dog was an awesome movie. I'll be seeing this

[Mitch]

Oh man, this could be amazing.

[aminorthreat55]

Really excited for this.

[Thomas Balkcom]

HUGE Jarmusch fan, very excited for this

[IAmNietzche]

I fucking love Isaach de Bankolé.

[DroppedUrPocket]

that looks really good.

[Ailite]

I'm very very excited for this, I was wondering what he'd been up to since Broken Flowers

[Stephen Chamberlain]

I'm very very excited for this, I was wondering what he'd been up to since Broken Flowers
Yeah me, too. BF was a great li'l film.

[Ailite]

Yeah me, too. BF was a great li'l film.
I went through a Bill Murray craze 3 years ago involving Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson movies, good stuff

[Stephen Chamberlain]

I went through a Bill MJurray craze 3 years ago involving Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson movies, good stuff
I absolutely love late period Bill Murray, so much more than the stuff that made him famous. In my opinion he is at his best in films like Lost in Translation, BF, and Wes Anderson stuff. So dry and disaffected.

[Ailite]

I absolutely love late period Bill Murray, so much more than the stuff that made him famous. In my opinion he is at his best in films like Lost in Translation, BF, and Wes Anderson stuff. So dry and disaffected.
Completely. I can definitely consider The Life Aquatic one of my favorite movies and I have absolutely endless praise for Lost In Translation, I love his performance and everything else about that movie so much

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Completely. I can definitely consider The Life Aquatic one of my favorite movies and I have absolutely endless praise for Lost In Translation, I love his performance and everything else about that movie so much
He's just perfect for both of those roles.

[Ailite]

He's just perfect for both of those roles.
Sofia Coppolla really needs to make another movie

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Sofia Coppolla really needs to make another movie
Yes she does. I'll admit that there were parts of Marie Antoinette I liked--visually interesting, I liked her whole anachronistic take--but there were parts of it that were wtf. Rip Torn as French aristocracy? C'mon.

[Ailite]

Yes she does. I'll admit that there were parts of Marie Antoinette I liked--visually interesting, I liked her whole anachronistic take--but there were parts of it that were wtf. Rip Torn as French aristocracy? C'mon.
Haha, exactly. I love the Virgin Suicides and Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette is a hate/love ordeal for me

[eraserhead]

Never seen a Jarmusch film, where should I start?

[Ailite]

Never seen a Jarmusch film, where should I start?
Probably Broken Flowers, I'd say thats his most accesible. If you're into Westerns however start with Dead Man, which is by all counts a pretty weird film, but a fantastic one.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Probably Broken Flowers, I'd say thats his most accesible. If you're into Westerns however start with Dead Man, which is by all counts a pretty weird film, but a fantastic one.
Yeah those or Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Never seen a Jarmusch film, where should I start?
Given your username, you might be interested in this article. You can read some of it here:

http://www.grin.com/e-book/14783/what-makes-the-films-of-david-lynch-and-jim-jarmusch-postmodern

[Ailite]

Yeah those or Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
just added that to my netflix queue, ridiculous that I've never seen it

[Thomas Balkcom]

I'd say start with Stranger Than Paradise or Down by Law

[Stephen Chamberlain]

just added that to my netflix queue, ridiculous that I've never seen it
It's great. Just like Dead Man is a novel take on the western, Ghost Dog completely reinvents the samurai genre.

[Ailite]

It's great. Just like Dead Man is a novel take on the western, Ghost Dog completely reinvents the samurai genre.
I'll definitely check it out. Looking at it makes me want to watch Kill Bill
I'd say start with Stranger Than Paradise or Down by Law
You're more of the expert on this than I am

[Thomas Balkcom]

I'll definitely check it out. Looking at it makes me want to watch Kill Bill

You're more of the expert on this than I am

haha far from an expert, just a huge Jarmusch fan

[aminorthreat55]

I'd say start with Stranger Than Paradise or Down by Law
I'd say start with Down By Law.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Anyone seen this yet? I know it's out some places. I read a review on the Village Voice and they called it his best since Dead Man.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-04-29/film/jarmusch-s-mythic-limits-of-control-is-his-best-since-dead-man/

[Thomas Balkcom]

doesn't start playing here until the 22nd, I cannot wait

[Stephen Chamberlain]

My parents heard a little segment on NPR about this, so they tipped me off about this link. You can hear a interview with Jarmusch about the film.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103902528

[Thomas Balkcom]

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-limits-of-control.html

coming to DVD Nov. 17th

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Wish there was a screener :(

[Thomas Balkcom]

Wish there was a screener :(

as do I

[Thomas Balkcom]

meant to bump this after I watched, loved loved loved it. Will definitely be in my top ten of the year.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

There's an article in the new Sight & Sound (in my opinion the best film periodical) about how in the process of following his vision with this movie he lost some fans. Haven't read it yet but it sounds fascinating.

[IAmNietzche]

I did not like this which bothers me because Jarmusch is one of my favorite living filmmakers. Also, I will argue Doyle being the greatest cinematographer.

[I am Mick]

Does Bill Murray have a big part in this?

[IAmNietzche]

Does Bill Murray have a big part in this?
He's not nude in it but I'd guess it's average size. I do not think however that its size is relative to the movie role, as your question seems to imply. That would be weird.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

I did not like this which bothers me because Jarmusch is one of my favorite living filmmakers. Also, I will argue Doyle being the greatest cinematographer.
Greatest ever or greatest living? He definitely gets my vote for greatest living. For 2046 and In the Mood for Love alone.

[IAmNietzche]

Greatest ever or greatest living? He definitely gets my vote for greatest living. For 2046 and In the Mood for Love alone.
I'd argue against both. Which pains me because he shot two of my favorite films ever (ItMFL and Chungking). I'd give my "greatest living" vote to Emmanuel Lubezki. The New World is the best shot film I've ever seen, hands down. Not to mention how unbelievable his work was in Children of Men, the way it seemed like he one-upped his shots as the film went on, culminating in the long take following Owen through the shoot out in the refugee camp (my vote for the best single shot of the decade).

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Yeah, can't really contest any of that. Conrad L. Hall was in my top, but he's dead now. We seem to like lots of the same movies. Here's my ten favorite of the decade that I made for another board.

1) In the Mood for Love
2) Mulholland Drive
3) 2046
4) Inland Empire
5) The New World
6) Amores Perros
7) Caché
8) The Man from London
9) Best in Show
10) My Kid Could Paint That

[Thomas Balkcom]

Yeah, can't really contest any of that. Conrad L. Hall was in my top, but he's dead now. We seem to like lots of the same movies. Here's my ten favorite of the decade that I made for another board.

1) In the Mood for Love
2) Mulholland Drive
3) 2046
4) Inland Empire
5) The New World
6) Amores Perros
7) Caché
8) The Man from London
9) Best in Show
10) My Kid Could Paint That

I have four of these in my rough ten favorite of the decade, five depending on where I put Amores Perros. And I have the opposite #1 and #2.

[Thomas Balkcom]

and IamNietzsche, I hope you make a list for favorites of the decade, I would love to see it.

[IAmNietzche]

Yeah, can't really contest any of that. Conrad L. Hall was in my top, but he's dead now. We seem to like lots of the same movies. Here's my ten favorite of the decade that I made for another board.

1) In the Mood for Love
2) Mulholland Drive
3) 2046
4) Inland Empire
5) The New World
6) Amores Perros
7) Caché
8) The Man from London
9) Best in Show
10) My Kid Could Paint That
Wow, very similar to mine. I made a top 30 and all but the last three are on there. My top 10 would be.

1) Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
2) Dogville
3) The Death of Mr. Lavarescu
4) In the Mood for Love
5) Werckmeister Harmonies
6) Mulholland Drive
7) Memories of Murder
8) Dirty Pretty Things
9) Caché
10) Gosford Park

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Wow, very similar to mine. I made a top 30 and all but the last three are on there. My top 10 would be.

1) Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
2) Dogville
3) The Death of Mr. Lavarescu
4) In the Mood for Love
5) Werckmeister Harmonies
6) Mulholland Drive
7) Memories of Murder
8) Dirty Pretty Things
9) Caché
10) Gosford Park
Excellent picks. Well, at least we both have a Tarr film. As for my last two, I felt obliged to include a proper comedy and documentary.

[IAmNietzche]

Not to turn this thread away from Mr. Jarmusch's film, but since we're talking about great films, cinematographers etc. I thought I'd comment on a few things.

Very excited for Von Trier to venture into sci-fi territory for his next film and how did Van Sant directing a biopic of Ginsburg starring James Franco slip under my radar? Stoked for that also.

And to go back to the lists, Caché gets no love and it's a HELL of a film. I'd probably rank it as Haneke's second best film and that's really saying something.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Yes, very excited about the von Trier. Not really a fan of Ginsberg, but with Van Sant at the helm there's definitely promise.

It was hard for me to choose between it and The Piano Teacher because they're both so strong and I knew i wanted to represent Haneke on my list. The White Ribbon might have made it if it weren't so recent.

[IAmNietzche]

Yes, very excited about the von Trier. Not really a fan of Ginsberg, but with Van Sant at the helm there's definitely promise.

It was hard for me to choose between it and The Piano Teacher because they're both so strong and I knew i wanted to represent Haneke on my list. The White Ribbon might have made it if it weren't so recent.
Check out the 7th Continent if you haven't seen it. My favorite Haneke film and the hardest film I've ever watched.

[Ravenna]

finally saw this, and I really don't understand the overwhelming hate from the critics. I'll agree with the claim that it is a bit tiresome and empty at times, but I found the entire thing a very hypnotic experience. And Doyle's photography was incredible.

[a speedo model]

finally saw this, and I really don't understand the overwhelming hate from the critics. I'll agree with the claim that it is a bit tiresome and empty at times, but I found the entire thing a very hypnotic experience. And Doyle's photography was incredible.
I agree with this. Need to rewatch it. But overall I really enjoyed it.

[Ravenna]

I'd argue against both. Which pains me because he shot two of my favorite films ever (ItMFL and Chungking). I'd give my "greatest living" vote to Emmanuel Lubezki. The New World is the best shot film I've ever seen, hands down. Not to mention how unbelievable his work was in Children of Men, the way it seemed like he one-upped his shots as the film went on, culminating in the long take following Owen through the shoot out in the refugee camp (my vote for the best single shot of the decade).
chiming in a little late to the cinematography discussion, but as far as living DPs goes, I'd give it to Vittorio Storaro. I think his photography in Apocalypse Now alone is enough to make that claim (not to mention The Last Emperor). I'd also throw Robert Elswit and John Toll's names in there, with Elswit maybe being the best American DP.

[IAmNietzche]

Roger Deakins is also very very good and probably the most successful living cinematographer.

[Stephen Chamberlain]

Let's not forget Rodrigo Prieto.