Comments on: Film review – The Limits of Control (2009)

By: Thomas Caldwell

Thomas Caldwell — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:29 +0000

Hi Kwenton. I actually think that The Limits of Control is comparable to Broken Flowers in many ways but I probably enjoyed Broken Flowers a little more. Once you've seen The Limits of Control please drop by again and let us know what you thought. Thanks for the tip on Nymph. The only Pen-Ek Ratanaruang film that I've seen is Last Life in the Universe and I did love that. Funnily enough, it is another film shot by the great Christopher Doyle.

By: Kwenton

Kwenton — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:17:41 +0000

Interesting, will check this out, as a huge fan of Broken Flowers, I will go in, not expecting the same kind of experience, meditative films are definitely interesting though, check out the Thai movie Nymph, for more of that.

By: Thomas Caldwell

Thomas Caldwell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:19:53 +0000

Yep, I got the whole commentary about politics, which is partially why it reminded me of The Passenger I think. I did hesitate between giving it a 4 or a 4.5 but opted for 4 because I've previously given Jarmusch films that I've enjoyed a lot more (Down By Law, Broken Flowers) 4.5. Incidentally, Dead Man gets a 5!

By: Paul Martin

Paul Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:30:02 +0000

“The best films are like dreams you’re never really sure you had”.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Swinton has some great lines, doesn’t she? I don’t remember that one, but the one that got me was “I love it in films when people just sit there, saying nothing”, and “capturing the little details”.
END ALERT

That’s exactly what I love about Jarmusch films and what struck me about Broken Flowers. In that film there’s one inconsequential shot where you see Murray driving the car down the road and there’s a truck ahead which approaches then passes and you see it in the rear view mirror slowly disappearing. For some reason, that detail (which few directors would have the patience for) really moved me and it’s what I remember most about the film. Which reinforces the concept that it’s not about the destination but the journey.

Of course, you know from my review that I completely agree with you about the visuals. If nothing else, it’s one of the finest looking films anyone will see this year.

The film is minimalist in terms of both dialogue and action and yet there’s so much going on beneath the surface. ** MORE SPOILERS ** Did you get the point about art vs politics? You know, we see Lone Man practicing Tai Chi (reminiscent of Whitaker in Ghost Dog), he visits art galleries, he rendez-vous with arty types who talk music, dance, philosphy, film, etc. John Hurt was a blast, with his clumsy following of protocol. ** END ALERT **

Those repetitions of details were basically the same but yet different, and it was this aspect that reminded me of the 3 days of routine we see in Jeanne Dielman which recently screened at ACMI. How much more so does that film demand patience of an audience? I was amazed at how spellbound they were for three hours.

I don’t normally give stars in my reviews (though I do record them in my own database). FWIW, I’d give this at least 4.5.