Jim Jarmusch is overrated!

[ellen_datlow]

I just watched BROKEN FLOWERS and hated it. Once upon a time I thought Jim Jarmusch made some interesting movies. But I realize that I've found more of his movies annoying and pretentious than not. I did like GHOST DOG and STRANGER THAN PARADISE and kind of liked NIGHT TRAIN AND DEAD MAN. But absolutely despised NIGHT ON EARTH. I hadn't been aware that BROKEN FLOWERS was by Jarmusch. If I had, I wouldn't have rented it.

However, I cleansed my palate with DAMN YANKEES starring Tab Hunter (who I always though cute if limited as an actor), Ray Walston, and the great Gwen Verdon. Watching her dance, and sing "Whatever Lola Wants" made me want to cheer.  Before I went to Japan I watched BYE BYE BIRDIE with Ann Margaret, Bobby Rydell (ick), Dick Van Dyke, and Janet Leigh. Also, Jessie Pearson, playing the Elvis like heart throb. Fun.
I enjoy the old musical movies despite their (usually) dated depictions of women.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Oddly, I loved Night on Earth (also liked Ghost Dog), but I HATED Broken Flowers. I thought it was ridiculous, including the gratuitous nudity. It is a movie waiting for something to happen.

JeffV

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I remember liking one segment of NIGHT ON EARTH but thought the other three was it? cliched situations. Lucius told me BROKEN FLOWERS wasn't any good and for once I should have believed him ;-)

[the-flea-king.livejournal.com]

I sure loved the soundtrack to Broke Flowers though.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I agree--that I liked a lot.

[squirrel-monkey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Broken Flowers is Jarmusch being embarrassing. I liked Mystery Train and Stranger Than Paradise most (if only for Screamin' Jay Hawkins), and Dead Man and Down By Law were at the very least interesting. Ghost Dog was disappointing for mostly personal reasons, and I wanted to really like it. But Bill Murray is a bad actor and intensely irritating, which compounded all the other issues in Broken Flowers. I won't even mention Coffee and Cigarettes. Gah.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I liked Murray a lot in Lost in Translation but he doesn't have much range. Part of what I couldn't get my head around is the lack of charisma and sexiness for a supposed "Don Juan"--his deep depressiveness throughout the entire film just turned me off from the first scene. Maybe he was a bit livelier tweny years earlier but you couldn't prove it by the depiction of his latter days.

[deborahb.livejournal.com]

I liked GHOST DOG a heck of a lot, but I've not been tempted by his other offerings.

You know who I think is totally overrated? Tarantino. Seriously. The only Tarantino film I liked was RESERVOIR DOGS, and that was a total rip off of something else...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Deb,
I admit to enjoying Tarantino(I haven't seen Grindhouse yet though). I really liked Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and god help me, Kill Bill. In fact, after having dinner at Gonpachi in Tokyo, I feel a need to rent Kill Bill and watch it again ;-)..

[benpeek.livejournal.com]

you know, i really like jaramusch, but even i hated BROKEN FLOWERS. it's almost redeemed by the end, but the fact that i have to sit there for two hours through those painful, trying moments in the film don't put me in any position to like it.

i do, however, like most of his other films--not so big on STRANGER THAN PARADISE--but i dig DOWN BY LAW, DEAD MAN, MYSTERY TRAIN, GHOST DOG, and CIGARETTES AND COFFEE (or is it COFFEE AND CIGARETTES?). NIGHT ON EARTH is a miss for me, though i quite like the russian piece, and the one with roberto bengini.

[jukkahoo.livejournal.com]

The Russian piece? You must mean the Finnish piece, which ends the film. Ahem... :)

[benpeek.livejournal.com]

yeah? it's been years since i saw it. all i remember is a taxi and the cold of the city.

[jukkahoo.livejournal.com]

Yeah. On the other hand, it looks very "Russian" esthetically, so no biggie really. I'm not even sure whether one ought to claim it as Finnish (or more precisely Helsinki, as that's where it happens) since in it this here homecity of mine looks like a veritable... well, sad and lonely place. Lot like in many Kaurismäki Brothers films, to which that episode of the Night On Earth more than owes (a lot). But it's pretty in Summer! :)

"dated depictions of women"

[(Anonymous)]

Old movie musicals' depiction of men aren't exactly up-to-date either.

Rick Bowes

Re: "dated depictions of women"

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Well yeah you're right, of course...I guess I'm just a bit more sensitized to the female aspect.

Re: "dated depictions of women"

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

It never used to bother me, but now I wince when I watch Carousel.

I was so relieved recently when I went to see Camelot and they'd cut the second half of the line "Never be too disturbed when a woman is thinking. They don't do it very often." I've always loved the show but hated that line.