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Summary: Engrossing Film By Jarmusch
Review: An excellent example of why independent films are so invaluable, "Stranger Than Paradise," written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, is a bare-bones production that never would have found the light of day in the mainstream. Essentially a character study, the story is a glimpse into the lives of three people: Willie (John Lurie); his cousin, Eva (Eszter Balint), recently arrived in New York from Hungary; and Willie's friend, Eddie (Richard Edson). After a couple of weeks in the Big Apple with Willie, Eva moves to Cleveland to live with their Aunt; a year later, Willie and Eddie are off to visit her. One thing leads to another, and the trio wind up in Florida (the designated paradise of the title). Watching this film is like spending time with some people you know; the characters are real people, so much so that watching them becomes almost voyeuristic, the camera somehow intrusive, exposing as it does the private lives of these individuals. It succinctly captures their lack of ambition, the ambiguity with which they approach life, and the fact that they seemingly have no prospects for the future beyond whatever a lucky day at the track affords them. The action, such as it is, is no more than what you would find in the average day of someone's life. The dialogue is what drives the film, though frankly, nothing they have to say is very interesting. And yet, this is an absolutely engrossing film; sometimes amusing, at times hilarious, but mesmerizing throughout. The performances are entirely credible, and again, you never have the sense that these are actors, but rather real people who happen to have had some moments from their lives filmed and presented to the audience for perusal. Jarmusch has an innate sense of capturing the essence of the everyday and transforming the most simplistic and mundane events into refreshingly documented, worthwhile viewing. It's an inspired piece of film making, helped to some extent by the stark black&white photography that adds to the realism of the overall proceedings. The use of brief blackouts during transitions works effectively, as well as providing the film with a unique signature. Original music is by Lurie, but the highlight is the use of the song "I Put A Spell On You," by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, used recurringly throughout the movie, and which exemplifies that special touch Jarmusch brings to his projects. And there's a superb bit of irony at the end that really makes this gem sparkle. The supporting cast includes Cecillia Stark (Aunt Lotte), Danny Rosen (Billy), Tom DiCillo (Airline Agent), Richard Boes (Factory Worker) and Rockets Redglare, Harvey Perr and Brian J. Burchill (as the Poker players). "Stranger Than Paradise" may not be to everyone's liking, but to those seeking an alternative to the typical Hollywood big-budget fare available, it just may fit the bill and provide a satisfying, entertaining experience.
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Summary: Wonderful mid-80s Independent Film
Review: Before Sundance and Soderbergh, STRANGER THAN PARADISE pretty much defined what was an independent film. Shot in beautiful Black and White, with long unedited takes, this movie seems like slow going at the outset, but if you stay with it, you'll get into it. You sort of have to adjust yourself OUT OF the rhythms of Hollywood movie-making. Not a masterpiece, but I love this movie anyways. At the time of its release, it was just so, so, so... different. And it still is almost 20 years later! And Screamin' Jay Hawkins is THE MAN!
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Summary: Paradise is in the wind
Review: Brilliant deapan humor, slow timely dialog, low budget distinct look, raw though beautiful black and white production and stunning subtle performances by a small well placed cast. When Willie's (Lurie) Hungarian cousin Eva (Balint) comes to stay with him for a few weeks before retreating to Cleveland to stay with her Aunt, we experience, from a fly on the wall perspective, the boring lives of the two unfold. After Willie grows fond of her, he tracks her down in Cleveland along with his buddy Eddie (Edson) in search for something more in their dull existence. The three decide to voyage to Florida to escape the cold and dark environment, only to find similar dullness only in sunnier shades. Brilliant deapan originality and haunting story of three people looking for "Paradise" or any place that doesn't resemble hell. This is the greatest Indie flick ever made.. simple and honest the film's low budget production looks better than most. This one will stay with you and force you to look at our world differently from here on.
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Summary: zzzzzzzzzzzz
Review: Dull doesn't begin to describe this movie. I got the feeling that the camera man was on quaaludes, and the actors wished they were. We did get a few laughs out of the movie, but I assure you, the director didn't mean them.I'm not quite sure why anyone would think of this 'story' and even put it down on paper, let alone make a movie out of it. I'm pretty easy to please, but when the most exciting moment in a whole movie is a toss-up between someone's aunt winning a hand of cards, or someone else swiping a vase off a shelf, I have to say pass on this one, and spend your money on something a little more entertaining.
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Summary: WOW! One of the greatest movies ever made!
Review: Finally, Stranger Than Paradise available for purchase. Ever since I saw this movie, Film has obsessed and fascinated me. I recommened this to anyone who likes movies. It even competes with Midnight Cowboy as my favorite movie ever. Just get it.
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Summary: Beckett on film
Review: Forsaking exposition and climactic plot structure, Jim Jarmusch presents life as it really is, rather than how we would like to see it. Episodic, faltering, low-key, and languishing in quiet desperation, this film takes many of its cues from playwrights Bertolt Brecht and Samuel Beckett, highlighting the aimlessness and absence of emotional connection between individuals. The main characters go from place to place, attempting to bring some life to their non-lives, but are only spinning their wheels. The viewer is inclined to laugh at some of the more absurd moments, as Willie and Eddie sit in an awkward silence over a few beers... but the end result is a desire to not be these people, to find an escape from the meaninglessness of modern life.
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Summary: this is no joke kid.
Review: good soundtrack. hahahahahahhhahahahahahahahha. seriously though it is good and so's the movie.
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Summary: Reviewing after first viewing
Review: Here's a sure fire way of killing a film for a customer, "It's one of the best films I've seen". When that comes from a friend or in this case enthusiastic videophile at a Borders store it's worth considering especially when your tastes match. From his description the film sounded uninteresting but indie in a way that is to my tastes. Stranger Than Paradise, a film with no wipes, no effects other than natural light and without multiple angle shots, closeups,etc. does live up to the minimalist tag it gets. When watching the first noticible thing is nothing is pleasing to look at, everything has a dull, dingy, maybe seedy atmosphere to it. The slow pace takes getting used to because, let's be honest, we live in an accelerrated culture that celebrates it even in it's most simple films. Not so with Stranger Than Paradise. In many ways it reflects a big glaring middle finger at Reagan era prosperity by casting American life as one step away from Eastern Europe's industrial wastelands. TV dinners, hole in the wall sized living areas, betting and scamming as a way of life, a vacation from New York to Cleveland in winter as a seemingly good idea, this is the world of Willie, Evia and Eddie. The acting is great because it is glacial and having to work with not much dialog, muted emotion or overbearing scenery. When is the last time a hotdog restaurant, something most Americans remember with a degree of fondness is seemingly malevolent looking? The stark nature of Stranger Than Paradise, the near mocking of the three act structure by announcing each act, the seeming lack of anything happening besides time passing. They all seem to undermine film conventions, for that matter most of our own conventions on films being bigger (and better) than life and looking back on the 80's an era much that deserving to be undermined. What I particularly liked about the look of Stranger Than Paradise was it's near timeless look. That for lack of knowing we are looking at the U.S. it could have been in any westernized country. It could have been Bulgaria. When is the last time Florida looked like Cleveland minus the snow and with a few palm trees thrown in. Even bright sunlight doesn't keep the oppressive dreary look of the film from cheering up. Yet the actions and near human on auto-pilot mode characters are funny in off hand, low key ways, the humor is almost a device to say, ok, yo've been smacked over the head by this slice of nothingness so we will now demonstrate that slice of nothingness in a lightly humorous way. In part because of how dreary the world Willie, Eva and Eddie inhabit but also by the almost happenstance way in which they almost connect and show affection. You would think any emotional response was a painful exerience beyond boredom, anger and frustration. There are relationships built and moments that almost seem like promise only to be dashed by a world that is out of synch with Willie, Eva and Eddie. Of interest was visiting aunt Lottie who was the most animated and alive character. Her scenes show there is the possibility of life, even if her life consists of doing mundain things. Considering that the film ends in such an unexpected and unresolved way, although consistant with Jim Jarmusch's vision for Stranger Than Paradise, and considering that after watching it I wasn't sure what I thought until half a day later, I must admit that although it wasn't instantly gratifying just discussing it here makes me want to see it again. As a DVD, there's not much here so if that kind of thing matters to you keep it in mind. The behind the scenes feature is soundless and conveys the shoot but in a fairly uninteresting way. In a film it's ok to be uninteresting, in a documentary it's not such a great idea.
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Summary: classic.
Review: i don't care what anyone says, i love this movie. sure, the plot is simplistic. sure, nothing much happens. but that, of course, is what jarmusch was trying to acheive. personally, i think that jarmusch is the woody allen of deadpan humor. by using static black and white shots and an extremely minimal soundtrack (two songs), jarmusch is able to masterfully establish emotions, provoke humor, and generally all-around set the mood well. the film is done in a minimalist style, which of course only adds to the hilariously deadpan humor. this is, overall, a true independent film classic
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Summary: Stranger than you can imagine
Review: I saw this film years ago when it first came out at a little independent theatre in Boston's Back Bay. It has lingered with me all this time, and I finally broke down and bought the DVD. I had to see it again. This is first rate stuff. Jarmusch has done what most directors can only dream of doing, creating a witty, off-beat film on the most thread bare of budgets, driven by gritty compelling characters. The humor is so dry as to leave your throat parched at film's end, but don't be disappointed. It is truly a memorable film.
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