12th
The Limits of Control | Film Review
Jim Jarmusch is a director that is renowned for his cult indie following. Film for aficionados, his pictures grace the screens of independent cinemas across the world, wooing cinema fanatics with gorgeous sequences and rich tapestries of light and colour.
His last work as a director featured Bill Murray in 2005. It was very well received, leaving The Limits O Control a hotly anticipated release. Also featuring Murray, this film’s trailer and synopsis lead you to believe that this is a dark and exciting thriller. The ‘thrills’ however, are a little too thin on the ground.
The Limits Of Control has its lead character (Isaach De Bankole) conduct a series of secretive meetings in various different locations. Though the film is thoroughly visually stimulating and oozes style and sophistication, the story and script leave much to be desired.
It’s strange really, because in summary the story sounds very engaging. In practice, it leaves the audience bewildered and confused; and not by mistake either. This is something Jarmusch has done intentionally. It’s a film that tests the limits of one’s concentration and patience. Sequences are purposefully repetitive, and there’s probably only one paragraph of dialogue in the film’s entirety (an hour and fifty-six minutes).
This might not sound like your cup of tea, but the result is not necessarily a ‘bad’ film. In fact it produces an interesting effect. Tarantino lovers will appreciate the stripped-back approach and silent interaction between characters. The repetitive nature of the scenes forces you to notice tiny details and differences within the frame. Isaach De Bankole also commands an enviable air of style and composure.
It’s reasonable to assume that one can detract much pleasure from these aspects alone, and that the absence of any familiar structure or storyline makes these features more accessible. It’s also reasonable to assume that many viewers will be left perturbed, wondering what happened, to whom and for what reason.
