The Limits of Control

The latest by director Jim Jarmusch is a story of a hit man, but it is not a "hitman film." In fact, genre is really nothing more than the outer layer of any Jarmusch work; it is the only the context the story takes place, but certainly does not define it. Dead Man looks like a Western, but it is not. Ghost Dog seems like a Gangster film, but it is not. Broken Flowers feels like a Romantic-Comedy, but it is not. More than anything, the trappings of the genre are really a way for Jarmusch to dissect the hero of said genre; to examine how that person fits into that world and more importantly, what makes these certain archetypes the model "outcast." He populates that world with supporting characters that seem odder than the hero and I think that is the point. What is it they say? "The sane person in the insane asylum is the abnormal one." I think what Jarmusch always does best is to turn the concept of "the hero" as nothing more than just "the odd man out."

Just take a look at the trailer for this film here. Again, we have the classic Jarmusch protagonist: a lone man fulfilling his duties in the manner that fits the personal values, discipline, and world view that has sustained him thus far. Then, a situation arises that causes him to reevaluate himself and in so doing, he peels back the facade of the world around him. Jarmusch's wry directorial style always serves to put focus on the oddities of which the protagonist seems oblivious. The dialogue is always sharp and witty and all that really remains is to see how said oddity effects or disaffects our hero.

I mentioned in a previous post about Jarmusch that he is an acquired taste. His works are not for everyone and that is why they are particularly appealing to his fans. By far his most "accessible" film has been Coffee and Cigarettes, provided you like watching people talk over...well...coffee and cigarettes. Yet, Jarmusch continues to attract top name actors to his work because there is no pretension to what he does. It is an opportunity for them to act in something original, not some adapted novel, comic book, videogame, or remake of the month. Jarmusch continually allows all involved to flex their creativity and you have to applaud a writer/director who chooses to take that path rather than give in to the temptation of "the weekend box office."