Review of Paterson (2016) by Will P — 14 Aug 2016

Jim Jarmusch's latest narrative feature is almost like a hark back to some of his earliest work from the 80s. In a way the film can be seen as a sort of poetic play of outer American suburbia. It follows the very ordinary but incredibly relatable lifestyle of Paterson, a bus driver who is also a poet.

In a way the film can be seen more as a character driver narrative than a plot driven narrative, taking in the mundane but substantially rich setting brought to life by Jarmusch. Also in a way it's hard for me to think how else Adam Driver would have had any input on the character he plays in this film if it didn't feel anything but believable, especially when it came to the poetry he writes.

Driver's performance shows he has a tremendously terrific range as an actor, I'd also go on to say this must be one of his finest performances in his entire career to date. The other members of the cast are the colourful, funny and memorable roles of ordinary existence found within this film, eagerly play their roles well within the progression of the narrative.

The cinematography brings out a very gorgeous and visceral appeal to such a setting, almost comparable to 'Stranger Than Paradise'. Lastly, it is the writing that is this film's strongest attribute, Jarmusch knows how to make a contemporary American setting stand out, both visually and substantially with signatory deadpan humour thrown into the mix of things.

This is by far the most quintessential film Jim Jarmusch has made to date, and definitely one of his finest works in recent years. Not only is it my favourite film of the Melbourne International Film Festival, I highly recommend this gem as one of 2016's best.