Review of Stranger Than Paradise (1984) by Micki — 25 Jun 2008

Jarmusch's second feature film is very much like his third, Down by Law, in that's it's broken up into three parts, follows three characters, and not a whole hell of a lot happens. Most scenes consist of the characters sitting in a room, playing solitaire, staring at a wall or just being bored. That's exactly what it is, a movie about people who are bored, meandering in an attempt to make themselves less bored and failing to do so. Sounds like the makings for a pretty...well... boring film right? It's not. There's just something inherently funny in watching people try to have fun and maintain their coolness at the same time.

Unfortunately this film spawned and is still spawning a load of indie crap that doesn't quite get the idea that the film and the characters still have to be interesting.

Where Jarmusch and Stranger than Paradise succeed many have tried and failed.

Visually this film is absolutely stunning. Gorgeous Black and White 35mm, with amazing cinematography by Tom Dicillo.

And I love that Screamin Jay Hawkins is repeatedly mentioned and heard in this knowing that he'll later have a role in Mystery Train.

Overall, I'd rank this as my third favorite Jarmusch film after Down by Law and Dead Man, though I haven't seen Dead Man in a while and should probably give it a rewatch just to be sure I'm placing it correctly.