Review of The Limits of Control (2009) by Stuart K — 10 Mar 2013
Directed by Jim Jarmusch (Down by Law (1986), Dead Man (1995) and Broken Flowers (2005)), this is a very stylish but overall, quite pretentious hitman thriller. Jarmusch might be doing a nod of gratitude to Michelangelo Antonioni's The Passenger (1975), but the story isn't very exciting, but he does succeed in having a colourful cast and for making the Spanish countryside look very hypnotic.
A Lone Man (Isaach De Bankolé) travels to Spain to partake in a mission set by Creole (Alex Descas), but his instructions are vague, but the Lone Man travels to Madrid, and then onto Seville and then onto remote Almeria.
On this journey, he's met by a Blonde (Tilda Swinton), an Englishman called Guitar (John Hurt) and a Mexican (Gael García Bernal). They all meet the Lone Man in cafe's where they ask if he can speak Spanish, (which he doesn't), and they give him instructions on where to go next.
The Lone Man is followed by a Nude (Paz de la Huerta), who wants sex with him. Eventually, the Lone Man finds his target, the American (Bill Murray). It's a very slow thriller, but it's a visually stunning film thanks to some brilliant cinematography by Christopher Doyle (Hero (2002) and Lady in the Water (2006)), the cast are all good and even the Spanish countryside is a character in itself, but the film could have done with a bit more action.
This review of The Limits of Control (2009) was written by Stuart K on 10 Mar 2013.
The Limits of Control has generally received mixed reviews.
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