Review of The Limits of Control (2009) by Ivan K — 22 Feb 2011
Focus Features can be really good or really bad. I tend to dislike the ones featuring Bill Murray. Well, this one features Bill Murray, albeit in a small role. Even the great Gael Garcia Bernal cannot save this one.
The film is visually stimulating. Lots of cool shots, some with cool music. The actors are very stylish as is everything from the cafes to the awesome little La Boxeur match boxes. On style alone, the movie could easily pull down an 8/10.
But forget style. If I wanted style, I'd pick up a fashion movie. Give me some insight to the human condition, or at least give me some story. Hachi (the dog movie) is a very simple, straight-forward movie, yet it is flawless because of the story. This movie had little to no story, so regardless of how pretty it is, it still goes down as a bust.
It had elements of Christopher Nolan but ended up being far less developed. The mysterious man doing mysterious things. Surely something will explain itself in two hours. Well, not so much. Furthermore, what little there is of a plot is just silly: very complicated meetings and unique characters that demand attention with discretion would be preferred. And all the pretty black suits, black cars, black helicoptors. Nothing to see here, folks. Literally. Don't waste two hours on this movie.
This review of The Limits of Control (2009) was written by Ivan K on 22 Feb 2011.
The Limits of Control has generally received mixed reviews.
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