274 of 1001 Movies: Down By Law (1986)

I've watched a few Jim Jarmusch movies by now, and while I can appreciate it I also can't help but feel something is keeping me from getting into them as I would hope. Broken Flowers was great, and I can see the value in Dead Man, but once you watch Down By Law then you may be less enthused with Dead Man. I know about I'm about to sound "film dumb", but I can't get into black and white very well after the method of using black and white became an artistic choice, and not just an automatic default. Jarmusch though chose a great cast to lead this film, which keeps it alive with characters at least.

Summary: DJ Zack and Jack, a pimp, both end up in prison. They were framed, but didn't really care enough to fight it. It seems they feel their lives were bound to catch up with them. When an Italian immigrant, Roberto, gets locked away with them they begin plotting how to escape. Roberto has some distracting eccentrics they utilize. Anyways, their journey from the prison to their escape will be a learning experience for these guys as well.

Movie Spotlight: Broken Flowers (2005)

I watched Dead Man a couple of months back, and I noticed that Jim Jarmusch is an artsy director, and usually I like artsy. I wasn't a huge fan of Dead Man though. It was good, and I liked the uniqueness, but I couldn't think of a time I would ever watch it again. I saw that Jarmusch is coming out with another movie this month, Only Lovers Left Alive, that stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton. I have to say I'm very excited for the movie, but the best way to know what to expect is to watch more movies from this director, and then I happened upon Broken Flowers.

Summary: Don Johnston is a serial bachelor who hasn't ever wanted to commit to anyone long term. After his last girlfriend leaves him in frustration he gets a note left for him from one of his past girlfriends disclosing that he has a son who is now on a road trip. Don isn't interesting in exploring this any further, or is he? With the encouragement and pressure from his friend, Winston, Don is set up with a map, rental, and plane tickets to find out who is the mother who sent the letter.

260 of 1001 Movies: Dead Man (1995)

So I did't know what type of Western Dead Man might be when I put it on to watch. It's definitely different and meshes the aspects of Western well with the unique way that Jim Jarmusch was also trying to convey his film. It also has these smaller stars who pop up throughout the movie who are recognizable faces, but if you're like me you're trying to place what movie you saw them in before, except unless those faces were John Hurt or Johnny Depp. The movie though has some really long and drawn out scenes though, so it could have been shorter.

Summary: Accountant's, William Blake, journey into the west has been anything but simple. After first not finding a good welcome at the place he was hoping to work he meets a lady that lifts some minor hopes, but after her fiance arrives home he finds her in bed with William, and shoots her dead. To defend himself William shoots her fiance, killing him. John though is upset at the death of his son and is determined to find William and bring him to justice. William meets a North American man, Nobody, who helps him though on the run, and guides him into a world unknown.