Film Review: Only Lovers left Alive

On and on it goes, round and round - is what I think when watching the opening scenes of this film. No surprises, the focus is on a playing record, spinning, and the main actors, doing the same thing.

Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are Adam and Eve, a very old couple, deeply in love and when the film opens, Adam is in Detroit, and Eve, Tangiers.

And they are vampires, although the word is never mentioned in the entirety of the film, just visual clues to let the audience know. Much like Byzantium, only the supporting characters use that word.

This film was directed by Jim Jarmusch and considering all the other usual story lines and probable plot devices that a film of this subject that they usually follow, it made a refreshing change to see him use a different one. Most literature in this subject, focus on the physical differences and emotional, less. This one used more psychological and emotional themes and also used the starkness of both filming locations (Detroit and Tangiers) to illustrate the anguish and disintegration of Adam, and the quirky, positive life of Eve.

The interesting fact of its subtlety and uniqueness, is that you stay hooked. The supporting cast of this film, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin and Mia Wasikowska are equally as outstanding as the two leads.

All in all, a wild, if slightly slow ride, but not for beginners. 

Comments

  1. Film & TV Commentator1 May 2014 at 02:23

    This quote comes from a film where the usual plot lines are also dismissed.

    “Soren: The chances of a relationship between yourself and Miss Paige are not promising. You two are of a completely different calibre.
    Eddie: Soren, just cause she isn't royalty doesn't mean she's not important.
    Soren: The higher calibre I was referring to, sir, was hers.”

    ReplyDelete

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