(no subject)

[katallison]

My current quietness in LJ is partly, oddly, due to life being very good lately. I know that a lot of people on my friends list have been having hard times, of one sort or another, and I don't want to seem all gloaty or obnoxiously chipper. But life has, in fact, been--just really good.

This morning I followed a Metafilter link to an article about Jim Jarmusch's newest film, which sounds interesting in and of itself (includes appearances by Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, and Steve Buscemi). But what really wants to make me check out Jarmusch's work, with which I'm unfamiliar, was this:

Jarmusch said the focus on idle coffee breaks is akin to his film Night on Earth, which plays out entirely during five separate taxi rides taking place at the same time in cities around the globe.

"The reason I made that is, when you're watching movies, the guy's girlfriend calls him, she's having something bad happening, and he says, 'I'll take a cab. I'll be right over.' Cut to him getting out of the cab," Jarmusch said in an interview with The Associated Press. "And my brain always says, what about the cab ride? The incidental thing, the thing that's not the destination?"

I read that and thought, Yes. Yes. Because that's where I want to go, not just as audience but also as a writer. I am *all* about the incidental moments, the cab rides and not the car chases. And I think this helps me understand why the freakin' WIP is a bit stalled: Excess of Plottiness. ::making revision notes to self::

Comments

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

oh, Jarmusch! He's so love-him-or-leave-him, I think. I know a lot of people who don't care for his work, but I adore him. Dead Man is the best, I think, but I have a huge soft spot for Mystery Train, which was the first one of his I saw. And you just reminded me that I still haven't seen Down By Law. Must remedy.

I think you'd like Mystery Train a lot, though not positive. :-)

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

A non-plot-driven story can be fascinating in the right hands. CF Lost in Translation, Tampopo, or else there's a plot, but it's not the point: Diva, The Triplets of Belleville, Cry-Baby, Law of Desire....

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

oh, I completely agree. I'm always amazed when people say they don't like Jarmusch.

Tampopo is one of my favorite movies of all time. Kat, have you seen that? The others you mention are all favorites, too. :)

[flambeau.livejournal.com]

Mystery Train! Everyone should love Mystery Train. :)

[rowanfairchild.livejournal.com]

Hm, I saw Night on Earth when it came out, but I remember it as being uneven but a delightfully dotty idea, and well worth checking out.

Glad to hear things are good in Kat-land! :-)

[arallara.livejournal.com]

I want to second the above recs for Jim Jarmusch! I think you'd really like Ghost Dog, too.

And I'm so glad things are good for you right now! Very much looking forward to seeing you this weekend. :)

[copracat]

You will *love* Jarmusch. See Mystery Train and Down By Law (more of the excellent Tom Waits action) as soon as possible.

[spike21.livejournal.com]

heh -- I just want to say what everyone else is saying. You will love the Jarmusch!!! My two 'must see' JJ movies are: Dead Man (one of my top 10 movies ever) and Ghost Dog. Here is some of what I like about Jarmusch:

1) his choice in music is nothing short of mind-blowing. For Dead Man, he had Neil Young write an original score on electric guitar. For Ghost Dog, he had the Wu Tang Clan not only write original music, but also appear in the film.

2) Despite the fact that he is a very arty, style-oriented directors, there is no self-indulgence in his movies. Everything is there for a reason, if not always for a plot point, if that makes sense.

3) He is not afraid to be funny while being arty.

4) He has a very lyrical visual style.

5) He's one of the few directors who can get away with whimsy, because his whimsy is never *cute* -- it's often huge and breathtaking, the way it would be in the real world.

6) Again, despite being 'arty', he gives you a main character you can emotionally invest in. These are people -- *good* people -- with souls, with needs and desires, and the movies are what happens to them.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I recommend Night on Earth--uneven, as Rowan said, but he has a real gift for going from the laugh-out-loud absurd to the quiet and poignant without it seeming an artificial transition (though do be warned that the fifth taxi ride is sad, and the third features Roberto Begnini at his pre-Life Is Beautiful most annoying). If you really want to wallow in the Jarmusch, though, don't miss Strangers in Paradise, Dead Man and Ghost Dog.

[shrift.livejournal.com]

Huh. Looks like I need to check out Jarmusch, too.

I think this helps me understand why the freakin' WIP is a bit stalled: Excess of Plottiness.

You know, my stuff never suffers from an excess of plottiness. One of these days, I really ought to write that post where I call for help and tips on how to do that "plot" thing...

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

If that's what you like, you will definitely like Jarmusch. I really liked "Night on Earth," but my favorite is probably "Mystery Train". You have some delightful video rentals in store for you!

[tracy-rowan.livejournal.com]

Mystery Train and Stranger Than Paradise. I think you'll love them. Jarmusch is a long-time favorite of mine.

[aerye.livejournal.com]

"And my brain always says, what about the cab ride? The incidental thing, the thing that's not the destination?"

I positively adore you in an embarrassingly fangrrl kind of way.

[flambeau.livejournal.com]

I think you may be on to something. I've been working on this story since July last year and it keeps growing plot twists - in my head, not written down, even - and I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, since it started with a visual, a mood, a place and the dreary everydayness of it. Back to the drawing board (well, keyboard) with thanks to you and JJ...

[vagabondage.livejournal.com]

I agree, add me to the Jarmusch bandwagon! Mystery Train is one of my all time fav movies, but they all have merit and feed the brain. I adore Night On Earth, as well.

I'm so glad life is being good to you!