Films/DVD Asylum

"Broken Flowers:" w a r n i n g !

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If you didn't enjoy Lost in Translation (of Sideways) you'll hate this one.
Also, if you don't like Jermusch's other efforts, you'll like this one even less because his style is more concentrated.
Murray and Jarmusch have distilled away all excess and the emotional impact is the stronger for it.
Like the "hero" of Last Tango in Paris, here we have a middle-aged guy in some sort of crisis. Also, Don Johnston, like Breaker Morant (from the eponymous movie)and Brando's character, has seen it all.
His search for his alleged son's mother isn't really what it appears to be, is it?
Unlike lesser films which spell out the drama or the issues, this one brilliantly, in a Zen way, suggests them.
A quiet film that disturbs.

Follow Ups:

I loved Sideways, but not this one - Troutbum 09:53:59 08/27/05 (1)
Audience kept trying to make this a comedy, but it obviously isn't. I wasn't sure exactly what this movie was trying to do. All I can say is, Donnie should have stayed at the first woman's house.
- I'm with you. I loved the well-deserved putdowns of winesnobs... - jeffreybehr 22:50:00 08/28/05 (0)
  ...and the portrayal of the absolutely amoral pop-pychobabbling Jack, of whom I can't quite figure out how to say enough bad about. Words like shallow, worthless, liar, and cheat come to mind quickly but just don't do him justice. Unfortunately IMO he didn't get quite the comeupance I hoped for. Initally I felt his remorse about the possibility of losing Christine was sincere, but after seeing the movie several times, I've decided it's just another lie. Their marriage ought to last maybe a year.
Re: "Broken Flowers:" w a r n i n g ! - RGA 22:11:11 08/25/05 (1)
I've sene Lost in Translation and I've seen Sideways -- these two films have ZERO in common so saying if I hated them I'll hate Broken Flowers makes little sense. I liked Lost in Translation a lot more than Sideways, but I was amused by the anal retentive wine lover -- reminds me of audiophiles. LiT had no Hollywood payoffs.
- They had subject matter in common, i.e. the aging American male - tinear 02:40:57 08/26/05 (0)
  without a strong relationship in his life.
Don't know if I liked it as much as you - Road Warrior 19:41:56 08/25/05 (2)
But I did think it was good. I felt it was of course, about the journey, not the destination. The vignettes that Murray's character were involved in ALL had something exceptional about them that for spoilers sake I won't mention. These made the film definitely worthwhile. In a small way, I was reminded somewhat of John Cusack's character in High Fidelity revisiting his old flames trying to understand what had happened to ruin his relationshiops with them.
I agree with your warning that non fans of Lost In Translation should take cover and hide til this one leaves the art houses. They'll miss a nice little film IMHO.
Oh yea, I loved the energy "Winston" brought to the screen in every scene he was in.
- Winston is a scene stealer. Best Supporting Actor? nt - tinear 02:42:10 08/26/05 (1)
  s
  - You know what? - Road Warrior 06:12:33 08/26/05 (0)
    I think yer onto something. Winston WAS the perfect supporting actor in evey sense of the word. wasn't he? Often a supporting actor/actress is equally dominant in the film as the nominal lead actor/ess. He actually was Don's supporting friend who appeared and reappeared at critical moments in the show and gave Don the impetus to continue forward in his quest. Based on reflection, I'm hiking my rating from **1/2 to ***.

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