Broken Flowers
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Movie Reviews of Broken Flowers
Movie Review: The past is gone, the future is not yet, so this is it ... a subtle and inventive existential road trip adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
Near the end of this film, a young man who might be Don Johnston's (Bill Murray's) son asks for a bit of philosophical wisdom from a fellow traveler. What he gets (see the title for this review) is not original but probably appropriate for one who gets described by almost everyone else as a "Don Juan." That is, of course, the idea behind the famous romancer: that romantic love and sex are all about the here and now (that is why romantic love and marriage are such uneasy "bed partners": the best that romantic love can offer is an unimaginable "happily ever after" because the real future is not so romantic).
The response, "what are you, a Buddhist?" is a deliberate jab on the part of Jarmusch at this philosophical approach that says everything and nothing. The irony is that this film will likely be appreciated for its moments more than for what I take to be its underlying critique of the "philosophy of the moment" (a version of an existentialist philosophy).
Because Don lives in the moment, he cannot really act -- he has no character. What he does is merely a reaction to those he is with -- he is for others just what they expect to see in him. He lets his actions be dictated to him by his neighbor. He never describes himself in this film but is described by others: as a Don Juan, as Don Johnson, as a rich man, as a computer guy. It's significant for this question of labels that Don made his money in computers but refuses to have one in his house. That would define him. He doesn't like any labels to stick: even when he thinks he's found his son he tells him not that he is his father but merely admits that he might seem like that to the boy. (This issue of labelling is fairly complex in the film: most everyone in the film can be labeled and even accepts a label - Lolita, the real estate agent, the pet communicator; note though that Don's neighbor isn't easily labeled -- he's a Jamaican family man with three jobs who fancies himself a detective but whose daughter insists he can't be identified with any of the "famous detective" labels that Don tries to pin on him.)
The idea of having a son is precisely what he has to reject if he is going to hold on to his philosophy: because to be a father is to have an inescapable past, a moment that defines you essentially in relation to another person, and to have a future that is bound up with the vicissitudes of that other person's life. At the end of the film, though, in the first real show of feeling and passion Don begins to want such a connection -- as if in despair over his own lack of identity. The ambiguity of the ending captures this despair in a simple and powerful way. A very fine film, well worth the ride -- with an incredibly cool Jamaican jazzy soundtrack.
Movie Review: My Kind of Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay--I'm going to warm you about this but I want you to go ahead and see this wonderfully written and directed film. This movie has no ending. I think it would be considered a post-modern ending--which means you will be frustrated when the credits suddenly pop up.
I was disappointed as anyone (honest with themselves) would be in the lack of a clear cut ending especially when Don looked as though he might have found his pot of gold.
After what he goes through and learns about himself in this story maybe he will face his emptiness and do something about his life. I would highly suggest psychoanalysis as he clearly has issues with women and being able to love them. He has apparently spent most of his life objectified them as a young man but free love seems fine when you're in your 20 and 30's but it bites you in the butt when you're middle aged and have no family of your own.
We don't know what ultimately happens to Don Johnston (NOT DON JOHNSON!) played absolutely superbly by Bill Murray. This man who I loved in the mid 1970's and was so goofy on Saturday Night Live has totally knocked me out in LOST IN TRANSLATION and now BROKEN FLOWERS! Where are his Oscar awards???
Anyway, Don, a successful computer expert (living in a state of perpetual depression and emotional numbness) receives an anoynomos letter telling him that he has a 19 year old son but has not been given the name of this son or the mother.
Our immoblized pathetic man--once a Don Juan--is not at all sure who the mother might be. Thanks to Winston, his neighbor and only friend--a talented detective wannabe--Don is conjoled by his Winston's "motherly" orders to go on a journey in search of clues to find out who the woman he impregnanted might be and if he indeed has a son.
On his trip he mets up with 4 very different women from his past (two being Sharon Stone and Jessica Lange). I won't say much more about this except that this journey contains much tension, humor, and a lot of surprises as the lives of these woman have a way of going their own unusual paths. The 4 are all very diverse women. I specially liked the woman who became a real estate agent and her annoying husband. Her body language says it all says a multitude of what she is feeling.
This is definitely a dark comedy but it is very quirky and amusing. I had personally never heard of it until I found it at my local library. It is a sophisticated film that not everyone will like but I happened to love it. Give it a chance even just to see Bill Murray like you've never seen him before.
Movie Review: A Chekhov-esque gem
Summary: 5 Stars
Sure, I understand what many other reviewers are saying. I'm sorry they missed out. My first reaction was, "Not bad, not great, glad I saw it, I think I'll sell the DVD." However it has marinated a few days, and this is how I see it now:
At least a couple reviews use "elliptical" to describe the movie. Elliptical means a "vague" circle. More accurately, the movie is a circumvolution. At the end we are at the beginning. Nothing is resolved, but the protagonist (Don Johnston played by Bill Murray) is changed. Hopefully we, the audience, are changed as well. Chekhov is the benchmark for such style, which always leaves the audience dissatisfied-- and thinking.
Some talk as though a comic in a dramatic role is some sort of reversal. Instead, Murray shows the commonality of comedy and drama. In both the actor plays the audience to elicit a strong reaction. To properly play drama requires keen wit and a sense of humor. To properly play comedy requires a sense of the dramatic. Murray is great!
The pace (painfully slow) is deliberate and brilliantly done. We wish it would move faster, but we keep watching. The pace makes the audience feel the mood. It creates an incredible tension.
The movie is full of visual gags and various metaphors. "Don Johnston" is an obvious contemporization of Don Juan, and there is a lot of play on its coincidence to Don Johnson. Jarmusch really draws the audience into the story. The audience is primed to be alert for clues: boy things, typewriters, pink, etc.
Everyone gives solid, stellar performances. Every actor plays an integral role. Every scene is critically important. Many scenes are real gems; worth watching the movie for are: Girls on the Bus (Jennifer Rapp & Nicole Abisinio), Lolita Miller (Alexis DZiena), Carmen's assistant (Chloe Sevigny), Carmen's cat (?), Sun Green (Pell James), The Kid (Mark Webber), and Kid in Car (Homer Murray). Supporting actors shine bright (Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, and Tilda Swinton). The real genius pulling it all off is writer/director Jim Jarmusch. Awesome!
We share Don Johnston's quest. We end at the beginning, knowing nothing new for certain-- still wondering. Yet, the journey is not a waste.
I'm holding on to the DVD & sharing it with my friends.
Movie Review: Jarmusch fans will love it.
Summary: 5 Stars
Bill Murray continues his middle-aged sad sack routine with this movie, his face affixed with a consistently deadpanned, hang-dog expression worthy of Buster Keaton. After this film, his shtick feels played out. Murray has explored just about every variation and nuance possible for this particular type of character and kind of performance. His acting in Broken Flowers mirrors director Jim Jarmusch's laid-back direction perfectly.
The always reliable Jeffrey Wright is excellent as Winston who does all the leg work and pushes his friend to solve this mystery. He is the proactive counterpart to Don's reluctant protagonist - a hallmark of Jarmusch's films. In typical fashion of all of the director's movies, Broken Flowers is an understated comedy and this is evident in the way Winston and interacts with his family - they clearly love each other but Jarmusch doesn't hit us over the head with it.
Broken Flowers most closely resembles Jarmusch's Stranger than Paradise with its long, static takes and deals with a protagonist's inertia. Don is an aging Don Juan, a bit of a sad sack stuck in rut with no direction in his life and the anonymous letter he gets in the mail motivates him into action. Or rather, he stumbles into an adventure. A large weight of regret hangs over Don and this overshadows his entire journey. True Jarmusch devotees are wondering throughout if this film will be open-ended a la Down by Law or have some kind of closure like Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Ultimately, Broken Flowers is about a journey that forces Don to re-examine his life and his relationships with the women in it.
"Girls on the Bus" features more footage of the terminally chatty teenage girls that Don encounters on a bus.
"Broken Flowers: Start to Finish" is an amusing outtakes reel that takes us through the entire movie.
"Farm House" features behind-the-scenes footage with Jarmusch talking in voiceover about the random nature of life and how he likes to have scenes in his movies where you don't know what's going to happen next.
Finally, there is a theatrical trailer.
Movie Review: Beautiful.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a big fan of Jarmusch and Bill Murray and when the two come together we see a great character named Don Johnston come to the screen. When auteur Jarmusch focuses on an actor he tends to give them the freedom they need to really bring a character to life. Like all of Jarmusch's films this one is filled with "in-between" moments, an obsession that Jarmusch has had and made obvious in other works such as Coffee and Cigarettes and Night on Earth, the moment that most film makers would cut away from but in Broken Flowers many of them become very meaningful and and interesting scenes.
One scene of this film will always stay with me because of the emotion Murray is able to convey as he sits under a tree. The short scene is perhaps the best acting I have ever seen from Bill Murray and his ability to convey emotion seems to shine in this film.
One thing that really amazes me about Broken Flowers is the amount of interpretation this film provides. The film has something for each viewer providing they are patient with it. This film is not one you should watch when you are tired and trying to relax because the film depends on viewer involvement. I own this film and every time I've watched it I have found different personal interpretations. In fact so much that I have had late night conversations and made very great films who reported it as one of their favorite films when I asked them what kind of movies they liked.
Like most Jarmusch films this film I believe is rooted in literature (Jarmusch did major in English at college) and I think the names of the various characters that Murray meets will show you the irony that Jarmusch provides.
This film made a serious impression on me and became reasons that I have seen all his work and study film. This was my intro to his work and I believe one of his easier films to watch much like Dead Man. I throughly enjoyed the soundtrack and its placement in the film. You will only get out of this movie what you put into it but if you think deeply on the small moments in the film you'll find it a rewarding experience.