Sunday, August 31, 2014

Film Review - Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)


On DVD and Blu-Ray - "Only Lovers Left Alive" (2014) - Those familiar with the work of Director Jim Jarmusch (Dead Man, Broken Flowers) are aware that the filmmaker falls into the eclectic category- I knew going into this modern-day tale of centuries old vampire lovers (Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston) that I was in for an offbeat experience, though I didn't expect it would be so dramatically... forgettable.

The horror aspects of these two creatures of the night is at a bare-fanged minimum, with the narrative mostly concerning the wages of time upon these creatures- there's a wealth of sleeping, lounging around and sipping coveted type O negative blood from sherry glasses, with very little in the way of Thriller or Horror film elements to speak of.


Hiddleston's (The Avengers) "Adam" is a world-weary sort with an appreciation for vintage guitars and old-school recording technology while Swinton's (Adaptation.) "Eve" is an bohemian spirit with an affinity for classic literature and nature. Both nosferatu share a love for music and there's a wealth of interesting musical interludes and song selections throughout the film.

Mia Wasikowski (Stoker) breezes into the picture as Eve's impulsive little sister who seems intent on making trouble for the duo, while Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) is Adam's gofer and connection to the world of the living- for what it's worth, warm-blooded souls are referred to as "Zombies", here.


John Hurt (Alien) makes a few appearances as a senior bloodsucker named "Barlowe" while Jeffrey Wright is underutilized as a blood-bank doctor.

The acting is fine, the cinematography is commendable and a few trips into a decaying Detroit under the cover of darkness prove most poignant, though I couldn't quite grasp any dynamic element that would make me want to revisit the film- perhaps the very last sequence is the best it has to offer.

7.0 out of 10

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright and John Hurt
Run-Time: 123 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for language and brief nudity

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