Adam, as
played by Tom Hiddleston, is some kind of rock star living in
my beloved city of Detroit Michigan. Or more accurately,
he's a musician of some renown who has a very loyal following
even though he doesn't perform concerts or anything like
that. He can't because he's a vampire. And like
any self-respecting rock musician, he's depressed all the
time. He might even be contemplating suicide.
Halfway around the world in Tangiers is Eve, as played by
Tilda Swinton, and she is Adam's wife of a few centuries and
while on video chat she can plainly see that there is
something wrong with her husband. So she catches the
first night plane out of Tangiers… director Jim Jarmusch does
a great job of illustrating the transatlantic travel
difficulties that come with being a vampire… and heads to
Detroit to soothe what ails her husband and this movie 'Only
Lovers Left Alive' begins to tell its meandering, generally
pointless tale.
Sure enough, Adam is plenty depressed, but he is at least
happy to see his wife standing at their door. He invites
her in, because you know, that whole vampire thing about
inviting somebody into your home, and the two reminisce about
the good times and at least briefly, Adam is feeling normal
again. Then they go for a ride around the ruins that is
Detroit Michigan. If you listen closely to what Adam and
Eve are saying to each other, there is a lot of wisdom in
those words.
There is a little trouble on horizon however as Eve has had a
dream about her little sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska), which
means her appearance is inevitable. Ava does show up at
the door, totally doesn't care about the whole 'inviting
someone in' thing, and Ava is something else indeed.
She's not so much bad… just very naughty, and her relative
lack of self-control just drives Adam crazy. Adam also
has a friend, sort of, in his human gopher Ian (Anton Yelchin)
who handles things that a vampire simply cannot do. Ava
meets Ian and she really, really likes Ian. That Ava is
a naughty girl, I tell you.
A situation
has occurred which has forced Adam and Eve back to Tangiers to
meet with their old friend Marlowe (John Hurt) who is not
well, and Adam and Eve haven't eaten in an awful long
time. What are hungry lovers to do in this untenable
situation?
If one were to ask me What is 'Only Lovers Left Alive' is
about, my simple reply would be 'It is a Jim Jarmusch' film,
and I'd have to let it rest at that. If you are an
experienced film watcher who has been around the block a few
times, you know what that means. You know, going in,
that you will be subjected to a film that is far more
cerebral, a movie that you are going to have to watch, because
it will be very visual, but also listen to because there will
be meaning within the visuals and there will be messages
within the words that extend beyond simply what the actors are
saying. You also will know that you will have to be
patient and accommodating and after watching this particular
Jim Jarmusch film, there may be no discernable payoff for
you. But you already know this if you are an experienced
film watcher who has been around the block a few times, when
someone mentions the name Jim Jarmusch, and you can make your
decision to watch this film accordingly.
If you are not an experienced film watcher and you look at me
with confusion when I say this is a Jim Jarmusch film, I'd
probably follow up with… 'eh… don't bother'. Those
things I mentioned about patience and whatnot? Those
aren't suggestions, those are requirements. So while you
may be thrilled to watch a vampire movie starring Loki from
'The Avengers', because you like vampires and you liked Tom
Hiddleston in 'The Avengers', that is definitely the wrong
approach when settling down to watch this film. 'Only
Lovers Left Alive' is slow. It takes its own sweet time
to go nowhere in particular. The story is segmented,
almost in the style of an anthology. Adams's story,
Eve's story, Adam and Eve's Story, Ava's Story, Ava and Ian's
story, then Tangiers. With these segments tied together
by the characters but not necessarily by a discernable
plot. The film is dialog heavy, and there is power in a
lot of this dialog, but it's not extrinsic, it is
intrinsic. The acting is phenomenal and the photography
is beautiful, but it's beautiful photography watching
characters that really aren't doing much of anything… except
when Ava shows up who does a lot of everything.
Ultimately, what I am telling you, is that if you watched
'Only Lovers Left Alive' and you didn't get it, and you didn't
enjoy it, despite the high critical ratings and the praise of
your friends and others around you whom opinions you respect…
don't feel bad, you are okay. This isn't the kind of
movie for everyone, and if one of these friends of yours gets
snarky and yells at you for not liking this movie then buys
you a 'Transformers' DVD since it's 'more your speed', thank
them for the DVD then tell them to lovingly kiss your
ass. I understood what I was getting into when I went to
see this movie, and despite all of the things it did well, I
didn't like it either. Sometimes, that's just how it is.
