Jim Jarmusch could probably make a feature film about the canning industry and subsequently create a stylish and entertaining piece of work. Thus, it was to be expected that when he set his sights on a story involving a sultry pair of modern-day vampires, he’d end up with an otherworldly final product. In Only Lovers Left Alive, Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston play a couple of centuries-old vampires who spend their days sleeping, and their nights drinking blood from exquisite chalices, dancing to music in eccentric old robes, and talking about their old friends Lord Byron and Mary Wollstonecraft.
The film is, perhaps, more accessible than those in his older and more experimental body of works, but it certainly does contain the unique elements that make Jarmusch’s films so distinct, and simultaneously intelligent and fun-to-watch. Known for his wonderful characters and their expertly executed dead-pan humor, and spot-on music choices, Jarmusch’s films have been captivating viewers for decades. So, let us reflect on what makes these films so engaging and stylistically superior, and what we can learn from them.
1. ‘Hip’ Locations are bullshit.
Countless unfounded Internet lists have tried to tell us where the ‘best’ and ‘hippest’ cities are, but several of Jarmusch’s films prove otherwise. Less-desirable cities such as Detroit and Memphis (and lesser known places like Helsinki and Tangier) seem not only attractive, but actually really awesome through his lens. It doesn’t matter where you are as long as you can create a world that appeals to your preferred aesthetics.
2. Strive to be weird and untraditional.
Jarmusch made a name for himself with his award-winning classic Stranger Than Paradise (1984), a film that deliberately ignored most ‘Hollywood’ conventions. It moves slowly and doesn’t have much of a plot, but it’s also wholly absorbing and refreshingly stylish. The 3 main characters deliver a sense of realism that totally sucks you into their world without really doing, well, anything. ‘Minimalist’ is usually one of the first words critics and audiences will use to describe Jarmusch, and it’s an accurate assessment, as he makes you think about human qualities and existentialist themes, as opposed to plot twists and over-the-top fight sequences.
3. Always surround yourself with good music.
Music is so crucial to a film’s overall success, and Jarmusch always seems to utilize it in the best possible way. From Stranger Than Paradise’s strange and affecting inclusion of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ ‘I Put A Spell On You’ to RZA in Ghost Dog, the man knows exactly how to create and/or maintain a particular mood through song usage. Also, his band Squrl composed the original music used in Only Lovers Left Alive and it’s incredible.
4. We are all, to some degree, just passing through.
Jarmusch has been regarded as one of the best ‘road’ movie auteurs, beginning with Stranger Than Paradise and then later, with Down By Law (1986), Dead Man (1995) and Broken Flowers (2005), among others. But his non-road-based narratives possess a very similar vibe, most likely because this sub-genre is usually associated with a search or inner need, and this is clearly something he has a unique knack for relaying. His more ‘stationary’ films communicate this same sense of longing in a very realistic way, and show that no matter where we are in life, it can be regarded as a passing phase.
5. Warhol’s whole “Think rich, look poor” idea is the way to go.
As many of Jarmusch’s characters have proven, all you really need is a good pair of dark sunglasses and the ability to make your bed-head look sexy.
6. Vampire love is the sexiest kind of love.
What’s sexier than a dark, dangerous and timeless love affair between two people with infinite knowledge and amazingly eccentric wardrobes? Nothing, I’m pretty sure. I’ve never been much of a vampire fan-girl (except for maybe when I first saw The Lost Boys forever ago) but Swinton and Hiddleston are beyond perfect as immortal lovers with a need for fresh human blood. Everything about their relationship is so lovely and envy-inducing, you’ll probably want to be a vampire by the end of the film.
Article by Nicole Woszczyna. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolewosz
