Five Taxis. Five Cities. One Night - A review
March 3rd 2007 03:02
Night on Earth is an example of separate stories effectively interlocked (the cynical side of me wants to say unlike other films) In a simple definition, this is a story of a collection of five stories involving cab drivers in five different cities. But in my opinion, this is an absorbing glimpse into the human mind and behaviour through the device of taxi drivers and their passengers in five different cities, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki. Made in 1992, this is another distinctive Jim Jarmusch gem. Night on Earth transforms the commonplace into a haunting, mysterious experience.
Jarmusch explores a primal urban relationship, that of a passenger and taxi driver. The taxi is a temporarily shared world, from which one of the parties may emerge shaken up or feeling differently about himself/herself. Jarmusch is a poet of the night. Much of the film creates the same kind of disengaged, elegiac, romantic mood as Mystery Train, his film about night-time wanderers in Memphis. The cities are lonely and cold looking. His characters seem divorced from the ordinary society of their cities; they're loners and floaters. We sense they have more in common with one another than with the daytime inhabitants of their cities. Tom Waits’ distinctive music helps to launch the atmosphere that the cities have been emptied of the waking. It's as if the minds of these night people are affected by all of the dreams and nightmares that surround them.
Night on Earth has been criticised for these aspects, critics saying that the film doesn’t quite reach a successful point. People have stated that the stories are dull, that nothing much happens and what does happen isn’t that interesting. To me, a film doesn’t have to have all the answers, as long as the way the questions are presented are meaningful and intelligent. In response to such criticisms, I would say that the film's cumulative power is what matters and is how the film works. This power is undeniable. Its subtle and alluring. Jarmusch is a true visionary; he knows his films can't bring order to the delicious chaos around him, but he can't resist the fun of trying.
As I said before, this is an example, to me anyway, of an episodic, interlinked film that works. Jarmusch does not fall into the flaws of other films where they desperately try to create segments that are clearly constructed in its entirety. The viewer has to do some of the work, place some trust in the director, that he will lead us somewhere worthwhile. And he does.
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Comment by David
I saw this film at the cinema in Adelaide the night it came out ... with Sam, a cabbie mate of mine ... (as in, we were both cabbies at the time) ...
From memory, I liked the NY selection first, and the Helsinki one second ...
I so remember the Tom Waits soundtrack ... as well ...
To me? These films belong to a genre called 'Trippy' ...
David ...
Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
looks like i'll be watching 'Little Miss Sunshine' instead.. but will keep my eye out for 'Night on Earth.' Thanks for the arrow.
~Lily
Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
still hunting...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
That would've been interesting seeing it at the cinema and with a cabbie friend. I guess it is a bit of a trippy film...and yes Tom Waits' music adds a distinct essence to it.
I saw it on video a couple of times, but haven't seen it for ages and for some reason it was on my mind again...
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'm glad you liked the review enough to ring up your video store
What a pity they don't have it though...
Sunshine is excellent though, would love to know what you think of it...
byeee
Comment by David
I've got a friend named Anton. He's an IT genius ...
He once said to me, something along the lines of ...
"We all see things from different perspectives ... " ...
He elucidated ...
He said things like ... when a builder is driving to work in the morning he notices buildings ... and sees them differently to the non-builder commuter ...
It makes complete sense to me ...
To see that film, as a cabbie? ... I bet I see things in it that the non-cabbie doesn't notice ...
Just like a woman who is a mother will look at a child and see things about the child that I overlook ...
David ...
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
great review
ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I often think about subjective perspectives and how we notice different things according to our interests/work. Your friend definitely captured it so well. What did he think of the film?
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
How are you? Thanks for your comments, yes it's a quirky and fascinating world the film captures.
Hope you manage to find it
Trace x
Comment by AnthonyB
Thanks for the review, I'll need to have a close look at this one.
- Anthony
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments. Yes, I think it's a fascinating concept. I was surprised to read quite a few negative reviews on the film where people were saying that the plot didn't take us anywhere. But to me that almost reinforces the point of the film, we can be in a taxi (or another vehicle) aiming to go somewhere and yet we don't arrive...in an ambiguous sense. Or we get there and we still don't know why we are there..
I loved the atmosphere of this film and Jarmusch's subtlety. He doesn't hand-hold his audience, he lets them venture slightly unguided....
How far through writing your script are you? I think this is a concept that can be done so many ways that even if there are similarities, it doesn't mean it will necessarily end up the same...
Comment by Trina
Hiphop
Confessions of a Serial Dancer
Competitions
Clubbing
Comment by David
Anton and I never discussed the film ... I wouldn't know if he's even seen it ... I haven't seen him for about 10 years ...
The one thing that makes me realise that we all have subjective interpretations? .... It's when we buy a new car, and suddenly notice all the other cars of the same make and model on the roads .... which we've never noticed before ... As humans ... we're all pretty interested in the things that interest us ... * But little else ... ? * ...
I see there are a few people trying to work out where to get this DVD/Vid from ...
In Adelaide there is an independent Vid store 'KINO' ... and there is not one arthouse or cult movie they don't stock ... it's such a magnificent Vid Store ...
Interstate? ... All I could think of suggesting is that people Google 'Arthouse Video DVD Hire' ... I'm sure the other capital cities have similar stores ... Block(Head)Buster and Video(Hard)Eazy etc? ... Well, they're just commercial dolts I guess .... ***
David ...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I got your friends mixed up, sorry about that confusion.
Yes, I know what you mean about perspectives and noticing things....we're having cat on roof issues here at home and I feel like the place is swarming with cats...outside I mean, not inside...and the reason it matters is because they plonk their bums on our roof and make our pooch bark...and next door's..etc etc....my convoluted point being that if our dog didn't bark because of the kitties, then I probably wouldn't notice them that often....it wouldn't seem like there are a million of them...
Thanks for the info about where people can find the video/DVD....it does seem to be hard to find...
Byee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comment, glad you liked the review. Hope you can find it and enjoy it
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
My fave Jarmusch are:
1. Down by Law (masterpiece)
2. Dead Man (masterpiece)
3. Mystery Train
4. Coffee and Cigarettes
5. Stranger than Paradise
I also enjoyed the concert film Year of the Horse, not just for the music (Neil Young), but for the look and feel of the movie (he shot most of it on Super-8!!!).
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I'm not into movies much but it seems plenty here are, so why not join in.
A well written post.
katyzzz
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Byeee
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
5 taxis, 5 cities....one excellent review.
You've sold me.
...well...not me literally...oh you know I mean...
Hope you're well T.
Dusk
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for the complimentaries.....always lovely to see you.
I'm very well, hope you are toooo
Trace
Comment by Theresa
Today's World
You made this sound so interesting. I hope I enjoy the movie as much as your review
Theresa
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Interesting that you would say this is your least fave Jarmusch film, quite a few people would agree with you. The only other one I've seen is Mystery Train and I'm ashamed to say I haven't seen Dead Man even though it's sitting in my lounge room. What did you think of Coffee and Cigarettes? I haven't heard much about Year of the Horse (other than what you just said)...
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Coffee and Cigarettes is made up of several short films. A series that Jarmusch has been making for many years. The best is sub-titled "Somewhere in California" and has Tom Waits and Iggy Pop alone in a diner talking shit, drinking coffee ... and smoking cigarettes, then one of them puts a tune on the jukebox. It's gold. Another great one, "Cousins", has Cate Blanchett playing opposite herself; a movie star and her westie cousin ... Pure gold. Go rent it. Better still, buy yourself a copy.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Following Byrn's suit, my 5 faves of his are:
1. Ghost Dog. (Changed my life)
2. Dead Man (My fave Johnny Depp film)
3. Mystery Train
4. Down By Law
5. Stranger Than Paradise
Love all his work.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
...another interesting review... opening my eyes and I haven't even watched this film yet*lol*
I have enjoyed the two Taxi films I have seen and will get this one too, I really think I'd like it and I love Tom's music.
My local DVD store, doesn't have it either ... so will try the other stores and titles listed by Bryn and John D...
thanks for the heads up,
Lilla ...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Lovely to see you as usual.
Which were the other two taxi films you've seen, I can only think of Taxi Driver with De Niro which was great....well, more than great, but I'm a bit word-weary today
Hope you manage to find this film (I had no idea it was that hard to find) and enjoy the atmosphere and journey...
Byeeee
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
A big ask : as Tom Cruise is anything but popular *chuckle* and I risk a good stoning over this one, but I liked the film with (morgan Freeman - was it?) in Collateral (?). Where the hit man takes the taxi driver around all night while he does his hits, because his car is broken down... Morgan's character gets stuck into the morality of his fare being a hitman... I found the clash of ideolgies interesting ...that's all ...
The irony is, that I don't really like TC myself, but I loved the concept of the film ... perhaps one day they'll re-make it into something memorable, with different actors?
The other one was the one you mention with a very young De Niro.
There was another brief taxi scene that always comes into my mind, perhaps only to satisfy my whimsical side... That's Bill Murray in Stripes, just before he quits to join the Army? He is taking some old bossy boots out to the airport and freaks her out... *hillarious*
Cheerios
Lilla ~
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Your comments made me laugh, as I also saw Collateral and really liked it too. I can't stand Tom Cruise...at all...but this film did grip me. I know I was in the mood for that kind of film though and thought it worked well.
I haven't seen the Bill Murray film you mentioned....
Thanks for your comments,
Trace x