Review: Paterson

The last few years has seen my film taste change dramatically. I have been going to films that I would not have even considered going to. I am now discovering some wonderful independent and low budget features.

This latest one by director Jim Jarmusch is another one to fit into that category. I have seen only two of Jarmusch's eleven previous features, Ghost Dog: The Way Of Of The Samurai which was good, and Only Lovers Left Alive which I really enjoyed.

What I got from Paterson, was a very poignant, profound, contemplative and surprisingly charming flick. The more I was watching it, the bigger my revelation came that this looked a lot like a Richard Linklater film. If you are aware of what Linklater is like, then you know that I was enjoying this.
While nothing sudden or shocking happens, it is just shows a slice of life that managed to be intriguing viewing and managed to have me invested by the second act.

There were four very memorable performances. Adam Driver was a great lead in what was a subtle performance. He gave us an interesting character, and it is great to see him do something small after being heavily involved in the latest Star Wars film.
Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani was a real star in this. Her chemistry with Driver was crucial to the success of this film, and it worked a treat. It created a lot of comical and charming moments.
It was nice to see Barry Shabaka Henley lead the minor roles. He certainly had his moments that were as memorable as the leads. Despite all those strong performances, it was the character of Marvin that will last longer in the memories of most people. I must mention, that Marvin is a dog. I was sad to find out afterwards, that the dog (whose real name is Nellie) died before the film was released.

Not many negatives to mention. There were some moments that felt irrelevant to me. But as the film is showing 'a week in the life of'', then I should not criticize it too much.

But overall, I had a nice time watching this. It has plenty of laughs, which I was not expecting. If you like dead-pan humor, then you're in for a treat, as this film is full of it.
The performances are great, it is shot really well, and the film gives the town setting a lot of appeal, and it almost becomes a character in itself. 2016 is certainly a year for the independent films, and this is another welcomed addition.

Rating: 7/10