Martin-165

Based on a true story this film creates a quite powerful tension to it. Without it being a true story this film would have decreased drastically in interest and power. Although I knew about this whole dilemma before entering the theatre I still, during it, felt rather excited. As in "Heat", Michael Mann, although his quite traditional way to depict, creates a somewhat convincing unfamiliarity, great enough to make me doubt the outcome of this film. Morally & politically correct this movie is quite traditional and very well acted and done, filled with communicative close ups, detailed environment & lightning. Mann managed to avoid clichés, heroism and moral magnifications to such an extent that the film didn't fall due to such factors, which is quite a good effort considering the theme. Mann didn't disrespect nor dramatise this happening in order to more easily reach a wider audience. I consider this one of a few true-based movies that managed to obtain the incident's truthfulness & sincerity. Simply, a substantial Hollywood production.

With rhythm, passion, humour & sincerity Jarmusch depicts five different stories in five different cities with two common grounds, it all happened in a cab, & it all happened in the same night on earth. Jarmusch ones said that he's not particularly interested in plots but rather in characters. This notion is very evident in this motion picture. There is no structural story line, this is five different & rather short tales all tied up by external elements. The characters are all truly amazing, in some films it takes virtually the whole dramatisation to attain the feeling that you familiarised with the characters, in one way or the other. In some films, you never even come close to such an accomplishment. But in this one, however, you merely need a brief cab ride to really feel the presence and the acquaintance. Apart from enjoying all the cab rides greatly I exceptionally laughed and yet sincerely fathomed the tragedy of the second New York ride. The situation Helmut, a German immigrant, finds himself in is really sorrowful, as it is very comical as well. For a reason beyond comprehension he has though his bad English and very severe driving accomplished to obtain a taxi driver card in a city he practically doesn't know the name of. Somewhat accidentally he managed to pick up Yo-Yo, an energetic, talkative & very amusing New Yorkian. Two greatly distinct cultures persuaded to make conversation is extremely charming, interesting & humorous, though they can hardly understand each others nature they still manage to somewhat interpret each other in a very abstruse way. The actors did all perform admirably well and genuine.

The music by Tom Waits is extremely well fitting. He did a great job to include this kind of wandering state that this film is based upon, kind of a tip-toeing approach. Which is a quite well describing way of defining this elegant film. A collaboration of tragic & comic wrapped up in five different destinies, neither containing a beginning or a goal, merely an embracing of time, an embracing of life.

Gus Van Sant's best film, in my opinion. Followed by the following "My Own Private Idaho". A very laughable film as it is very dramatic. A non-pretentious road movie that depicts the humorous and tragic sides of a very drug related life. The book-based script is very interesting & attractive and consequently a hard one to base a good & upright movie upon, Van Sant did a praiseworthy and nearly excellent film out of this nevertheless. The movie carries a kind of melancholy and yet kind of a groovy rhythm and an original and well recognised atmosphere. Van Sant created a very vague feeling to it as well, which I really found interesting. Acting is authentic & excellent. Personally, I loved it.