ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

JIM JARMUSCH has been making quirky, hand-crafted independent features for almost thirty years. Devoted fans will recognise many of his signature touches in The Limits Of Control.

Tilda Swinton in The Limits of Control (Focus Features, 2009)

It is an inscrutable tale infused with deadpan humour where the ice-cool central character and the beauty of the Spanish locations are far more significant than any attempt at an engaging plot. That does make it hard work for audiences in search of either explanation or more than minimal entertainment.

An imposing figure in a sharp suit, the lone man (Isaach de Bankole) is an assassin on a mission that mostly involves him drifting through the cafes and art galleries of Spain. He is tight-lipped and sharply focused, making James Bond look like a clumsy amateur.

His story unfolds in a series of encounters with eccentric individuals. Regardless of nationality, they always enquire if he speaks Spanish and they always exchange a box of matches containing vital information on his mission.

The highlights include Tilda Swinton in a stetson, a blonde wig and raincoat saying how much she enjoys the dream-like qualities of old movies, and John Hurt musing on bohemianism.

Thanks to the camerawork of Christopher Doyle, The Limits Of Control looks stylish, and the running, repetitive jokes manage to raise a wan smile or two. Mostly, though, it is far too stilted and lugubrious to sustain your initial enthusiasm. It leaves the impression that the Jarmusch of Down By Law and Broken Flowers is now running on empty.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Isaach de Bankole, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Bill Murray, Paz de la Huerta
Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch
Certificate: 15
Running time: 116 mins
Country: USA/Japan
Year: 2009

© Allan Hunter, 2009