This is my new favourite film, and that’s all you need to know.
Oh. OK…….
What’s it all about?
Only Lovers Left Alive is the new Jim Jarmusch film and tells the story of
A depressed musician reunites with his lover, though their romance – which has already endured several centuries – is disrupted by the arrival of uncontrollable younger sister.
Of course this omits the single most important piece of information. They’re vampires.
But cool vampires, none of your Twilight nonsense here (although (full disclosure) I quite liked Twilight but probably not for the reasons the film makers intended).
Why did I want to see it?
Tilda Swinton. Tom Hiddleston. Vampires. That’s enough, surely?
What did I think of it?
I have been champing at the bit to see this film ever since I first heard about it. Two of my favourite actor types together in a film about vampires, so so excited. But as the time to see it came closer I got a tiny bit nervous that it couldn’t live up to my expectations, especially as some folk had said it was stylish and cool but nothing actually happens, but nope, it turned to to be just as fabulous as I had hoped.
It looks fantastic, flitting backwards and forwards between decaying Detroit and exotic Tangiers. The music is superb, so much so I bought the soundtrack as soon as I could. Tilda (Eve) and Tom (Adam) look great and their relationship is convincing, this great love experienced over time so that even though they live apart they are totally connected. I have admired Tilda since Orlando, and Tom is Loki so not much more to say there.
The supporting cast is equally good, Anton Yelchin as Tom’s fixer (with no idea that he’s dealing with anything other than a reclusive musician), Jeffrey Wright as a corrupt member of the medical profession (because where are you going to get blood if you aren’t in the habit of attacking people) and Mia Wasikowska playing another one of her odd and creepy young woman (see Stoker) as Eve’s younger sister, already known to be trouble (“but that was 87 years ago”) and it’s her actions that require a big change in their lifestyle.
But the real treat in the supporting cast is John Hurt as Christopher Marlowe. Yes, that Christopher Marlowe. Just lovely.
I didn’t expect it to be so funny, or to look so good. I coveted everything Tilda wore, I loved her poise and the whole style of the thing and the central idea that the only way to survive immortality is to have an insatiable curiosity about everything, which makes you so knowledgeable that you can come across as pompous and elitist without really meaning to. But of course reliance on human blood makes you vulnerable and fragile.
I’m gushing now, I can tell.
I adored this and it will be one of those films I will re-watch regularly. Please do give it a try.
8 comments
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April 25, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Jenny @ Reading the End
Okay, you’ve completely convinced me. I’ll get this from the library as soon as they get it on DVD.
April 25, 2014 at 2:42 pm
brideofthebookgod
Oh dear, I’ll feel responsible if you end up hating it Jenny !
August 4, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Jenny @ Reading the End
I didn’t! I liked it quite a bit! My sister and brother-in-law and I left the movie theater wishing Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton could be in more movies together. We love them together. Like, wouldn’t they make an incredibly Crowley and Aziraphele if anybody ever did a movie adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s book Good Omens? (They would. They would crush it.)
August 4, 2014 at 9:35 pm
brideofthebookgod
Hurrah! And yes, wouldn’t they be wonderful!
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