Faux Fu

Monday, January 26, 2009

"You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going." - J. Jarmusch

I watched (again) Jim Jarmusch's great movie "Down By Law" last night. Made in 1986. In glorious black and white. It features two musicians - John Lurie and Tom Waits. Plus that wacky Italian, Roberto Begnini. They make a great trio.

Cinematography is by the incomparable Robby Muller. Jarmusch may be the greatest living American movie maker today. Or at least my favorite. He is the man responsible, for "Broken Flowers," "Dead Man," "Ghost Dog," "Mystery Train," "Night on Earth" "Coffee and Cigarettes" and "Strangers in Paradise." All worth seeing multiple times, and savoring.

"Down by Law," is beautiful, funky, elegaic. It has a real old-timey feel. Some of the best moments are when the camera lingers, or slowly pans (always right to left), with some stirring or haunting music in the background. The best moments are the ones you can't put in a box.

And then Tom Waits. What can you say? What a strange hipster cat. So cool. His discography is overwhelming. A true master. Under-appreciated.

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