Bill Murray, Gael García Bernal, John Hurt

The story of a mysterious loner, a stranger in the process of completing a criminal job.

Flixster Users

49% liked it

1,116 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

91 critics

R, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

Release Date: May 1, 2009

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DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

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Stats: 228 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (228)


  • June 5, 2009
    I was really into the mood and texture of the film, especially with Doyle's work and the Boris soundtrack. There are a number of references to films by people ranging from Melville to Rivette to Costa, though it's far less obvious to be considered a snob's Tarantino film. I did...( read more)n't care for the culture vs. commerce theme of the film, maybe because it is treated so abstractly and artificially.
  • November 6, 2009

  • October 12, 2009
    no limits no control.
    I like the litte details of the film, really nice,
  • September 29, 2009
    oh this film looks awesome!
  • September 29, 2009
    I've been thinking about the dramatized life lately. So this movie is very timely for me.

    Well, 'Are you interested in Jim Jarmusch by any chance? Can you confidently say your life is not dramatized?'

    The similar movies to The Limits of Control among which I have ever seen bef...( read more)ore are COLOSSAL YOUTH (Pedro Costa) and AVALON (Mamoru Oshii), I guess.
  • September 17, 2009
    Jim Jarmuschs New Movie Has A Lot Of Things In Common With His Old Movies, Weirdness. This Movie Features An All-Star Cast Including Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, & Gael Garcia Bernal. The Story Twisted Her & There But Its Easy To Follow, Well, Kind Of. Just Remebers The Matchbooks.
  • August 28, 2009
    "LA VIDA NO VALE NADA"
  • August 26, 2009
    Jarmusch is a national treasure who has done some very cerebral and soulful work. An emptiness pervades this film, however, and I was left feeling unfulfilled.
  • July 27, 2009
    This is a pretty typical movie of Jarmusch; if you are a fan you have a good chance of enjoying yourself.
  • June 25, 2009
    On pourrait résumer le film à une succession de photos à la composition et à la lumière parfaites, avec Issach de Bankolé qui marche dans l'image, avec ou sans étui à guitare à la main.
    Le plus étrange : ce n'est pas mal du tout!!

Critic Reviews


May 22, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

What a drag it is to descend from coolly blank to boringly meaningful. full review

May 14, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

This interminable trifle from indie icon Jim Jarmusch aims to be the last word in ironic cool, but it comes across as the work of a fatigued dilettante. full review

May 8, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The Limits of Control contains all the wonderful things that only Jim Jarmusch can do but lacks some of the necessary things that Jarmusch either can't or won't do. full review

May 7, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

It will frustrate many viewers, and it often frustrated me, but there's something about it that keeps your gaze, despite the self-indulgence of much of the filmmaking. full review

May 7, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[Jarmusch] is making some kind of a point. I think the point is that if you strip a story down to its bare essentials, you will have very little left. I wonder how he pitched this idea to his investors. full review

May 4, 2009
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

It's unfair to call Jim Jarmusch's The Limits of Control the emptiest movie ever made, but I wrote that in my notebook as I struggled to stay awake. full review

May 1, 2009
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

The Lone Man remains inscrutably cool from beginning to end. He is is nothing more a hit man for hire who likes his coffee just so. full review

April 30, 2009
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

Director Jim Jarmusch tests the limits of our patience with this indulgent, minimalist exercise that all adds up to nothing. full review

April 30, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

With The Limits of Control, Jim Jarmsuch gets tangled up in his own deadpan. full review

April 30, 2009
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Jim Jarmusch's Dada meander, shot by Christopher Doyle, is empty and excruciating -- that's really all you need to know. full review

View more The Limits of Control reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • aLiReZaSaFaVi
    August 3, 2008
    Directed by
    Jim Jarmusch

    Writing credits
    Jim Jarmusch (screenplay)



    Cast (in alphabetical order)

    Tilda Swinton

    John Hurt

    Bill Murray

    Gael Garcيa Bernal

    Paz de la Huerta
    Hiam Abbass

    Isaach De Bankolé
    Youki Kudoh

    Luis Tosar
    سscar Jaenada
    Jean-François Stévenin
    Alex Descas

    Produced by
    Jon Kilik.... executive producer
    Yukie Kito.... executive producer
    Gretchen McGowan.... producer
    Stacey E. Smith.... producer

    Cinematography by
    Christopher Doyle

    Film Editing by
    Jay Rabinowitz

    Production Design by
    Eugenio Caballero

    Makeup Department
    Ainhoa Eskisabel.... assistant makeup artist
    Eva Quilez.... body painter artist

    Production Management
    Patricia Nieto.... production manager

    Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
    Richard Diment.... second assistant director
    Christopher Downs.... additional third assistant director
    Adrian Grunberg.... first assistant director
    Ferran Rial.... second second assistant director

    Art Department
    Raْl Monge.... concept artist

    Sound Department
    Drew Kunin.... sound mixer
    Peter Murphy.... boom operator

    Special Effects by
    Pau Costa.... special effects
    Javier H. Moneo.... special effects technician
    Esteban Roma.... special effects technician
    Raْl Romanillos.... special effects

    Visual Effects by
    Glenn Allen.... visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
    Richard Friedlander.... visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
    Eric J. Robertson.... visual effects supervisor

    Editorial Department
    Cam McLauchlin.... telecin

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