In August 2010, Jarmusch said that Tilda Swinton, Michael Fassbender, Mia Wasikowska and John Hurt had agreed to join the film, described by Jarmusch in May 2011 as a "crypto-vampire love story" but he did not have financing yet. Financing the film was a difficult process for the director. Eventually, Jarmusch received a US$7 million budget from the German "NRW Filmstiftung". In January 2012, Tom Hiddleston replaced Fassbender prior to filming. By early July, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright, and Slimane Dazi rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in early September. Filming took place in Detroit, Michigan; Tangier, Morocco; and Hamburg and Cologne, Germany. Although Jarmusch wanted to shoot this movie on film, and has a general distaste for digital cinematography, he had to use the Arri Alexa for budgetary reasons. He managed to work with low lighting and specific lenses in order to come up with a look he found acceptable enough to work for him.
The film stars Swinton, Hiddleston, Wasikowska, Yelchin, Wright, Dazi and Hurt. At times, the deadpan of the cast, especially Swinton and Hiddleston, becomes, well, a bit deadening, and true wit is in short supply, even though the film remains amusing most of the way.
Only Lovers Left Alive dabbles with tones and themes to varying degrees of success, but sharp wit and a strong cast make this a vampire comedy-drama with enough blood to consume. It's a curious film, one that acknowledges the length of a relationship blatantly without once forgetting to be steadfastly, almost dementedly, silly. It's a smart if minor work from a masterfully innovative director. Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive respects the horror genre without really committing to it. The fact that Jarmusch is saying we're all vampires and not in a subtle way just makes the film more enjoyable, acknowledging that we all have our own likes, or addictions. Jarmusch has put out a very different horror movie for the year (and for him). The film is a fun time in the cinema and actually has more to say than you might think. The commentary is valuable and timely, but the narrative and formal vehicle - even with its wonderful moments - is not that solid. Uniting all the Jarmusch output are achingly cool casts, indescribably eclectic and wonderful soundtracks - and a joyous disregard for the expectations of anyone who walks into one of his films expecting it to obey the rules of the alleged genre. There's something about the story's lack of forcefulness that makes it enjoyable. Jarmusch's primary directing mode has always been that of the observer. He favours letting things play out in long takes, the better to get to know his characters, warts and all.
Simon says Only Lovers Left Alive receives:
Only Lovers Left Alive dabbles with tones and themes to varying degrees of success, but sharp wit and a strong cast make this a vampire comedy-drama with enough blood to consume. It's a curious film, one that acknowledges the length of a relationship blatantly without once forgetting to be steadfastly, almost dementedly, silly. It's a smart if minor work from a masterfully innovative director. Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive respects the horror genre without really committing to it. The fact that Jarmusch is saying we're all vampires and not in a subtle way just makes the film more enjoyable, acknowledging that we all have our own likes, or addictions. Jarmusch has put out a very different horror movie for the year (and for him). The film is a fun time in the cinema and actually has more to say than you might think. The commentary is valuable and timely, but the narrative and formal vehicle - even with its wonderful moments - is not that solid. Uniting all the Jarmusch output are achingly cool casts, indescribably eclectic and wonderful soundtracks - and a joyous disregard for the expectations of anyone who walks into one of his films expecting it to obey the rules of the alleged genre. There's something about the story's lack of forcefulness that makes it enjoyable. Jarmusch's primary directing mode has always been that of the observer. He favours letting things play out in long takes, the better to get to know his characters, warts and all.
Simon says Only Lovers Left Alive receives:
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