5 cabs, 5 cities, 1 night. Night On Earth is perhaps the last film in the initial mostly comedy wave that Jarmusch rode starting with Stranger Than Paradise. After this movie, Jarmusch movies became more serious, with Dead Man & Broken Flowers (not counting Coffee & Cigarettes, which I consider to be a long term side project, a B-sides type thing, but still funny & good at points, more on that flick later). Night On Earth is the first Jarmusch movie that I saw in a movie theater. It was a grand experience. I think some of the people in attendance at a theater in Chicago (I think, maybe DC, memory fuzzy on that item) clapped when they saw a tracking shot that looked like one of Jarmusch's famous sidewalk/road tracking shots from Down By Law or Mystery Train. This Wikipedia entry is a good introduction or a re-introduction to Night On Earth. The Brooklyn & Rome sections of that movie were truly hilarious. Being stuck in a cab for a long time is tiring at times, but still one of the best Jarmusch comedies; this and Down By Law maybe the funniest of all the Jarmusch movies. Will have a poster image for the flick tonight, when I am at the better computer. Also more writing & links on this film coming soon.
By the stream review - from Lincoln Center, NYC viewing - no spoilers The hype is real - By the Stream is very good by Hong movies standards and also normal comedy-drama standards. There were like 30-40 people at Lincoln Center for the 1PM Fri 8/8/25 (opening day) screening of By the Stream. People in that neighborhood are serious about their foreign films. Cinematography is very simple, from a canon XA small sensor HD cam, I could see familiar details, how those cams film the moon, scenes at night - it’s like a 1980s or 1990s early indie cinematography style that we do not see much these days - works well for Hong’s movies. No color grading, very simple video/cinematography. A more fleshed out movie than some recent Hong movies. In the movie a skit is prepped, and we actually get to see it performed. A couple of serious issues are discussed. Some unexpected, light things happen. It’s a comedy-drama chill hangout movie w/ creative South Korean people - good times. Probably o...
