The Limits of Control

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The Limits of Control

R

2009

1h 56m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

43%

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128 Reviews

43%

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25,000+ Ratings

A mysterious stranger (Isaach de Bankolé) works outside the law and keeps his objectives hidden, trusting no one. While his demeanor is paradoxically focused and dreamlike all at once, he embarks on a journey that not only takes him across Spain, but also through his own consciousness.

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Critics Consensus

A minimalist exercise in not much of anything, The Limits of Control is a tedious viewing experience with little reward.

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Andrew Male

Empire Magazine

Cool, handsome, self-assured... but, as the existentialists might say, what's the bloody point?

Rated: 3/5

Dec 11, 2009

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David Jenkins

Time Out

A work of dazzling formal discipline that riffs on the simple notion of repetition and variation.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2009

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

It's bold, confrontational cinema that will, as its author intended, have you questioning at every turn just what it is you expect from a modern movie, and more importantly, why.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 11, 2009

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Dustin Chang

Floating World

Only Jarmusch can get away with pretentious movie about art like this. Less hypnotic than Dead Man but infinitely more interesting than anything else he's done since, Limits of Control is more of an exercise in Jarmusch-ism.

Mar 24, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

What begins as an exercise in existentialism and surrealism graduates into the amateurish experiment of a hitman procedural.

Rated: 2/10

Nov 29, 2020

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Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

Some will find [Jarmusch's] excavation intriguing. The rest of us may long for the enticements of meaningful dialogue, character, and story, and a compelling film hero to make it all feel worthwhile.

Jan 27, 2020

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Lloyd S

Didn't get this movie, but enjoyed Paz completely naked. That ass deserve 10 stars!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Valentine P

Near the end of this film, the hitman sits in front of a blank canvas in an art gallery and stares at it. This is the experience you can expect from this movie. Stare as much as you like, you don't have much to go on. Your many questions will go unanswered. Don't waste your time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

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Steve D

Aimless and slow as can be.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/08/23

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Logan M

Call me crazy, but I think I liked it. I won't recommend it or call it a good film. It is quite literally all style and no substance at all. But Jim Jarmusch's direction the film's cast and its cinematography let me enjoy it, even if I can't say very much in its favor.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/12/23

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KEVIN C

The more I watch this one the more I'm drawn in to this dialogue light film of intrigue. From the lead, Isaach De Bankole, whose quiet strength hooks you into every movement he makes and every step he takes you on this journey. Surrounded by an incredible support cast Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Gael Garcia Bernal and the incredibly beautiful Paz de La Huerta , who they certainly didn't go broke on her wardrobe. Interesting film that you're not always sure what's going on but riveting nonetheless.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/14/22

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Audience Member

If you liked Broken Flowers then I would go out on a limb and say that you will like this... a central character strolls around interacting with other more or less random characters discussing more or less random things, and it looks good and it sounds good, and nothing much actually happens. Same goes for Paterson as far as I can remember. Not sure why this one gets down-rated so much, maybe there is the expectation that it is somehow an action movie (it isn't). An easy enjoyable watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

A mysterious stranger (Isaach de Bankolé) works outside the law and keeps his objectives hidden, trusting no one. While his demeanor is paradoxically focused and dreamlike all at once, he embarks on a journey that not only takes him across Spain, but also through his own consciousness.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Producer: Stacey Smith, Gretchen McGowan
Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Pointblank Pictures
Rating: R (Some Language|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $425.0K
Runtime: 1h 56m

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