NYFF AT 51 REVIEW: "ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE"

BY MATTHEW CODY LANG

Jim Jarmusch returned to the film festival for the premiere of his new vampire film ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE which stars Tom Hiddleton, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt, Mia Wasikowska, and Anton Yelchin.  Hiddleton and Swinton play lovers, Adam and Eve, who have made their relationship work throughout the many years they've been together. Being vampires, they have been alive for centuries and continue to survive by keeping their relationship fresh and drinking blood, of course. The two have been separated for a while and decide to have a reunion in Detroit where Adam has resided for sometime along with the aid of a human named Ian. Once together, Eve's outrageous sister, Ava, visits and starts a bit of trouble.

 This film will be a favorite for hipsters around the world. The vampires of the film have a swagger that viewers will drink up immediately. They are sophisticated and intellectual. Throughout the film, they dwell in nostalgia and bring up all the celebrities and artists they have met while traveling the Earth.  The performances are wonderful. The relationship between Adam and Eve is magnetic and sexy. Wasikowska plays Eva as a free-spirited, carefree young girl who may have walked the Earth for years but still has yet to learn a thing. Yelchin's character Ian is a fan boy to Adam's music and helps him obtain difficult things for money. He looks like Eddie Vedder and sails by in life by making runs and enjoying music. John Hurt plays Marlowe who advises and assists Eve in Tangier and has known her and Adam for a long time. As usual, Hurt never disappoints.

This is a very fun movie. It doesn't ride alone with the vampire genre; it also exposes the good and bad of relationships over long periods of time. The ending was perfect and left me we wanting more of these characters. Only Lovers Left Alive opens in April, and I cannot wait to see this film blow up.

VERDICT: Must See

Written and Directed by: Jim Jarmusch Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt

BOTTOM LINE: A refreshing vampire film for people who don't usually like that genre.