Paterson

A new year has arrived with new upcoming entries for this blog, ranging from the massive action blockbusters to small scaled movies. With the nice helping of movies I have on my radar this month, I felt it was necessary to start with something very simple yet different than anything I have seen to prepare for the rest of the upcoming entries. With the common trends of action blockbusters, gross out comedies, and dramatic movies that range from being masterpieces to terrible wannabes, I saw a trailer for Paterson as something that stood out for representing a topic not normally shown in the cinematic side: a typical ordinary routine of a slice of life. Another thing I noticed was the casting of the main character, Adam Driver, and how this was a good chance for him to capitalize on the star power he has attracted from Star Wars: The Force Awakens to attract audiences in with this independent movie (yes pun intended). It took me a while to find this movie due to its limited screenings but once I found a theater I rarely go to (Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco), I went into the crowded auditorium to see if this movie was worth the rave reviews I heard and left it feeling very cheerful.

Plot: The story follows a bus driver who writes poetry while going through each day with the same routine habit: He gets out of bed, goes to work, heads back home to his loving wife, has dinner at home, walks his dog on his way to a bar, has only one beer, and goes back home. While this doesn't sound interesting on paper, what makes it stand out are observing details during each activity that adds some nice mellow comedy and enjoyment. The plot is all about experiencing things in the beauty of simple habits, such as overhearing conversations while on public transportation (or driving in this case), having interesting one time conversations with strangers while at a bar or just passing by on the street, or even working on goals that are important to you on the side during your day. This story has no drama, no climax, and no explosions you have grown accustomed to; instead it celebrates loving a lifestyle you have made for yourself that others might find boring. It's well paced in showing this routine day by day of the main character while also letting the characters flesh out the simplicity even further. Overall, Paterson may have the most simple story I have ever seen through making the most of typical everyday routines via observant details and likable characters.

Characters: The two main characters are Paterson (Adam Driver) and Laura (Golshifteh Farahani). Paterson is a bus driver in Paterson, New Jersey (pretty funny and a good writing choice for the movie) who writes poetry and likes his own daily routine. Driver does an excellent job in portraying an aspiring poet who embraces the smaller details he notices as well as loving and supporting his wife. He gives Paterson (both his character and the movie) a great charm you can relate to in terms loving the life he doesn't find mundane and is comfortable with. Laura is Paterson's wife whose everyday routine is finding new activities to learn and pursue of the ordinary kind such as baking something knew or wanting to test out new recipes. Farahani also performs very well in showing her enthusiasm for her husband to share his artistic gift with the world the same way he supports her in trying out new ideas. Overall both actors share great chemistry with each other in portraying a loving couple happy with each other and the lives they lead.

Overall Consensus: Paterson embraces the enjoyment of ordinary lifestyle routines through the likable charm of the main actors and mellow comedy through observant details. ⭑⭑⭑⭑1/2 🍿

Reasons to watch it: You like Adam Driver and/or Golshifteh Farahani. You want to see Adam Driver in a role sees him in a happier mellow tone instead of a dark brooding view with a unique lightsaber, a temper tantrum, and a complex nature (It took me that long to hold off on my Star Wars jokes during this review). You want to see a movie without any drama, action, and climax. You want to see a good representation of celebrating the ordinary mundane life routine you can identify with. You and/or your significant other want to see a charming supporting couple that share great chemistry with each other. You want to see a movie with an adorable dog involved. You are a bus driver and are interested in seeing how it's portrayed in this movie. You want to start 2017 with a simple but effective movie before exposing yourself to the current and/or upcoming entries of the year.

Reasons to avoid it: You don't like the aforementioned actors. You want to see a movie with a complex nature about it. You want to see a movie with action, drama, and/or a climax. You don't want to see a movie that portrays an ordinary mundane lifestyle.