Watch Only Lovers Left Alive
- R
- 2014
- 2 hr 2 min
-
7.2 (108,552)
Only Lovers Left Alive is a mesmerizing 2013 independent drama movie directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film is a love story between two vampires that have been around for centuries. It stars Tilda Swinton as Eve and Tom Hiddleston as Adam. Set in modern-day Detroit and Tangier, the film explores the boredom that comes with immortality and the beauty that comes with human creation. The film takes a refreshing approach to the vampire genre, giving it depth and richness that is not often seen in popular culture.
In the movie, Adam is a reclusive musician and composer living in an abandoned mansion in Detroit. He spends his time collecting vintage guitars and synthesizers, composing obscure music, and interacting with his only human friend, Ian (played by Anton Yelchin). Adam is deeply disillusioned with the modern world and its lack of authenticity, and thus is contemplating suicide. This is where his wife, Eve, comes in.
Eve is Adam's better half, and she lives in Tangier with an old vampire friend, Marlowe (played by the late John Hurt). She is more content with the world and architecture, culture, and history. She has an insatiable appetite for knowledge and loves to explore. Despite their physical distance from each other, the two stay connected through their mutual love for music, books, and art.
The movie is a beautiful showcase of these two main characters, who are essentially a complement to each other. There is a deep connection between them that is rarely seen, and their relationship is both tender and mystical. As a viewer, you can feel the deep bond that exists between the two of them.
The film explores the concept of immortality and boredom. Being immortal may seem like a desirable trait. However, it is not without its problems, as shown in the film. The vampires in the movie, Adam and Eve, have watched civilization rise and fall, and this endless cycle of history is wearing them down. Adam is bored with life and wants to end it, but Eve is more optimistic and upbeat. Their interactions show a naturalistic human dynamic: contentment versus the pursuit of something more, support versus opposition.
Throughout the movie, the two vampires also face more modern challenges, such as how to obtain blood without killing humans or how to avoid modern danger. Despite being immortal, they are not invincible, and this makes the movie more grounded.
Many scenes throughout the movie are visually striking and pleasantly unusual. A particular scene where Eve and Adam dance in their Detroit mansion, surrounded by books and abandoned synthesizers, comes to mind. Each shot is like a painting, with a focus on symmetry and lighting. The sets are detailed and help create a unique atmosphere throughout the film.
Overall, Only Lovers Left Alive is a dark, moody, and deeply romantic movie that focuses on the beauty of the world and the enduring power of love. It offers a fresh spin on the typical vampire story and has an enduring fascination with the human condition. There are no CGI effects, and that's the beauty of it: the movie prefers to take its time and let you sink in, imagine, and savor each moment.
Only Lovers Left Alive is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 79.