Paterson (2016) - Paterson (2016) - User Reviews - IMDb

7/19/2019 Paterson (2016) - Paterson (2016) - User Reviews - IMDb
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Paterson (2016)
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10/10
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The poetry of people and places
Albert_Orr 5 August 2016
Paterson
Paterson is a celebration of the small details in life. A poetic and charming love-story
about a perfectly ordinary couple, living in a perfectly ordinary town. Opinion
Awards
The town in question is Paterson, New Jersey. Home of poet William Carlos Williams,
FAQ
comedian Lou Costello, and one of America's largest waterfalls. The man in question, in
User Reviews
true Jarmusch style, is also named Paterson (played with pinpoint subtly by Adam
User Ratings
Driver). Paterson is a hard-working bus driver who quietly goes about his duties, all the
while allowing the scenery and eavesdropped conversation to inspire his main passion in External Reviews
life; writing poetry. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and the love of his life, played without fault Metacritic Reviews
by Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, is a stay-at-home creative. She spends her day
baking imaginative cupcakes and making new curtains from scratch. The films narrative Explore More
centres around a seven day week. Each day brings a new variation on the theme, and
each moment a reflection on two people who wholeheartedly accept each other for who
they are. Share this page:
Paterson is a quiet and contemplative film that sits perfectly in Jarmusch's repertoire. It's
a film about how people choose to live their life, regardless of the necessities to work and User Lists Create a list »
make money. Like poetry, the words and images flow with little dramatic tension or
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conflict. Jarmusch explained at Cannes that he intended Paterson to be an antidote to the
modern action film, and if this is the case, I'll definitely be coming back for another dose. Summer
a list of 27 titles
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created 27 Dec 2015
Life itself is poetry

howard.schumann 18 October 2016
2016
I'm not sure if Jim Jarmusch ("Only Lovers Left Alive") in Paterson wants to make a list of 40 titles
America great again by giving us his vision of the way it used to be, or is telling us that created 25 Nov 2015
we only have to look around us to discover that it's great right now. Performed by a
brilliantly authentic Adam Driver ("Midnight Special"), Paterson is not only the name of
the city in New Jersey known for its resident poet William Carlos Williams, but is also his
our list
name. He is a poet whose Haiku-like verses (actually written by Ron Padgett) are a list of 43 titles
reminiscent of the city's own poet William Carlos Williams. He writes a new poem every created 15 Nov 2016
day (or finishes an old one) on the #23 bus he drives before and during his trip. Though
his loving, energetic, somewhat scattered wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani, "Finding
Altamira") keeps asking him to make copies of them, he resists the idea, preferring to Fav
keep them in his secret notebook. a list of 21 titles
created 1 month ago
The film has little conflict, family dysfunction, or mental health issues. It is about what
works and even (wonder of wonders) about a marriage that is not falling apart. Like most
people with jobs and families, Paterson has a daily routine. There's too much variation in
See all related lists »
his day to call it a takeoff on Groundhog Day, but it does have that "same old, same old"
quality. He awakes shortly after 6am, has a bowl of cereal that looks suspiciously like
Cheerios, walks to his job driving the #23 bus through the streets of Paterson, listening
in on conversations (often with a broad smile on his face) of passengers who talk about
anything from Italian anarchists to boxer Hurricane Carter and comedian Lou Costello.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5247022/reviews?ref_=tt_urv 1/21
He comes home at six, corrects a leaning mailbox that moves daily thanks to his grumpy
English bulldog Marvin (RIP), has dinner (some on the exotic side) talks with Laura who
fills him in on the many projects she has going on including painting black and white
circles on draperies, learning to play the guitar, and making cupcakes to sell at the local
farmers market. He then takes Marvin for a walk and goes for a beer at the local pub
where he chats with the owner Doc (Barry Shabaka Henley, "Carrie"), and often acts as a
moderator between Everett (William Jackson Harper, "True Story"), a dramatic actor who
desperately wants to reunite with his ex-wife Maria (Chasten Harmon.
The poems that Paterson reads as the words are flashed on the screen are not about
odes to nightingales (though there's nothing wrong with that) but about down-to-earth
things, such as one about matches, inspired by Ohio Blue Tip matchboxes that have
disappeared from our lives. In "The Run," he says, "I go through trillions of molecules
that move aside to make way for me while on both sides trillions more stay where they
are. The windshield wiper blade starts to squeak. The rain has stopped. I stop. On the
corner a boy in a yellow raincoat holding his mother's hand." In other poems he lets the
world know how much he is in love with his wife, though he confides in us that he
occasionally looks at other woman, something which as far as I know is still legal.
To Paterson, a poem should be simple and direct and he is moved by one such poem by a
9-year-old girl who recites it to him while she is waiting for her mother and sister. He
complements her on her poem about a waterfall, remembering a few lines and reciting
them to Laura when he gets home. Contrary to most films where, except for films about
wealthy financial elites, work does not play a big role in the life of the characters,
Paterson makes real what daily living is about for a majority of working people. The film
has warmth and humor wrapped in a portrait of a city which has seen better days, a city
in which Jarmusch creates a structure of closely observed small moments revealed with
empathy.
Paterson is a man who is not looking for life to give him satisfaction but who brings
satisfaction to it, a man who knows that satisfaction does not depend on accumulating
things but in being grounded in who you are and what you can bring to the world. He
comes to appreciate that poetry is not extraneous to life but that life itself is poetry.
Although the film presents an idealistic picture of a city without visible slums, drugs, and
crime which we know exists, Jarmusch may be providing us with a welcome counterpoint,
showing us the way our cities should be and can be again.
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9/10
The kind of movie you wish you could see more often. A pleasure!
jmarinko925 12 July 2017
Paterson is a character driven joy to watch and see. I felt as if I was watching reality
programming about characters that you can not help but root for. I became emotionally
invested in the first 15 minutes and by films end was concerned for and gave a damn
about all of their outcomes.
The theme of the film is the poetry in everyday life that surrounds us. The triumph's and
setbacks faced by real people and how they deal with the obstacle's that get in the way
of aspirations and dreams. A breath of fresh air from films where the stakes and risks are
larger than life itself. Paterson is a journey in the life of the main character his charming
and spontaneous girlfriend and her territorial but one of a kind dog Marvin.(One of the
greatest movie dogs of all time!) Paterson is not a generic "feel good" movie but I felt
great having seen it!
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10/10
Alluring, Charming, Unforgettable

Raven-1969 22 October 2016
From reflections in a puddle, cardinals singing, waterfalls, a harlequin guitar, shadows,

designer cupcakes and more, the love of a creative and happy couple spills over the small
town of Paterson, New Jersey. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. Paterson, who shares
his name with the community at large, is a bus driver. The daily bus route takes him
through the heart of town where Paterson overhears intriguing conversations, records
observations in his notebook, generates poems and opens lunchbox surprises from his
lovely and artistic wife, Laura. The couple's chemistry, expressed in kisses, constant
conversation, cheer and trust, is remarkable. "She understands me really well," says
Paterson. Lucky guy. Lucky girl. The attractiveness, talent, color and charm of Laura and
Paterson is infused in everything they do including Paterson's nightly tavern visits, the
plain yet peculiar meals they have together, waking up in the morning and walking the
dog.
Even in all its outward simplicity, there is astonishing and wonderful depth to the film
characters, scenes, themes and conversations. This artistic sensibility that is infused in
everyday life, is something I loved so much about Japan and Paterson shows what this
imaginative awareness looks like in small town North America. Truly there is inspiration
and beauty everywhere. While the film delves into music, paintings and other mediums,
its main artistic focus is on poetry. There are nods to the poetry of William Carlos
Williams, Wallace Stevens and others. The poems Paterson comes up with in his jaunts
around town are brilliant and beautiful. A box of Blue tip matches inspires, rather sparks,
a love poem. A poem called Another One is about seeing other dimensions, which is what
this incredible film encourages itself.
Paterson is delightfully layered with surprising wisdom, complexity, diversity and humor
at every turn. Twins make appearances every so often, for example, to remind us of one
of the film themes; there is always someone out there like us that matches our hearts,
and we are never really alone. Articles and images on a tavern wall take us to other
dimensions in time in an instant. The on-screen chemistry between actors Adam Driver
(Paterson) and Golshifteh Farahani (Laura) is critical to the film, and they are more than
up to the task. They are outstanding, alluring and entirely convincing. The compassion
and charm of this film is unforgettable. It reminds us that love and splendor spring from
the unlikeliest of places. Seen at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
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9/10
Poetry can make life easier

brunonovodecastro-54-198253 3 July 2017
Life is made of routines. Everyday we wake up towards the same places, meeting the
same people. If you want drama and action, then this movies isn't fit for you. This is a
movie about routines, but more than that: a movie about how we can find beauty in the
routines. Paterson, a bus driver, does the same everyday in a village that never leaves a
sleepy, foggy state. But he faces each day with joy, together with his ally: the love for
poetry. Watch the movie if you like to see normal people, doing normal things but still,
finding beauty in the small things.
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5/10
Poetic "Groundhog Day" without the fun

Teyss 9 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, I kindly remind IMDb users that, if you want to click on "Yes" or "No" at
the bottom of this review, the question is: "Was the above review useful to you?",
NOT "Do you agree with the above review?", nor "Do you agree with the rating
without reading the above review?". Thank you.
Second, just to explain where I stand, I do like artistic movies, even slow ones,
and even some of Jim Jarmusch's. They are offbeat, contemplative and somewhat
poetic. In "Paterson", poetry is obviously his chief ambition: the main character is
an amateur poet, there are talks about (more or less) famous poets and it relies on
"everyday poetry", if this makes sense.
One poetic component is repetition: the main character has the same name as
the city he lives in; we see many twins (thus a "double repetition"); events occur
repeatedly; there are a few correspondences (for instance Laura has the same
name as Petrarch's muse); the camera focuses on leitmotifs (watch, cereals,
lunchbox, mailbox, beer glass, etc.). All this creates "internal rhymes" that,
interestingly, are missing from Paterson's poems. What about these poems, by
the way? They are sort of nice in their genre, however do we really need to hear
them two or three times each, and see them written on top of that? It would
have required an outstanding style, which I think is lacking.
Another poetic ingredient is oddity: strange elements slowly spill into an

otherwise ordinary life.The black and white motifs created by Laura progressively
invade the house: curtains, painting, carpets, clothing, and even the spare wheel
cover of their car. When Paterson and Laura go to the cinema, they watch a
horror movie which is, echoing Laura's motifs, in black and white (an additional
correspondence). Small objects have a magical touch, notably the matchbox.
Everett draws a gun in the bar. There are uncommon encounters, for instance
the young poetess, the separating couple and the Japanese tourist. Entertaining,
in a way.
Another phenomenon is the "enchanted bubble" sensation. It is a happy life:
Paterson and Laura have a relatively easy time (although he seems on the edge,
yet nothing wrong happens); they love each other; everybody is friendly; it is
always sunny. There are no news from the outside world. The couple is isolated
from family, real friends and neighbours, if any; they have no TV, no computer;
he has no mobile phone. The rare issues are trifle: gang youngsters in a
convertible just provide a fair warning; the Indian driver's problems are not so
dramatic (especially considering how he describes them); Everett's gun is fake;
the bus breaks down without consequences. The only drama is the loss of the
secret book, however Paterson continues to write on another notebook given by
Providence. Moreover, it is comforting to see hidden talents behind apparently
simple personalities (writing, cooking, decorating, chess, etc.): it demonstrates
we all have something to express.
Last, there is some form of humour, notably with the above-mentioned invasive
motifs, the grumpy dog and the contrast between Paterson and Laura. She is
enthusiastic, eccentric, willing to try all sorts of activities; she dreams of fame
and actually is rather talented. He is reserved, quiet, slightly puzzled by her; he
just wants a peaceful life and is talented as well, as a writer. She always is onto
something new (and sometimes weird) while he is stuck in routine. Amusing, to
an extent.
And then? Well, that's about it. The movie mainly relies on these bits and pieces. It
is enough for a short film, however here it drags on for almost two hours. In the
end, the ensemble feels somewhat pointless: this is partly intentional, of course,
but it did limit my appreciation.
So what is missing? Probably, "Paterson" does not go far enough in its ambition.
For instance, the bizarre touch could have been pushed further, to explore a
different dimension. Or the humour. Or the elaboration of a stronger poetic
structure. Or a progression of some sort. Or the inclusion of themes, adding depth
and triggering another emotion than just having a pleasant time.
I cannot rate the movie lower than 5/10 because it is not terrible. There are a few
interesting ideas, characters are likable, it is laid back, it changes form the
standard blockbuster. Yet I cannot rate it higher because it did not appeal to me: it
doesn't have much substance, doesn't evolve and doesn't provide a lasting
impression, unlike exceptional films that linger in the mind for days. Not bad, not
great, just in the middle. Half-baked.
But then, appreciating poetry is very subjective. Hence it is understandable some

persons find the movie captivating and rate it 10/10 (which is easier to defend than
the same rating for "Police Academy 6"). On the other hand, it also is
understandable persons find it utterly boring and rate it 1/10 (which is easier to
defend than the same rating for "Citizen Kane"). Question of personal sensitivity to
this style.
"Paterson" tries to illustrate James Tate's brilliant quote: "Poetry is everywhere; it

just needs editing." Unfortunately, I missed the editing part. Maybe I am narrow-
minded.
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9/10
To be or not to be
oOgiandujaOo_and_Eddy_Merckx 5 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I really felt that although folks mostly agreed that the movie captured the "poetry
of everyday life", there was much more to be had from the movie, which has its
subtleties aplenty. Yes the ruins of Paterson are beautiful, yes the dappling of the
light is fine, yes Laura and Paterson are a beautiful couple but go deeper!
Most art that you initially create is going to be derivative. Paterson's poetry is
essentially derivative of William Carlos Williams. You have to fight through this
phase and find your own creations. So when Paterson's homework is eaten by the
dog (remember to see the humour in this), I was mindful that the dog had done
him a favour, because all of the early stuff is worthless, unless you happened to be
called Rimbaud or Chatterton, and even then I imagine they burned a lot of
doggerel before they wrote a good sentence. Derivation can be incredibly apparent
in painting, for example Mondrian, where he dabbled with other folks' styles
(impressionism, fauvism and even pointillism) before he arrived at his unique
mature expression, for which he is famous (termed neoplasticism).
Writing poetry is difficult, as so eloquently pointed out by WB Yeats:
"We sat together at one summer's end,// That beautiful mild woman, your close
friend, // And you and I, and talked of poetry.// I said, 'A line will take us hours
maybe;// Yet if it does not seem a moment's thought, // Our stitching and
unstitching has been naught.// Better go down upon your marrow-bones // And
scrub a kitchen pavement, or break stones // Like an old pauper, in all kinds of
weather; // For to articulate sweet sounds together// Is to work harder than all
these"
Paterson will need to break a lot of patterns and cobwebs if he wants to become a
great poet.
Many have looked at this portrait of a relationship and saw something sweet and
tender. I'm sorry but I saw two disconnected individuals, a freeloading girlfriend, a
boyfriend without a backbone, and a couple that didn't make decisions together.
They're both good-looking tranquil people, but they're not soulmates. Laura tells
Paterson that his poetry is great, but he needs challenge, not a sycophant, he
needs someone who understands him, not someone who uses his wages to buy an
expensive dog and gets him to walk it every evening! So when he recites a love
poem, it's something false, it's a confection, it's what we want to hear but it's not
true, and this is why he's still so far from greatness.
The use of doubles in the movie is far from trivial, what it's saying is that there is a
different lives Paterson (or any of us) could be leading, we have to make choices
every day about which person we are going to be. The dissolve at the end when
Paterson is lying in bed and seems to disappear momentarily is hinting that he
might be best off disavowing his current life, he should be running a mile. Yet it's a
comfortable life, and everyone likes comfy right? Two guys on the bus have a
discussion where both recall recent encounters with women they liked and both
had managed to fumble the ball through inaction, they chose, they don't live
uncomfortable lives, but they chose not to live passionate lives. So that's why I
chose the title for the review, because we all have to decide whether to embrace
nonbeing, some sort of Taoist concept of naturalness, or whether we want to bristle
our creativity, and streak like comets. Maybe the latter is innately egotistical. I
think that the choice is what this movie is about, be humble or be brave. The movie
is dualistic, no one interpretation is there to be forced on you. For me when he
writes a poem about the song "Swinging on a Star" that's saying something key, he
mentions that the only line he really plays again in his head is the one about being
a fish, not being any of the others lives in the song. Again this is dualistic because
it could be saying that he knows the life of a poet is for him, and it's the only one
he thinks about, so he should embrace it, but if you read the full lyrics of the song,
it talks about the fish who "can't write his name or read a book". Whereas another
option "Would you like to swing on a star // Carry moonbeams home in a jar // And
be better off than you are". Seems like the best though radical option that is open
to Paterson, to change everything, but perhaps he won't take it.
Ending on a more playful note, congratulations to Mr Jarmusch for yet again

working a matchbox into proceedings!
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9/10
Poetry
necid-70967 24 October 2016
I owe Jarmusch a debt of gratitude for being a formative figure in shaping my cinematic
tastes. I shall never forget watching Stranger Than Paradise (1984) in NY in the early
1980s: the novelty, joy, patient camera movement, the fantastic way of playing
Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'I Put a Spell on You' throughout the soundtrack. I have
seen most of Jarmusch's movies ever since and more than three decades later, Paterson
did not disappoint. Jarmusch is as creative as ever, gifting us with a wonderful film. The
set is Paterson N.J., the protagonists are a bus driver also named Patterson and his
artistically creative spouse. Paterson writes poetry, reads poetry, and encounters poetry
wherever he goes and whoever he meets. This is it. And it is as engaging, uplifting,
funny, and as insightful as a film can be. Patterson may be watched as a homage. It
delicately portrays a particular place, Paterson New Jersey, reminding us that a place,
any place, is always a product of the way its present mixes up with its past, of the way
people both walk it and remember it. But the film is not only a homage to a place, it is
also a homage to daily life, to the mundanity of just going to work and having a drink
after a day's work. One striking feature of this film is that there are no bad characters
here, no evil spirits, no mean intentions. In fact the only mean character in the film is the
protagonists' dog, but even the dog is not too bad, just a drag. And miraculously, in spite
of this, the film is totality innocent of naiveté. As if at the hands of a gifted
anthropologist, the camera curiously follows and watches, and the film never falls into
anything resembling judgment and condescension. It is truly genius in its ability to draw
us into the perspective of the protagonists, to embrace their feelings and movements, to
empathize with them and to fall in love with their numerous small encounters.
Remarkably, one of the achievements here is that the film feels and looks timeless. It
could be shot in the 1950s, or the 1970s, and yet it makes no attempt to hide the fact
that it has been shot only recently. Incidentally, Paterson makes a point about not having
a mobile phone. It does wonders to the film and its ability to give homage. A truly
uplifting film.
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8/10
poetry in life
ferguson-6 18 January 2017
Greetings again from the darkness. Do you find poetry in everyday life? What about
poets do you envision loners whose lives are filled with angst and suffering? Our lead
character here is a pretty normal guy who drives a city bus, has a happy marriage, and
walks his dog each evening. He's also a poet – and a pretty interesting one.
Writer/director Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, 2005) often seems like he is making films
for his circle of friends all whom must be much cooler than you and me. This time,
however, he takes an opposite approach and brilliantly focuses on a dude that any of us
could know. Paterson (Adam Driver) is a New Jersey Transit bus driver who writes poetry
based on his observations of life's seemingly minor details (his first poem notes "We have
plenty of matches in our house").
You should be forewarned: there are no murders, kidnappings, bank robberies or

shootouts. Things move rather deliberately. Also missing are any special effects – heck,
Adam Driver even got licensed to drive a bus for the role. Instead, we are forced to slow
down and see each of the seven days of a week through the eyes and words of Paterson.
He observes. He listens. He people watches. He then commits his thoughts to the page
and recites them for our benefit. Sometimes he is eavesdropping on bus passengers,
while other times he curiously tries to figure out the newest "dream" for his beloved wife
Laura (Golshifteh Farahani). Having the soul of an artist, Laura cloaks her world in a
geometric black and white color scheme while energetically bounding from cupcakes to
country and western music to cooking as she pursues her place in life.
There are many Jarmusch touches throughout. Paterson the poet actually lives and works
in Paterson, New Jersey yep, Paterson from Paterson. The interactions at the
neighborhood bar (run by Barry Shabaka Henley) are simultaneously real and surreal –
right down to the wall of local fame (including Hurricane Carter and Lou Costello, but no
mention of Larry Doby). Coincidences abound. A young girl recites her poem to Paterson
her writing style, personal book, and delivery make her seem like his poetic
doppelganger – all while the recurring appearance of numerous sets of twins make us
believe in the law of attraction. Lastly, the closest thing to a villain in the film is
Paterson's bulldog Marvin, in what plays like a love-hate relationship with the mailbox
being center-ring.
Another local Paterson (the city) aspect is Paterson's (the poet) admiration of the works
of William Carlos Williams, a poet whose style he emulates. One of the terrific scenes
near the end involves a spontaneous interaction between Paterson and town visitor
(Masatoshi Nagase) that takes place next to The Great Falls, and serves as a reminder
that we should accept who we are, no matter the challenges or lack of glory. This is truly
director Jarmusch's ode to the artist/poet in each of us and in ordinary life. Creating art
as best we can is a very personal thing, and for some it's a need - while for others it's
one of life's simple pleasures. Regardless, a "normal" life with daily routines is not to be
scorned, but rather embraced, should you be so fortunate. If you doubt this, Paterson
asks, "Would you rather be a fish?" **NOTE: sharp moviegoer eyes will recognize Kara
Hayward and Jared Gilman, who both had their debut in Wes Anderson's Moonrise
Kingdom (2012).
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1/10
It was the dog that dunnit.

postmortem-books 9 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Here's the summary: A bus driver named Paterson drives a bus in a town called
Paterson, NJ. He lives with a woman who doesn't work but paints black and white
designs on everything that doesn't move. A week in the life of this pair runs as
follows: He gets up and goes to work. Writes some poetry in a notebook. We watch
as he walks to and from work. There are twins dotted all over Paterson. She buys
an expensive guitar as she wants to become a country singer and she also makes
cup cakes. There is a dog called Marvin. Marvin eats the poetry notebook. Paterson
despondent. But then meets a Japanese man who asks him if he is a poet and
gives him a new blank notebook. Closing credits. By which time the red hot pins
stuck in my eyes had become permanently embedded. What sounded like clapping
rose from one section of the meagre audience, except it wasn't clapping. It was a
woman slapping her partner trying to wake him up.
Marvin was good.
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7/10
A whimsical essay into the ordinariness of human existence

CineMuseFilms 29 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Jim Jarmusch films can be challenging and Paterson (2016) is no exception.

Audiences who are accustomed to plot or character-driven stories will find
themselves grappling instead with a mood in search of a reason. Without a genre
label to help, we must work through an exploratory essay into the ordinariness of
human existence elevated occasionally by the creative impulse to write poetry. If it
sounds cerebral, then it's a Jarmusch film. Paterson (Adam Driver) is a bus driver
in Paterson, USA. If that sounds odd, then it matches this whimsical story based on
the typical week of a nondescript transport worker who lives not a life but a
routine. His unchanging beige existence is in bold relief to his beautiful Iranian-
born wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) who is artistically creative and continually
reshaping her goals. Their lovable and irascible bulldog Marvin is the story's
primary source of humour. Paterson drifts into writing poems throughout his day,
composing lines in his head, and sometimes his silken words appear as on-screen
text framed by banality like an urban bus window. His free-flowing verses are a
contrast to his symmetrical and ordered life. While Laura thinks they should be
shared with the world, he is bashful about them because the sentences do not
rhyme. The pattern of his days is always the same, punctuated by what happens to
others rather than what happens to him. Quirky characters create capsule sketches
that represent the mundanity of living: a woe-riddled supervisor, a broken
romance, a curious Japanese tourist, overheard passenger conversations, and a
broken down bus all part of a quiet existential stream notable only for its
inconsequence. Narrative turning points work like signposts that tell us that
something significant is about to occur in a story, but there are none here. Each
time it appears possible that the story might progress in some interesting new
direction nothing happens, perhaps to reflect how Paterson lives his life. There are
layers of unreality across many scenes and the dialogue often feels as if it is being
delivered at a script reading: clear diction, perfect rhythm, without emotion. This
slight air of inauthenticity forms a backdrop for the sincerity and lyricism present in
Paterson's poetry. It may or may not be good poetry; that is not the point. It is
about contrasting layers of reality and they are evident elsewhere, always with the
same effect. When a small girl who also writes poetry says "Cool. My bus driver is a
poet" we feel like responding: "well, why not?"; creativity hides everywhere. Not
everyone will stay with this film because of its minimalist pace, deadpan humour,
prolonged silences, understated acting and noticeably sparse music to lift the
emotional tone. It is devoid of regular cinematic artifice and feels like we have
momentarily glimpsed into the inner space of a true gentle soul and can walk away
the better for it. Author: cinemusefilms
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10/10
Poetic afterglow
dogacol 17 April 2018
I am not sure if it is because I appreciate Jim Jarmusch's style or it's because this film is
something else, but I absolutely loved it. Throughout the film, I had frisson down the
back of my neck. This film made me realize how much I love poetry. I had never realized
that I liked poetry, on the contrary, I thought I hated poetry. When the film ended I ran
to get my poetry books out and read some of them out loud to myself. This is what
cinema is about. It doesn't matter if you like a film or not. If a film makes you feel
anything at all, to see from different perspectives and immerse yourself in an imaginary
visual and temporal experience that you know it's an illusion from the beginning then the
job's done. Jarmusch also always shows how the appreciation of insignificance becomes a
soothing state almost like a stoic. I love the feeling of "afterglow" of some films. This film
has it. The "afterglow" of every day, ironic, poetic existence.
Permalink
7/10
Poetry, happiness and simplicity

rubenm 12 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It's not so easy to say what 'Paterson' is about. It's about a week in the life of a
bus driver - that's the easy answer. A week in which not much happens, by the
way. But it's also about poetry: the bus driver writes poems while waiting behind
the wheel. It's about happiness: the film is drenched in it. And about simplicity: the
bus driver's life is extremely simple. He wakes up at about quarter past six, kisses
his sleeping wife, eats a cereal breakfast, walks to the bus garage, drives his bus,
and returns home to the evening meal his wife has prepared for him.
Jim Jarmusch shows this seven times: once for each day in the week. But there are
slight differences: sometimes he wakes up at half pas six, his wife's position in bed
is different each day (once she's not there because she got up before him), the talk
at dinner depends on the events of the day. And small things happen every day:
there's an incident at the local pub, the bus breaks down, his wife sells cupcakes at
the farmer's market.
When the average Hollywood blockbuster is a roller-coaster ride, this film is a quiet
walk in the woods. Some people may find it boring. I didn't. 'Paterson' is a special
film, because it has a very rare characteristic: it's not about anything in particular.
Or is it about life itself? It's up to the viewer to decide.
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9/10
Deeply relaxing and enjoyable

rob-benson 8 January 2019
It takes ten minutes to get used too the slow pace and unorthodox nature of the film,
then it becomes a warm bath on a cold winters day which you dont want to get out of.
The film shows us a week in the life of a couple living a seemingly happy and slightly
bohemian lifestyle in Paterson, New Jersey. Adam Driver is a bus driver going also goes
by the name of Paterson, who writes poetry every day, drawing inspiration from what at
first seem mundane conversations on the bus he drives, and also from his lover, played
by Golshifteh Fahani, who spends her days painting and making cupcakes. The poetry
Adam Driver writes appear on screen in a soft font which is pleasant on the eye, as he
reads them out to himself.
The whole film is routed in poetry, and is clearly made by people who love the art form,
especially the poetry of William Carlos Williams, whose poems are quoted continually
throughout the film. After a while it felt like the films itself was like beautiful poem that
you wish would just go on and on. This wasn't only due to the poetic elements, but also
down the softly spoken characters and dialogue, the beautifully shot streets and houses
and ambling pace of the film. Nothing about this film feels rushed, but at the same time
it lingers a lot but never outstays it welcome. The characters are utterly believable, the
chemistry between Driver and Fahani tangible and delicate, as they wake up in bed
together each morning, signifying a new day.
It drew me in very quickly, and after a short while i relaxed back and let the film cast its
soft spell on me, leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling for hours afterwards.
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9/10
Paterson (Jim Jarmusch, 2016)

deanskendy 30 August 2018
Charming, quiet and subtle. A film about the moments that make up life, and the beauty
to be found in these moments, if only we dare to look.
Permalink
9/10
It Is Simple
markkbranson 18 April 2018
I decided to watch this film because of two friends who claimed they did not understand
what is happening and that they did not know how to watch a movie. I saw the and the
answer is simple. In fact, the answer is in the movie itself!
If you are a fan of William Carlos Williams or a fan of Archibald McLeish (both poets),
then the answer is throughout the film. Unlike many of today's films, this one celebrates
the essence of a film by just being a film. McLeish offers an answer in his poem, "Ars
Poetica" where he asserts a poem does not "mean," it simply is.
Williams also offers an answer in his works: there is an inherent value in the the
"thingness of things" whether it is the bowl of plums reference in this film or in the red
wheelbarrow.
What Jarmush has given us is an excellent example of what these two poets told us years
ago: there is value in the small and simple things of life. That is all this film is about and
we are told, point blank, at the end of the movie: the Japanese poet asks Paterson if he,
too, is a poet. Paterson says, no; he is only a bus driver. The Japanese poet says, "This
could be a poem by William Carlos Williams."
And, indeed, that is what we have just seen.
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7/10
Celebrates the mundane in a surprisingly entertaining and subtly life-

affirming way.
Pjtaylor-96-138044 1 March 2018
'Paterson (2016)' is a feature built entirely upon, and indeed celebrating, the mundane. It
follows a seemingly regular week in the life of a bus-driving poet and doesn't stray too
far from the confines of reality, whilst still managing to have a fair amount to say and
packing a hefty level of symbolism into its relatively layered narrative. The character
work is nice and deep, even though there are really only two major ones, and the film
works within the smallest of margins to deliver its changes and growth but still certainly
delivers both. It also feels palpably real and remains remarkably entertaining. It's a nice,
subtly life-affirming feature that isn't ground breaking but is sort of beautiful in its own
unique, low-key kind of way. 7/10
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7/10
Not so much a film as a painterly poem

E Canuck 14 October 2016
Saw Paterson at the Vancouver Film Festival today and enjoyed to a certain point, while
becoming a bit tired of some of its cuter elements (such as the bus driver poet's
decorating girlfriend) and the modernist or minimalist pace, which grows contrived in the
repetition of both routine days and quirky features. The film is a tribute to Paterson, NJ's
famous poet, William Carlos Williams and to the notion of celebrating reality by recording
it in a faithful, painterly fashion without embellishment or sermonizing.
If you don't demand a lot of action or forward motion you are more likely to enjoy this
film as a kind of modernist poem in itself. You have a cute grumpy dog to entertain you,
an idealized love relationship to wonder about, and some complete red herrings such as
omnipresent twins to distract you from the static still-life character of the film.
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3/10
Can somebody please explain !

basel-bb-00 24 March 2017
As most people rated the movie between 7 and 10 then I must have a serious problem
rating the movie with only 3 of 10 . All I could see is a driver who writes poems which are
not that good in my opinion and wakes every morning and so on , with a GF who adores
white and Black and do nothing but staying home doing her strange rituals while he
works hard to bring her a Guitar she can't play . I mean it's super boring ! No story No
conversations No Nothing ! but since I was raised in the Middle-East I suppose there is
something missing because of my Eastern culture . I'm not saying the movie was bad ,
on the contrary , I was bad rating and reviewing . so please , shall anybody explain the
secret of the high rating ?
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1/10
Mental torture...
trans_mauro 31 January 2017
Instead of waterboarding and other "benign" types of torture, black-ops people should
use films like Paterson to try and extract information from dangerous criminals.
The film is so devoid of anything that after watching it for more than 30 minutes even the
most hardened criminals will be clamoring to confess anything.
The emptiness of Paterson is like a mental black hole that sucks anything we have in our
heads. It is like a sponge that absorbs any thoughts, creative ideas we may try to
process while watching it.
It is dull, slow, amorphous, insipid and as ugly as the main star in the film ( a bulldog....)
Paterson is another one for the artsy-fartsy crowd.
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4/10
Needlessly slow, lifeless

elenorabirch 18 February 2017
I wish someone had warned me about how painfully slow and quiet this wretch of a
movie is before I decided to see it in the theater. I can appreciate that the filmmaker was
trying to be artistic, but so much of the film relied on images of people sleeping or sitting
or on the never- ending rambling of awful poetry being recited, and those long,
uneventful moments made for an extremely tense and awkward movie theater
experience. Sitting in the cramped quiet listening to my neighbors cough and praying for
some on screen action made for a very regrettable two hours of my life, and effectively
killed any meaning this story might have been trying to provoke. The characters in the
film were likable enough, but the majority of comic relief came from spontaneous shots
of the family's dog being adorable. By the end of the movie, I wanted to punch each of
the characters in the face, except for Jared Gilman's, who is far too talented to be
relinquished to an unnamed part in a lifeless film. If you have to see this movie, rent it
On Demand and have it playing in the background while you do something more
productive.
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9/10
8/10 stars
TheOneThatYouWanted 17 November 2017
Well, that was a pleasant little film. I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about it.
During the film I was looking for clues of a twist or alternative plot. But no - which is a
good thing. The film is far from perfect, camera angles and etc are a bugaboo but
whatever. This is a nice little reflective film and you need something like that every now
and then. Im going to overrank this a nine.
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1/10
No point, No Plot
opus-07543 23 January 2017
I really wanted to like this film. The trailer looked interesting but it was just awful. Like a
few others that have reviewed it, it really was like Groundhog Day. I usually like a
character study or relationship study in a film but this one just had no point and no plot.
Bus driver who writes poetry with quirky girlfriend who paints weird designs on
everything she sees. And lots of shots of Paterson, New Jersey. That's the movie. Adam
Driver does a good job with the script he was given. I thought it might be a little like
Garden State (actually Driver reminds me a little like Zach Braff). Very disappointed. Had
high hopes.
Permalink
8/10
Very easy to enjoy

dexton-84908 15 November 2017
I've seen films with much more action than this that I've found boring. This film in its
simplistic terms sounds boring maybe. But for some reason I just really dug the mood of
the film. It struck a chord in me and I was so glad it stayed true to it's feel, beginning to
end.
There's definitely a delicately implied menace in the background. The tension of

wondering if this will materialize really adds to it's character.
Adam Driver is perfect in this. His voice reciting the poetry is oddly hypnotic. Golshifteh
Farahani is quirkily marvelous too. Marvin the dog is simply beautiful and so touching
that I couldn't help but be suckered into the mood of this film with this brilliant cast.
I didn't want it to end. Very solid 8 out of 10 from me. A film for daydreamers
Permalink
9/10
A Gentle, Satisfying Slice of Life

Miles-10 15 September 2017
A week in the life of a young bus driver-poet named Paterson, who lives in Paterson, New
Jersey (director Jim Jarmusch must enjoy this conceit), is the focus of this gentle drama.
While it begins slowly, things do happen, and, ultimately, it all pays off. Everything about
the movie is gentle, from the humor to the little bit of violence. (I know that might seem
unlikely.)
Jarmusch telegraphs a lot of the plot points, but at least there is a plot to anticipate. For
examples, I knew that Everett was going to do something crazy before he did it. (Hasn't
Paterson just asked Marie whether or not Everett might do something crazy?) And I knew
that Marvin was going to do something crazy, too, before he did it. (Hasn't the camera
shown the glint in Marvin's eye before Paterson and his lovely wife, Laura, go out to
dinner and a movie? And hasn't Laura spent much of the movie warning Paterson to take
precautions?)
Paterson, played by Adam Driver, is a mild-mannered guy. His routine could be described
as dull. It is almost the same every weekday, but the nature of life is that at least one
interesting occurrence is bound to break up the daily routine, and that happens here. A
nice touch is the series of overheard conversations among bus patrons. A brief
conversation can tell a lot about people. And a recurring gag is that after Laura tells
Paterson that she dreamed about having twins (the young couple is childless), Paterson
keeps seeing twins of various ages throughout the rest of the movie.
Paterson wakes up every day, kisses Laura, eats breakfast, walks to work, drives his
route, writes poems in his notebook, then goes home. Every evening, he finds his
mailbox post leaning, and he straightens it up. The next evening he repeats this ritual.
(Finally, we find out what has been making the box lean over.)
After dinner, Paterson always takes his dog for a walk, but this is really an excuse to go
to the local watering hole where he knows Doc, the bartender. Doc has a wall dedicated
to famous people from Paterson, including the twentieth century comedian Lou Costello,
whom Doc and Paterson agree is probably the most famous of the many famous
Patersonians.
"I wonder where his partner, Bud Abbott, was from?" muses Paterson.
"He was from New Jersey, too," replies Doc. "Ashbury Park. Born 1895."
Doc seems to know everything. He is also looking forward to a chess tournament over
the weekend.
"I'm getting my ass kicked," Doc says as he moves a chess piece on a board sitting on
the bar.
"Who are you playing?" asks Paterson after a look around.
"Myself," says Doc.
Few movies are made about poets, especially not about the undiscovered ones. Paterson
narrates little poems on his way to work, and he writes them in his notebook, before he
starts his bus and on his lunch break. (Jarmush got real-life poet Ron Padgett to provide
all but one of the poems used in the movie; Jarmusch himself wrote the poem, "Water
Falls".) Paterson also writes at a bench in his basement. His books, lined up on the
bench, show his taste in poetry. Wallace Stevens and, of course, William Carlos Williams,
a Paterson resident. These poets have something in common with Paterson in that they,
too, had day jobs. Stevens was an insurance executive, and Williams was a medical
doctor. Paterson also has a slim volume by Ron Padgett.
Paterson adores Laura and supports her, even though he may not fully understand all of
her eccentric ideas. She is always painting things black and white, including walls,
curtains and clothing. (Paterson checks to make sure the paint is dry.) She wants to buy
an expensive guitar (a black and white Harlequin, natch) and dreams of becoming a
Nashville star. She also thinks she could parlay her baking skills into a cupcake business.
She creates a brussel sprout and cheddar cheese pie for dinner. Paterson may have his
doubts about some of these things (I think he is less than thrilled about the expensive
guitar), but he is supportive in all cases, just as Laura supports his poetry. He also always
asks workmates and strangers how they are and seems to be genuinely interested. He
looks out for a ten-year- old who has been left alone, and he seems unafraid when a
gang- banger questions him on the street. A photo in his home appears to be of him in a
U.S. Marine uniform, but nothing is ever said about this. One suspects that that might
represent the only time he ever left Paterson.
Although it seems as if nothing is happening at first, things do, and, if you give this
movie a chance, you might be rewarded.
Permalink
8/10
An interesting portray of the daily life.

maurodc 4 August 2017
'Paterson' tells the story of a bus driver, who spends his time hearing conversations of
the passengers of the bus he is driving and writing poems his wife, who wants to become
a country singer, and how they support each others achievements and goals.
Yeah, probably the synopsis doesn't sound very interesting because it seems that it is a
story about the daily life with no conflict at all, but believe it or not, its poetical way to
tell the story makes this a very interesting film with details that should not be missed.
The script and the performances probably weren't very impressive, but it doesn't mean
they're bad. They're how they had to be: Real. Convincing. Just that. It's not a film that
really needed impressive performances.
Other things that I personally liked about this, were the cute scenes of the two
protagonists together, how they supported each other every time. I couldn't avoid to
smile in all those scenes. The settings were very good too. And the script was perfectly
balanced and even funny at times.
In general, it is a movie that has to be seen by everyone who appreciates those little
details of the daily life, and for those who doesn't, so they start appreciating them better.
Thanks for reading!
Permalink
8/10
A look into the everyday life of a bus driver and inspiring poet
a-tamar-gat 7 July 2017
Some everyday magic in this one - capturing the little things in life that make life what it
is. Great feel to it. Put me at ease for days after watching - gives off good vibes but also
thought provoking. I was a bit iffy about Adam Driver in the lead after seeing him only in
Girls and Star Wars but he was VERY good and played a completely different character
that what I knew him for. Definitely made me want to watch more Jarmusch films - the
man has delicacy.
Permalink
2/10
No need for this.

xposipx 12 March 2017
Jim Jarmusch's films often create witty, thought-provoking dialogue with odd characters
to captivate the viewer. Paterson, however, is ordinary in every way.
Paterson focuses on the ordinary, meaningless tasks of everyday life and the audience
waits patiently for something to happen. It becomes painfully obvious that the overall
point is in the "beauty" of seemingly ordinary instances and observations. The main flaw
is this: we experience this every day and it is completely paradoxical to watch a movie
based on this concept when we see these events daily. It reminds me of having to watch
Groundhog Day without the protagonist growing beyond the first day.
Jarmusch's direction does not help or hinder the film, but the writing severely lacks any
passion at all whatsoever. This seems intentional, but the actors painfully deliver
awkward lines that do not reflect natural conversations. It actually felt like many of them
were reading the script for the first time while they were on screen. Due to this, the
movie pitifully plods along predictably and ends with a mild artistic, predictable message
as well.
What Jim Jarmusch accomplished with Coffee and Cigarettes and Stranger Than Paradise
was impressive, but this takes many, many steps back and will be forgotten by the time I
watch another movie.
Permalink
1/10
Boring dude bores audience

jackfalconer-79962 6 February 2017
Appalling. This film disgusted and angered in equal measure. Come on! Please! What the
hell was going on? I thought for several moments that Paterson's entire friend group
were imaginary, predictions I made would have made for a better screenplay. Sorry, but
this was just a total waste of time.
As for Adam Driver - this actor has one single expression that he maintains consistently
throughout the entire film. The best thing about the film was the superbly beautiful
actress Golshifteh Farahani, who did a decent job of playing a moronic character
obsessed with boring artwork. Farahani's art and Driver's poetry was so terrible that it
was laughable, was that the joke?
You don't have to be a great artist or painter to enjoy life every day - I suppose that's
what the film is about - but seriously, I could film myself doodling on a notepad and
create something more interesting.
Garbage. 1 out of 10
Permalink
10/10
As refreshing as the Passaic Falls

alanjj 19 October 2016
"Paterson" is largely filmed in the old industrial town of Paterson, New Jersey, and pays
homage to Paterson and all the people who came from there, in particular, William Carlos
Williams. Adam Driver plays a bus driver named Paterson, who drives a bus through a
downtown route in Paterson. He writes poetry, and lives in Paterson (his house might
have been filmed in Yonkers, alas) with his wife who stays at home and paints everything
in the house black and white. They have a dog, Marvin, who is another star of this movie.
Yeah, it's charming and delightful, yet it's by the icy-cold Jim Jarmusch, go figure. It's
about poetry and poets and people who come from Paterson, like Lou Costello and Allen
Ginsburg and Hurricane Carter and Frederick Reines, the Nobel Prize- winning physicist
who co-discovered the neutrino. Several scenes are filmed at the beautiful Passaic Falls
(unfortunately, it must have been a dry season, the falls are a bit trickly). It's a deadpan
comic delight-- and there is nothing in the whole movie about crime or decay or
corruption or evil. It's wholly sweet, and especially sweet for North Jerseyites, who often
fail to see the poetry around them.
Permalink
1/10
Not a fan of poetry? DON'T watch this

tannja_15 2 January 2017
I cannot begin to understand why this film is considered so good. But then again, I don't
understand why the things he writes are considered poetry, so it must have something to
do with that. It's a boring character, in a boring town, married to a crazy person, who
owns a dog that he hates and drives a bus. NOTHING HAPPENS. I've seen reviews that
say the "beauty is in the details". Maybe. But it's a very deeply boring and annoying film
for those of us who are not fans of poetry for the sake of poetry. I like slow films, I like
old films, I enjoy independent films very much and I like a certain kind of poetry
(classical to be specific). But I don't like a film without an argument, no matter how
many nice frames there are in it, just like I don't like a poem without rhyme. If you're
anything like me, don't watch it. If you completely disagree with me, then you're going to
love it!
Permalink
10/10
A great movie by a great filmmaker at the top of his game.

gsygsy 21 January 2017
PATERSON is the best Jim Jarmusch movie for years, possibly his best ever. To his
admirers, it will come as a welcome relief after the dreariness of his previous film, ONLY
LOVERS LEFT ALIVE.
The eponymous Paterson is, at the same time, a laconic bus driver, the New Jersey city
through which he steers his bus, and the epic poem by William Carlos Williams set in the
city. By the simple, brilliant expedient of making his bus driver a poet, Jarmusch delivers
a kind of continuous triple-exposure: all three Patersons are on the go throughout the
film. This enables apparently random episodes, such as conversations which Paterson the
driver eavesdrops upon while driving his route, to be integrated perfectly into the
structure of the film. Everything feels connected in a remarkable way.
That this never comes over as an intellectual idea, but instead as a story full of humanity
and compassion, is largely down to the casting of Adam Driver as - yes, probably another
wry Jarmusch gag - the driver. Observant, thoughtful, loving, tender, but also strong and
capable of decisive action in what appears to be an emergency, Driver's gives a
performance that is both a contradiction of what we think of as acting and its apotheosis.
It's completely brilliant, beyond mere praise. There isn't an award for something like this,
but if there were, Driver would walk away with it.
The supporting cast are all fine and dandy, notably Golshifteh Farahani as Paterson's
lover, and the late, great Nellie as her bulldog.
The film is mercifully free from conventional plotting. When a little moment of it pops up,
you can see the turn of events coming quite a way off, but it's hardly a flaw.
There's no way this can not be worthy of 10 out of 10, because it's a great movie by a
great filmmaker at the top of his game.
Permalink
1/10
Shocking plot spoiler!

andelar 10 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Please carefully note the spoiler warning, because you're in for an absolute shock! I
am about to reveal the entire plot.
OK here it comes!
Nothing. Nothing happens. Absolutely nothing.
Throughout the movie I kept encouraging my co-viewers "No, let's not switch it off,
something will happen now, they are still setting up the routine to then break it.
Something interesting will happen now!"
But it doesn't. Nothing happens.
At the last scene I was hoping that the guy would wake up at a different time than
the previous 7 days. That's the level of surprise and adventure I was hoping for. He
didn't. He woke up same time. The End.
I registered this IMDb account after reading IMDb for at least a decade specifically
to write this review.
Probably you are not going to read this review before watching the movie given the
spoiler alert, which means you have now also already watched it and reading this
review to get sympathy. I'm sorry for you mate. Really. Peace.
Permalink
3/10
Where was the Story?

ldelsonno 5 March 2017
I liked both main actors including the dog and I tried to like the movie but it was going
nowhere. By Wednesday I got the story-line but didn't stay through Saturday. I usually
enjoy stories that build relationships but could find it in this one. Sadly, I had to leave
before Sunday. I hope I didn't miss anything significant.
Permalink
4/10
Boring waste of time

phutcheson-48844 1 February 2017
This has got to be the most uneventful, boring film I have seen in a while. There are
some interesting characters and Adam Driver is good, but the story is just about as dull
as watching paint dry. Maybe I am missing the point or this is supposed to have hidden
meaning and make a statement, but all I can say is that statement was lost in the dull
dialogue and non- event events. I was left wondering what was the point of the film other
then to highlight the mundane existence of some people. The problem is that I cannot
see this as a normal life without the character getting put on medication for depression.
After Rogue One, I was expecting much more from Driver. Do yourself a favor and wait
for the DVD on this one, if you must see it at all. I wish I could get the time back that I
wasted watching this snooze fest.
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3/10
It is a bad film.
undercoverman-1 4 January 2017
Paterson is really the most useless and without meaning film that I have ever seen. One
hour and fifty-eight minutes of nothing. A sad man with a stupid girlfriend (really stupid)
spends his days, one after one in a slow path to the void of his existence. Paterson is not
a film. The dog is sad. The girlfriend is sad and without brain. The barman is an old man.
There is an actor who doesn't know what is love. The bus is old. The boss is unlucky.
There is not rhythm. There is no plot. You can hope that something will happen, but at
the end you become very angry, because you have paid for the bill and you lost a couple
of hours of your life.
Permalink
2/10
This Film Didn't have to be there

eternalreoccurrence 12 February 2017
Paterson is one those movies that you can skip it half way through and still lose nothing ,
the main character is a bus driver who goes on with his mundane and boring life like a
zombie , his wife on the other hand is suppose to be seen as a creative and energetic
woman with talent but honestly i got the impression that she is a retard who just got out
of the clinic. As for the Story, there isn't much to say about it , the whole thing is filled
with lots of irrelevant,repetitive and self-conscious bull****. the characters seem to be
out of place and nothing really fits together. One of the underlying themes in Paterson is
Love , but Laura and Paterson aren't even convincing as normal couple let alone lovers
.in particular Golshifte farahani plays her part terribly and everything about their
relationship seems fake and bloodless. The movie fails miserably in everything it tries to
deliver.
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4/10
"BANG!!!" (that was the sound of my bubble bursting...

labrat70 16 February 2017
As with Manchester by the Sea, this was another long anticipated movie on my watchlist
to see. And yet again, as with Manchester by the Sea, my excitement turned to
disappointment as I struggled to keep my eyes open and from nodding off to sleep.
Adam Driver has a spot in my heart and I believe he is a strong up and coming actor;
one to keep a close eye on. With that said, I am not sure why he was cast in this role. His
character makes for a very unlikely match in every way, shape, and form. However, his
was the strongest performance, which was far from his best. The rest of the acting was
absolutely criminal.
I am still struggling with the 1 hour 57 minutes of my life I will never get back, along
with the fact that I am starting to lose trust in my fellow IMDb reviewers that gave this
film an average of 7.7 when this flick should have barely been able to climb to a 6.
Perhaps if you are an artsy fartsy person who is big into poetry, and BAD poetry at that,
or perhaps you are a native to Paterson and want to watch it for posterity, then this flick
just might be for you. As for the rest of us, our time would be better spent walking our
dogs, making cupcakes, having a beer, etc etc etc...
Permalink
8/10
For the love of poems and buses

paul-allaer 21 January 2017
"Paterson" (2016 release; 118 min.) brings the story of a bus driver named Paterson,
living in Paterson, NJ. As the movie opens, we are told it is "Monday", and Paterson is
asleep in ed with his girlfriend Laura. Peterson gets ready for work, and walks to the bus
depot, where he drives bus route 23, Paterson. On his break he writes a love poem in his
"secret book". After work and having had dinner with Laura, Paterson males his daily
evening walk with Marvin, the couple's dog. At this point we're not even 15 minutes into
the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just
have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from veteran indie UK writer-director Jim
Jarmusch, who most recently brought us "Only Lovers Left Alive". Here Jarmusch brings
us a quite, intimate little film about the ordinary lives of a lovely couple and a few other
people within Peterson's circle. The movie feels like it's made for the love of poems and
buses. Ah yes, the poets and their poems. If you don't care for poetry, do yourself a favor
and check out a different movie instead, you will thank me later. I quite enjoyed the
poems written by the Paterson character (actually penned by Ron Padgett), and along the
way you will also learn a thing or two about William Carlos Williams, and others. As it
happens, this is the second consecutive weekend that I see Adam Driver in an
outstanding performance: last weekend it was in Martin Scorsese's "Silence" and now
this. Wow. Equally enjoyable (and very easy on the eyes) is Iranian actress Golshifteh
Farahani as Laura. It is a darn shame that she doesn't take on more roles in American
films (she is based in Paris). Last but not least, there is a nice electronic score, courtesy
of SQURL, a duo consisting Carter Logan and... Jim Jarmusch (yes, the man can do it
all!).
"Paterson" opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The
early Saturday evening screening where I saw this at was attended nicely. You could hear
a pin drop in the theater at certain moments in the movie. If you are looking for
something that is as far away from your average Hollywood big budget action movie, I
think you will find "Paterson" very much to your liking. "Paterson" is HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED!
Permalink
4/10
A pseudo-talented poet writes poor poems, thinks about life, Do not be

fooled by the reviews the movie was BAD
ahamarsheh 5 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
watching this movie was one of the most difficult things i have done this week. It is
a slow, bland, uninspired, unwashed, poorly thought out, overstretched, pale and
most of all a BORING movie. What makes it all worse is that what was the grand
finale was so easily predicted almost in the first half of the movie.
That being said, the reason why i am not giving this abomination a 1 star is that it
had some good things about it. I do commend all of the members of the cast, i
believe they did what they could with the little they were given, the
cinematography and the music were fine as well. I liked certain aspects of the
poetry despite the fact that it felt forced at times.
Now, to the horrible part.
The only thing more annoying than the girlfriend/wife character was the grunting
dog, man what a poorly written character that woman was, ditsy , childish, boring,
could actually be suffering from OCD and very very unlikable.
Adam drivers character "paterson", was remarkably boring , the character is in no

way special , men like this do exist and are quite difficult to handle.
Permalink
7/10
A unique and charming indie film

proud_luddite 19 February 2018
Paterson (Adam Driver) is a local bus driver in Paterson, New Jersey. The viewer
witnesses a week in the life of Paterson including his domestic life with his common-law
partner Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) and their dog; his work-life; and his social life in the
evenings as he visits a local bar. He also expresses his creative side writing poetry.
The daily routine, especially the work days, have a similar pattern but they are never
repetitious. Within the daily structure, there is always something new and different
happening, The various characters are intriguing as well especially a hard-done-by co-
worker and various dramas (some of them comical) that take place at the bar.
Most amazing is a plot twist that happens near the end. To most, such an event would be
an annoyance in daily domestic life yet here, its context leaves a very strong emotional
impact.
The directing by Jim Jarmusch is the movie's main strength as he pays such kind
attention to the daily life of people that might be considered average. Paterson is a soft-
spoken introvert and Laura is very tender-hearted though sometimes in a naive way.
Driver and Farahani each do a great job in bringing these characters to life. Jarmusch
adds to the movie's sweet charms by emphasizing the town's beautiful old buildings and
its nearby serene waterfalls.
A bonus, at least for folks like me: the main character refuses to own a mobile phone as
he believes life was perfectly fine in the past without them. At least in fiction, it's nice to
know there's someone else who feels this way.
Permalink
9/10
Celebrating the Common Man

monty_100 11 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Permalink
9/10
What a movie!
kkokkolatos 16 July 2017
Paterson is a movie with a great pace. Not a fast one, but a deep one. It seems like a
movie which explains the way that magic can appear in the simplicity of the routine's life.
We see Paterson (Adam Drive) as a very quiet and standared character. He does not talk
that much, just short sentences. Although, his eyes look like he is studying life and
details of the moment. This spiritual exercise leads him to a very rare and important
thing: discovering how every day, no matter how similar is to the last day, hides its very
impressing secrets. Secrets which keep you inspired and mentally healthy.
His girlfriend is a person who really got me. She felt like a goddess, as her voice was
relaxing me and traveled me in a more happy and charming place. She seemed so exotic
and smart, made of art and the infinity of colours. She was smart and nice to Paterson, a
person that everyone should want to have by his side. Creative and strange in a very
charming way.
The human relationships are pretty realistic. That's why I felt I could watch this movie for
a long time. Because, although it is fiction, seems like a realism that you won't want to
leave away. Eventually, you may think that it is actually yourself in the mind palace of the
movie.
The directing was pretty deep. Not the as good as it could be, but still absolutely
interesting. I really liked the colours and the way the director managed to connect
images and dialogues. In the end, the film feels like a complete puzzle which, in every
piece of it, you can see something that really matters.
I also need to say about some very smart and interesting meaning that appear in
"Paterson". Not gonna spoil them, it's an essential part of the film.
9/10!
Permalink
9/10
Life as it is
wojja 22 May 2017
Sometimes there is this need in every one of us to look inside someone else's life. To
take a quick peek, just to find out how other people live, what decisions they make, if
their lives are different, better than ours. The grass in always greener on the other side.
Is it, though? I watched 'Paterson' on my wave of watching everything there is with
Adam Driver. I did not expect much since I'm more a fantasy/ action/ controversy fan
and 'Paterson' is most definitely none of these. I thought I would get bored in the middle
and give up. Surprisingly, not only was I not bored but I really enjoyed the film. It's
amazing how much meaning you can find in an ordinary life, how much poetry and love.
The film is deeply true, showing people with their flaws and routines. There is this
average married couple, she's a house-wife with passion (overwhelming!) for black and
white patterns and cupcakes, he's a bus driver devoted to his daily routine and fighting it
by creating poems. Boredom, right? Yet, there's peace and consolation in the happiness
they found, in harmony of their relationship, in silent devotion and gentle smiles they
share, in poetry of repetitive situations. You can't find unusual here, you won't see grand
gestures, they're nothing but typical. But after watching the film, you might realize that
typical and average is also right, good and real. This might even make your own life a bit
brighter.
Permalink
10/10
I highly recommend Paterson because it is a masterpiece.

Prince_Sid 26 February 2017
Paterson is a perfect film. It is my favourite film of 2016. It is a very engaging character

study.Adam Driver gives a spellbinding performance. His each expression tells a story.
Paterson is the story of a bus driver who happens to be a poet.The whole movie takes
place over a week of his life. It accounts the small moments and incidents that happens
to him during this period.It may seem ordinary but it is these moments that life is made
up of. You can relate to that character. He is such a magnetizing character that when it
ends,you start missing him.You become a part of his life and he become a part of
yours.Paterson is a movie made with so much affection and tenderness that it reflects on
the screen. Go watch it now. P.S. I have found out that Paterson is a largely unseen
film.It was neglected in the awards season too.That makes me very sad.This is the type
of movie that is made no more in Hollywood or anywhere else. At a time when mindless
CGI and action movies has taken over the film industries all over the world, movies like
Paterson should be encouraged. That is one of the reasons I wrote this review.
Permalink
10/10
Elegantly packed, just like a poem.

maddaneinfo 7 January 2017
The first movie I watched this year and I am afraid it will set the bar too high for me.
Paterson is a movie about art, inspiration, love, humor, struggle, loss and hope, pieced
together with ... poetry. It is a movie about what it means to be an artist in the modern
world, in our world.
The movie captures the spontaneity, normality and routine of life and it is not trying to be
grandiose nor boring, on the contrary it is honest, personal, intimate and touching. Every
scene, every frame, every line of dialogue, every melody was arranged to make you feel
that way, elegantly packed, just like a poem.
I don't want to tell you about the story and I don't want you to read about it, if you like
poetry, if you enjoy art and interested in witnessing an instance of it being shaped in
front of your eyes, then go watch the movie, when you will leave the theater you will be
different from the person who entered.
Permalink
4/10
A film about a rather dull man

ipad-483-917758 23 April 2017
Now I love Jim Jarmusch and eagerly await his new films. This one for me was a
complete flop and for the first time with this directors movies it was turned off before the
end.
I found it boring and repetitive without any real charm to carry it along. Am I really
meant to find a man who leaves his dog outside a bar every night rather than taking him
for a walk endearing? Apparently he is crazy in love with his kooky wife, yet he leaves
her alone at home EVERY night to sit in a dive bar talking nonsense?
As for his so called 'poetry' ...... well, it was rubbish like the rest of his dull life. No for me
I'm afraid.
As for spoilers, well, nothing happens so no chance of that.
Permalink
10/10
It's a beautiful world where a bus driver likes Emily Dickinson.

victoria-cherunova 22 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Paterson lives a perfect life of an artist - it's timeless, it's romantic, it's poetic. It is
not "objective reality" that an uneventful life of a bus driver in a small town can
present: a gray boring suburban town where even crimes never turn out real, a
simple monotonous, low-paid job, family or health problems that others can
experience. It is not Paterson's reality, he chooses a different life.
Everyday he wakes up (not because alarm wakes him) to kiss a perfectly beautiful
woman who tells him a wonderful dream. Artistic herself, she is a perfect muse for
an artist, with exotic looks and foreign accent. She shapes their surroundings
where everything matches in color and pattern: his clothes, bed sheets, even
matches. Even words match all the time. The box he carries everyday contains
lunch she prepared for him and a photo of hers that is different everyday. She is
caring, loving, and supportive; her only concern is preservation of his poetry. Her
only flaw, perhaps, was a surprise pie she made with cheese and brussels sprouts.
Everyday as he goes to work, he enjoys a picturesque view. And every morning

before driving his bus he writes poems in his secret notebook. He enjoys driving a
bus because he can listen to people's conversations. He is not concerned about
money, and chooses not to have a smartphone because he doesn't want to, not
because it's expensive. Unlike his coworker, he has nothing to complain about.
The only cause of Paterson's problems is his wife's dog. Everyday day it bends over
Paterson's mail box stand, for example, with an attempt to annoy him. But he is
patient and even manages to make his evening walk with the dog enjoyable as he
can drop into a bar for a beer. The dog, however, is the real danger that can
shatter his ideal life, at the core of which is poetry.
If he meets another girl, it would be a 10 year old one who writes her own poetry.
If he witnesses a crime about to happen, the reason would be unrequited love, and
the gun would be a toy one. And if something happens to his secret notebook, he
would meet a stranger who would appear out of nowhere and sit on the same
bench, where Patterson would sit. And the stranger from a faraway land would
happen to love poetry too, and he would happen to have a bag full of poetry
notebooks. And, of course, he would give Patterson a new notebook as a gift which
would inspire him to write again. And everything will be fine, forever.
Because it's a beautiful world, in which a bus driver likes Emily Dickinson.
Permalink
9/10
Paterson - Movie Review

MattBrady099 4 November 2016
LIFF30 2016 #1
"Some call it rain"
Paterson is one of the most relatable, sweet, and charming movies I've seen this year.
While the story is simply and straight forward on paper, but the final result is quite
unique. Before seeing the movie, I've heard nothing but great things about this movie,
even at Cannes it got excellent feedback. And boy, it didn't disappoint.
Adam Driver once again knocks it out of the park in this movie. By giving a very quite
and kindhearted performance that's quiet something. He's in everything recently and I'm
glad an actor at he's range is getting the work he deserves.
I would view this movie as kind of a character study. For example: Paterson main interest
is poetry, as it is he's escapism, because he lives a simply life and usually dose the same
routine everyday. He's a talented man that's stuck in a dull life. There's many times in
the movie where he will be sitting at a bar (alone) and he will be watching other people
and you can clearly see there's something going on in their lives. Or his friends would
come up to him and talk about their day, which has a lot going compared to him. It
brilliantly captures loneliness and the necessity of the main character. Even through he is
married and has friends, he still feels isolated.
Jim Jarmusch wrote and directed this movie so brilliantly that I can't imagine any other
director doing this. What's so interesting about Jarmusch direction is that he focus more
on mood and character development than anything else. And that's why I felt the main
character isolation and futility. The strongest part of "Paterson" (putting aside the acting)
is Jarmusch screenplay, as the film is heavy dialogue. The poetry in the movie is so well
written and wasn't terribly force like other movies when trying to be poetic. Excellent
work Jim Jarmusch. Haven't seen his other work yet, but will do soon day.
Overall rating: "Paterson" is pure poetry in the most wonder way. I must admit, it left a
big dumb smile on my face after it was over. The movie might be slow for some people
and I can understand that, but there's something in this movie that I think everyone can
appreciate.
Permalink
8/10
8/10
James_De_Bello 2 January 2017
Paterson (Adam Driver) is a bus driver in, coincidentally, Paterson, New Jersey. He lives
in a humble home with his girlfriend Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) and they are happily in
love with each other and their dog. Paterson also happens to write poetry routinely as he
goes around town in his bus and experiences everyday life.
As anyone who has heard of this film you will probably know that there is no hook in the
synopsis, no inciting incident, "Paterson" is a film that looks at routine and ordinariness
and succeeds in that is is a, fittingly, poetic look at the joys of simplicity and tranquility
and a wonderfully absorbing filmmaking effort that is most unlikely to any other film I've
seen this year.
Having been a big, big critic of Adam Driver in the past, more so because I thought he
was constantly miscast I was so pleasantly surprised by a performance of him that I
could finally appreciate and what a performance to start with. A lot of this film's success
lies in his hands, I can only imagine what an effort it must have taken Jarmusch to direct
him in the perfect way, to put into words what ultimately he envisioned on screen. Yet,
the effort must have been worth it because Driver comes out utterly convincing. This is a
performance of nuances, of little details, of eyes wandering in one direction rather than
the other and of postures, he covers it all and becomes this quirky character, he sells the
idea of an every-man perfectly and because of that it makes the film as relatable as it is.
His co-star, Golshifteh Farahani, walks the same line just as finely. Her character is very
extrovert, a perfect opposite of what Driver is, and she plays off him magnificently. It
could be very easy for her to become a stereotype, a cliché and an annoying presence in
the film, she has all the ingredients to be so, but by playing the part so genuinely and
lovingly we get a character that is sweet and convincing just as she should be. There is
no big twist for her, nothing going on underneath that should be a big mystery, she is
just an affectionate character and I loved to see her come to play and interact with the
equally loving, yet more introvert Paterson. Their relationship felt incredibly genuine and
raw in a way that few films have ever captured and serves as a perfect companion piece
to something like "The Before Trilogy" which looks at relationships in a completely
different way, but emerges with the same genuine emotion on screen.
Jarmusch keeps things simple behind the camera as it should be: the shots are simple,
they don't call attention to themselves and the camera movement is minimal, even
though when it actually starts moving there is always a reason for it, this is one of the
best examples of charging camera movement with emotion. It is in the little details that
one could loose hours researching and reflecting upon and that is exactly the function of
the poetry in the film, which talks about small things but it charges them with
significance and thematic power. You are constantly fascinated by the world portrayed on
screen and it is thanks to a brilliant puzzle of editing, cinematography sound and
performance that manages to capture a simple world and fill it with meaning and evolve
only slightly through the film making you fascinated by every word uttered and every
frame displayed.
I think that where the film stumbles is in its closing. It looked like it felt the need to give
some kind of closure to the characters and not leave them as ordinarily as we found them
and it felt a little too artificial when comparing it with the rest of the film. Paterson has
some encounters which I didn't really buy into as they felt way too heavy on significance.
Yet, the most problematic element in my opinion is the fact that I could have easily
envisioned this film ending without any of these scenes and just by keeping the rhythm it
had had up until then. I actually think that by going this way, Jarmusch partially deprived
the film of the magic it was building with the beauty in everyday life, the message that
ultimately gets conveyed didn't necessitate those symbolical scenes in my view.
"Paterson" is a wonderful experience, it fills your heart up with joy and tranquility, the
poetic nature of the film is a stroke of genius and makes what is possibly the most bland
premise of all time a riveting two hour watch that moved me deeply and made me reflect
upon a wide range of themes.
Permalink
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Life itself is poetry

Alluring, Charming, Unforgettable

From reflections in a puddle, cardinals singing, waterfalls, a harlequin guitar, shadows,

Poetry can make life easier

Poetic "Groundhog Day" without the fun

Another poetic ingredient is oddity: strange elements slowly spill into an

But then, appreciating poetry is very subjective. Hence it is understandable some

"Paterson" tries to illustrate James Tate's brilliant quote: "Poetry is everywhere; it

Writing poetry is difficult, as so eloquently pointed out by WB Yeats:

Ending on a more playful note, congratulations to Mr Jarmusch for yet again

You should be forewarned: there are no murders, kidnappings, bank robberies or

It was the dog that dunnit.

Marvin was good.

A whimsical essay into the ordinariness of human existence

Jim Jarmusch films can be challenging and Paterson (2016) is no exception.

Poetry, happiness and simplicity

Deeply relaxing and enjoyable

Paterson (Jim Jarmusch, 2016)

And, indeed, that is what we have just seen.

Celebrates the mundane in a surprisingly entertaining and subtly life-

Not so much a film as a painterly poem

Can somebody please explain !

Paterson is another one for the artsy-fartsy crowd.

Needlessly slow, lifeless

Very easy to enjoy

There's definitely a delicately implied menace in the background. The tension of

A Gentle, Satisfying Slice of Life

"Who are you playing?" asks Paterson after a look around.

"Myself," says Doc.

An interesting portray of the daily life.

Thanks for reading!

No need for this.

Boring dude bores audience

As refreshing as the Passaic Falls

Not a fan of poetry? DON'T watch this

A great movie by a great filmmaker at the top of his game.

Shocking plot spoiler!

Nothing. Nothing happens. Absolutely nothing.

But it doesn't. Nothing happens.

Where was the Story?

Boring waste of time

This Film Didn't have to be there

"BANG!!!" (that was the sound of my bubble bursting...

For the love of poems and buses

A pseudo-talented poet writes poor poems, thinks about life, Do not be

Now, to the horrible part.

Adam drivers character "paterson", was remarkably boring , the character is in no

A unique and charming indie film

Celebrating the Common Man

I highly recommend Paterson because it is a masterpiece.

Paterson is a perfect film. It is my favourite film of 2016. It is a very engaging character

Elegantly packed, just like a poem.

A film about a rather dull man

As for spoilers, well, nothing happens so no chance of that.

It's a beautiful world where a bus driver likes Emily Dickinson.

Everyday as he goes to work, he enjoys a picturesque view. And every morning