Paterson

2016 • 118 minutes
3.9
148 reviews
96%
Tomatometer
R
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

Paterson (Adam Driver) is a bus driver in the city of Paterson, New Jersey - they share the name. Every day, he adheres to a simple routine of driving his daily route, where he observes the city as it drifts across his windshield, overhearing fragments of the conversations that swirl around him. He writes poetry into a notebook, walks his dog, and has exactly one beer at a local bar. By contrast, his loving wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani), is a dreamer who is constantly inspired by new ideas and ambitious projects, all the while championing Paterson’s gift for poetry. The history and energy of the City of Paterson is a felt presence in the film, and its simple structure unfolds over the course of a single week. In this “wise, winning… and moving” (Vanity Fair) film from acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch, the quiet triumphs and defeats of daily life are observed, along with the poetry that’s evident in its smallest details. - ( Original Title - Paterson )
Rating
R

Ratings and reviews

3.9
148 reviews
Richard Frisch
April 9, 2017
The movie's pacing is plodding. There are a few, too few, bright spots of humor and character development but there is no plot, no real story telling. This might have made a good 20 minute film but at almost two hours it is a clunker. The main character Paterson (Adam Driver) is boring, lacking affect. It is as if he is heavily medicated against emotions. Paterson's significant other Laura is an attractive ditz, but her role is secondary, which is unfortunate as her character is more interesting than Paterson's. The only winning role is the bulldog Marvin.
Angel Haber
January 29, 2020
Loved this film. It is laid back, relaxing film. This is one of those films that just make you feel good. The main theme here is of a guy who loves poetry. And everything to him, pretty much reflects that (if I'm explaining that right?) . His life inspires his writing and he sees his world through the eyes of poetry. (At least that is my take on this film). It was neat to see Adam Driver in a film like this. I had only seen him in Star Wars, but I am finding he may be a new favorite actor.
A Google user
April 5, 2017
I actually liked it. It is just very slow and lacked development. It did not seem complete. It had funny parts but I would say it was more of a drama trying to be funny. It was very well acted. I was glad I rented it. It would have been hard to sit through in a theater for 2 hours. I would probably recommend it with reservations. I liked how kind the characters were to each other. I found it refreshing. It just moved so slow I can not give it more than 3 stars.