DVD Pick of the Week - Night On Earth (Criterion)
Night On Earth
Long available overseas, it’s about time we got Night On Earth in Region 1; though not considered one of Jim Jarmusch’s landmark works, it was a significant title upon its release in 1991 and predates the similar anthology format that the director used in Coffee and Cigarettes by over a decade. Nevertheless, the loosely-linked quintet of tales in Jarmusch’s earlier work has aged quite well over the years and is given the special edition treatment by Criterion this week.
Our conceit is five cab rides taking place at exactly the same time in five international cities, played out from west to east; in the first, a streetwise Winona Ryder tries to convince talent agent Gena Rowlands that she doesn’t want to be “discovered” and is quite happy driving classy dames like her to LAX, while over New York, Giancarlo Esposito ain’t got no time for both jolly fish-out-of-water Armin Mueller Stahl or snippy fare-jumper Rosie Perez. Both are superbly acted but not especially remarkable; things get more interesting when we hop the Atlantic and land in Paris, where Isaac de Bankolé’s immigrant cabbie is unnerved and captivated by beautiful and blind Béatrice Dalle. The most entertaining of the segments takes place in Rome, where ever-manic Jarmusch favorite Roberto Benigni shocks and appalls his passenger – a Catholic priest – by confessing some seriously raunchy sins. In the somber yet incredibly poignant final segment, a late-night fare in Helsinki sees out of work industrial workers ruminating on the unfairness of life and death. The whole affair is scored by a lovely, moody set of songs by (who else?) Tom Waits.
Criterion’s set is a sturdy presentation for a well-worthy delivery from one of the great American auteurs working today; commentary is by cinematographer Frederick Elmes and the new approved transfer is perfect. Also included is a featurette with Jarmusch answering a Q&A sent in by fans. Arthouse gold, if not quite platinum.
Also recommended this week: 30 Rock: Season 1; Bosom Buddies: Season 2; Dirty Jobs Vol. 1; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 1; The Office: Season 3; Robot Chicken: Season 2; Stranger Than Paradise (Criterion)
— Nicole Campos
