STRANGER THAN PARADISE (Jim Jarmusch, 1984)

       Its hard to describe Jim Jarmusch's 1984 film without using on fo the great cliches- "the shot heard around the world." Really, I don't know how else I can express the massive influence that Jarmusch created by its relaxed tone and plot, tearing down the cliches of Hollywood, breaking both the model of high-octane blockbusters and deep, twisted think pieces from the 70s.
       Jarmusch's film is one of the most captivating  interesting pieces of art  ever made about boredom, a feeling pretty much everyone experiences. Willie, played by musician John Lurie (who also supplied the score), wanders the eerily empty streets of New York, Cleveland  and a Florida suburb without anything to really do. He is eventually joined by his friend Eddie and his young foreign cousin Eva.
       Essentially, it's a hang-out film, and a great one at that. They watch TV, play poker, go to the track,  and watch old movies. They try anything to fill the time, and fail miserably at it. The film puts forth its message when Willie declares that despite his Slovakian background he is American- boredom is the American pastime. Eva does nothing in America, but eventually becomes content with it when she steals some food to impress her cousin. Eddie, a natural American, just wanders around for the most part. No one has a serious commitment, and the only employed one, Eva, can leave her job without notice.
       Its easy to see how far Jarmusch's influence has spread. Just its black and white cinematography  long, relatively static takes and soundtrack have been endlessly referenced and parodied. Just in general, the modern Indie film movement was born with Stranger Than Paradise. It is easy to see how mumblecore, talky Linklater-esque films, and modern arthouse cinema derives from Jarmusch's early work. Simply, the idea of making a film without effects, major production values, or a solid plot was appealing to young filmakers lacking funds and resources. They had ideas, but not the budget or the acting talent. Jarmusch's film has a amateur quality to it, where anyone could make it with their camera, but few could make a film so captivating, interesting, and downright excellent as Jarmusch.
       Stranger Than Paradise's influenced by showing its viewers what one could do with lesser production values and a story that aids an idea, not the other way around. In a way, it was an open challenge to young filmakers, and to this day, they are accepting and treading in its footsteps, although they are forging their own paths.