Paterson
Paterson

Paterson

2016Movie118 minEnglish

A week in the life of Paterson, a poet bus driver, and his wife Laura, a very creative artist, who live in Paterson, New Jersey, hometown of many famous poets and artists.

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Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic87/100
Google Users91%
Director: Jim JarmuschGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Paterson follows the daily life of Paterson, a bus driver and aspiring poet living in Paterson, New Jersey. He writes poetry in his off-hours, observing the city and its inhabitants, and draws inspiration from his wife, Laura, and their pet bulldog, Marvin. The film chronicles his routine, his quiet observations, and his burgeoning artistic expression amidst the mundane.

Critical Reception

Paterson was met with widespread critical acclaim, lauded for its gentle pacing, heartfelt performances, and Jarmusch's signature minimalist yet profound storytelling. Critics praised its exploration of creativity, love, and the beauty found in everyday life, resonating with both art-house enthusiasts and a broader audience.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its meditative and poignant portrayal of a poet's life.
  • Applauded for Adam Driver's nuanced and deeply empathetic performance.
  • Celebrated for finding profound beauty and meaning in ordinary moments and relationships.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's unique, calming atmosphere and its ability to inspire viewers to appreciate the poetry in their own lives. Many found the relationship between the main characters to be particularly touching and relatable, while others appreciated the film's unhurried pace and philosophical undertones.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film deliberately avoids a conventional narrative arc, focusing instead on the cyclical nature of Paterson's week and the small, meaningful moments within it.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

On the face of it, there is nothing remarkable about this eponymous bus driver who might have been named after his town. He (Adam Driver) shares his home with wife “Laura” (Golshifteh Farahani) and their’s is an happy marriage. Each morning...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

I will go out a limb here (and try not to cut the branch out from under myself) and say that I feel this is nearly a perfect movie. Oh, I don’t mean that it is one of the best of all time, or even that it makes my own top ten list. But rare...
CRCulver

CRCulver

Jim Jarmusch's 2016 film PATERSON is a study of everyday life in a small American city. Its title refers on one hand to its setting of Paterson, New Jersey, much less known abroad than other towns in the state but a surprising number of pro...
Reno

Reno

**A week with a bus driver, a part time poet.** The time Jim Jarmusch has struck back. He does not make films often, but those he makes are not easily forgettable. I don't think people hate his films, especially the grown ups. They know ...
Frank Ochieng

Frank Ochieng

If you appreciate the delicacies of a quiet, slice-of-life dramedy that hinges on the edginess of minimal observations of routine life as an artistic examination then you are in for a delectable treat with the skillful and witty inflections...