It’s in our dreams that the world is seen in varying shades of gray. The characters, their dialogue, the scene and the sound of things are severely dependent upon ourselves. The quiet serenity that pervades much of the world is never really silence.

Our inner-dialogue, those little voices that speak when no one is listening, keeps us occupied through the tedium of everyday life. The greatest conundrum of life is not to analyze the silence of others, but to understand the noise of your thoughts.

Isaach De Bankolé is “Lone Man” who is, just that: a peculiar loner devoted to his meditation practices and his work. Set in glorious Spain, the film follows Lone Man as he exchanges mysterious matchboxes with strangers he meets throughout the nation.

“Blonde” (Tilda Swinton) is a fast-talking, high-rolling, eccentric actress with an even more eccentric blonde wig. Gael García Bernal is “Mexican,” an unobtrusive … Mexican. “Nude” (Paz de la Huerta) is constantly in Lone Man’s hotel room completely in the nude. And finally, Bill Murray is “American,” who is not one of Lone Man’s accomplices, but rather he is a target.

Lone Man traverses the endless hills and city cafes of Spain’s diverse geographical map in order to complete his mission. Despite temptation, Lone Man sticks to his schedule of two espressos a day in order to remain in control.

The Limits of Control is a film that exercises no discretion with its unmistakable message that knocks you over and over and over the head like a Whack-a-Mole. The clever, witty, highly realistic dialogue often associated with art films is missing like a wide, expansive black hole. In fact, the main character has only two handfuls of full-fledged lines, delivered with unsuspecting meekness from the intense actor.

It’s not the artsy-fartsiness that throws the film for a loop. There are many small, independent, art films that achieve major feats with limited resources in addition to conveying a subtle, though candid message that is able to reach out and speak to people.

The Limits of Control seems to have difficulty with words, hindering the audience’s connection and appreciation for what the film has to say.

Grade: C



The Limits of Control releases in select theaters May 1.