The Limits of Control

The Limits of Control (2009)
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135092/]

The Gist:
It would be more accurate to describe this film in musical terms rather than filmic terms. There is very little information given about our protagonists mission, just vague and grand statements about the emptiness of the universe and things like that. However, what compels the viewer is the use of repetition and variation within the clandestine meetings the protagonist must go through in order to pinpoint his target. In this way, the film becomes a lyrical experience, where the mystery of the orders and the intricate camera work and the odd details that are continually focused on (coffee, paintings, tai chi, weird naked chick) create a work that moves underlying subtext to the foreground. What you are left with is a brilliant piece of art, which is sadly undone a little toward the end with some oddly stilted dialogue. I can only hope that this won't bother me as much the second time through.