Mystery Train (1989)

This director has lots of fans. His films are often held up as anti-Hollywood depictions of America as truth. Which is too bad. Jarmusch draws his world inhabited by little more than cartoon caricatures. As a comedy this works to some degree. I've heard fans say his films portray truth, but if so that truth might just be that life is circular, offering little capacity for emotional commitment or change. There are few authentic, multidimensional characters in this comedy. The film uses this to advantage, and there is def. a small but dedicated market that enjoys this sort of film.Of course if you're reading this you probably already know the structure of the film. Comedy built on a multi-plot design, with predominantly mini-plot elements. The film plays 3 stories, skeletally interwoven in time (the radio dj sequences), space (the hotel), and by relationships (a couple recently broken-up). Interesting at times, boring at times, this viewer is glad the film and others in the anti-Hollywood genre exist, but there may be a room in hell where a they play over and over for eternity.

Three stories about three sets of off beat characters, one scenario: Memphis. Mystery train is a clever and funny film in full Jarmush style; in my opinion it is an enjoyable and light hearted film constructed in such a way that as the plot proceeds, the audience begins to pay attention to various details used as a way to connect the three stories together. I enjoyed particularly the first story which depicted the Japanese couple on a discovery tour of Memphis, here Jarmush's interest for the human's behaviour is evident as the couple relationship, although it might seem to be almost comical, is in fact a quite realistic stereotyipical representation of a Japanese relationship.Definitely worth watching it if you are into independent "no mainstream" films.

The great medieval philosopher Duns Scotus said that whatever leaves a mark remains present in its trace, and by studying the trace, we may study the thing itself. There are traces of Rock'n'Roll everywhere in Memphis, Tennessee, and Jim Jarmusch digs them up for us to see and hear. The plot of "Mystery Train" itself has some semblance of a song. Money is spent, hearts are broken, a gunshot rings, the jukebox plays. When everybody else is playing it cool, Steve Buscemi is the soul of the story as Charlie the Barber, a coward with a heart of gold. For the first time in a long string of enigmatic guest appearances, Tom Waits provides voice-over as a late night radio DJ. "Mystery Train" is also a work of critical feminism. From the very beginning, the girls make all the calls: cheerful Mitsuko, no-nonsense Luisa, chatterbox Dee-Dee. As the King himself once observed, they are devils in disguise.

"Mystery Train" is a peculiar little piece of film-making and very true to Jim Jarmusch's unpredictable style. It's told in three vignettes of varying interest, but shot with an eye for detail and a deep interest in character. The movie is heavy on atmosphere, as noted with many of the shot choices and as heard on the terrific soundtrack. The city of Memphis is clearly the main character, and perhaps gives purpose to the slow pace of the piece. It tends to drag, but the visual nature and overall charm of several of the characters is enough to keep the viewer propelled forward. Top it off with a fantastic characterization by Screamin' Jay Hawkins as a hotel desk clerk, and this is an easily recommended film.