Directed by:
Jim JarmuschScreenplay:
Jim JarmuschCinematography:
Robby MüllerComposer:
John LurieCast:
Masatoshi Nagase, Yūki Kudō, Cinqué Lee, Nicoletta Braschi, Tom Noonan, Sara Driver, Richard Boes, Steve Buscemi, Vondie Curtis-Hall, D'Army Bailey, Tom Waits (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Jim Jarmusch broadens his scope with this episodic tale of a night in the life of several Memphis, Tennessee, inhabitants who unknowingly find themselves lodging at the same hotel. The first episode, "Far from Yokohama," is about two Japanese teenagers (Youki Kudoh and Masatoshe Nagase) on a pilgrimage to the birthplace of rock and roll, Sun Studios, where Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins got their start. In the second story, "A Ghost," two strangers meet and become friends. One is an Italian tourist, Luisa (Nicoletta Braschi), who is on the way back to Rome in order to bury her husband; the other, Dee Dee (Elizabeth Bracco), has just dumped her British boyfriend, Johnny (Joe Strummer). During the middle of the night, Luisa is visited by the ghost of Elvis. "Lost in Space," the final segment, brings all the characters together briefly, as Johnny goes on a violent drinking spree with Dee Dee's brother (Steve Buscemi) and another friend (Rick Aviles). Throughout all of this, the hotel's night clerk (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) and bellboy (Cinque Lee) listen to the local radio and engage in aimless conversation. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (3)
After the minimalist early film Stranger Than Paradise, which I was not a huge fan of, Mystery Train once again rehabilitated Jarmusch for me. It's his traditional style with a slow narrative pace, seemingly fragmented structure of several parallel unfolding human destinies, with somewhat peculiar characters who are characterized by minor or major personality quirks, and their life stories intersect at a sleepy dilapidated motel with a pair of bizarre employees. As usual, Jarmusch takes aim at the values of American society and the so-called American dream, full of consumerist gloss. His characters are either absolute losers or foreign visitors who usually lose their illusions when confronted with the American reality. Elvis Presley plays a special role as a symbol of American pop culture. The film scores points with its atmosphere, subtle jokes, interesting casting, and the performances of the actors. Overall impression: 80%.
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Jim Jarmusch is a very specific filmmaker and his film may not suit everyone. This film is more conversational, a little philosophical, like all of Jarmusch's other films, but here I felt like there really wasn't much going on. However, the film had some good scenes and, most importantly, enjoyable performances.
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In Stranger Than Paradise I enjoyed his legendary song, and in Mystery Train I was entertained by Screamin' Jay Hawkins in the irresistible role of a hotelier who one night discovers that he likes Japanese plums. Jim Jarmusch once again earns points, and it is impossible to decide which of the stories is better or, heaven forbid, the best. In the end, to be fair, the film itself, Memphis, the music and the legends at every turn win out. You know, when the ghost of Elvis himself is (presumably) involved in something, then it's hard to find a rating lower than five stars.
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