Mystery Train (1989)

Mystery Train: Directed by Jim Jarmusch. With Masatoshi Nagase, Yûki Kudô, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Cinqué Lee. Three stories are connected by a Memphis hotel and the spirit of Elvis Presley.

“u0026#39;Mystery Trainu0026#39; is probably the most entertaining, interesting and understated of indie-fave Jim Jarmuschu0026#39;s early work (i havenu0026#39;t seen u0026#39;Coffee and Cigarettesu0026#39; yet). The films portrayal of Elvisu0026#39; birthplace of Memphis, possibly one of the most featureless, gritty and desolate representations of urban America ever committed to film, is a deceptively clever and substantial take on American subcultures.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWithout doubt, it is the first of the films three vignettes that makes the film stand out a little more than Jarmuschu0026#39;s other quirky offerings. Two Japanese tourists besotted with the Kingu0026#39;s legacy and 1950u0026#39;s American retro-culture in general, decide to visit Memphis, where they experience the superficiality his iconic status has been reduced to. The over-excitable and optimistic teenage girl, along with her more austere, cooler-than-cool boyfriend, are equally unimpressed with what the town has to offer. Itu0026#39;s quite impressive that 15 years after its release, Jarmuschu0026#39;s depiction of alternative culture manages to capture the pretentious but proudly on-the-edges attitudes probably more apparent in todayu0026#39;s retro-obsessed climate than ever before.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJarmuschu0026#39;s signature eclectic cast is another reason for repeated viewing, the subtleties of, in particular, Steve Buscemiu0026#39;s stuttering and nervous performance, are worth looking out for. As is the linking theme of Elvisu0026#39; ghost in all three vignettes, a brilliant example of how to take a simple theme, and continually parodize its implications until its every mention leads to some sort of in-joke. The cool, laid-back pace of the film allows the humour to hit you unexpectedly, and the timing is often genius. Very, very, very watchable.”