Mystery Train

In the past, I have frankly been put off by critical darling Jim Jarmusch's minimalist style of filmmaking (Stranger Than Paradise, Down By Law). Not only do his films make your average snail look like Speedy Gonzales, they give new meaning to the term "a droll comedy." In the oddball world of Jarmusch's comedies, the best thing you can do with a punchline is remove it. So viewers sit there waiting for a Godot who will never arrive. This is supposed to be a wonderful experience, but for most people it's only profoundly boring. Mystery Train begins like a Jarmusch course in still photography. A young Japanese couple on vacation get off the train in Memphis, intent on seeing the holy relics of the golden age of rock 'n roll. As they walk the streets, carrying their luggage by means of a bamboo stick inserted through the handle, the camera tracks their progress. Yet, just when we're about to scream "o.k., we get the picture," the story begins. There are actually three stories in the film and they intersect at a fleabag hotel called the Arcade, where a picture of Elvis graces every room's wall. Jun (Masatoshi Nagase) walks around snapping pictures of the hotel room because he remembers the tourist sights but forgets "the airports and hotels." Mitzouko (Youki Kudoh) works on her scrapbook containing pictures of personalities that resemble pictures of Elvis (such as Madonna, from a certain angle). When the couple awake in the morning, they hear a gunshot. In the second story, an Italian widow makes an unplanned stopover in Memphis enroute to Rome with her husband's remains, and runs into a shuckster who tells her about Elvis's ghost. She also stays at the Arcade (and also hears the gunshot). In the final segment, three members of Memphis's down on their luck working class add the missing piece of the puzzle about the gunshot. Throughout, wry commentary from the Arcade manager (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) and the bellboy (Cinque Lee) add to the fun. In Mystery Train, Jarmusch has finally made an accessible film that doesn't compromise his unique sense of humor. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [Blu-ray Review—May 25, 2010—Criterion, 110 min., in English & Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1989's Mystery Train boasts a stunning transfer and a mono soundtrack. Blu-ray extras include a Q&A with writer-director Jim Jarmusch (69 min.), an excerpt from the 2001 documentary Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on Me (18 min.), a 'Memphis Town' location featurette (18 min.), on-set and behind-the-scenes photos, and a booklet featuring essays by writers Dennis Lim and Peter Guralnick. Bottom line: a fine extras package for one of Jarmusch's best films.]