Mystery Train

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%. (22.07.2009)

Im Film Stranger than Paradise hat mir sein legendäres Lied gefallen, im Film Mystery Train hat mich Screamin' Jay Hawkins persönlich als unwiderstehlicher Hotelier amüsiert, der eines Abends entdeckt hat, dass er japanische Pflaumen mag. Jim Jarmusch punktet wieder und ich kann mich nicht entscheiden, welche von den Erzählungen besser oder, Gott bewahre, die beste ist. Letztendlich, damit es gerecht ist, siegen nämlich der ganze Film als solcher, Memphis, die Musik und die Legenden auf Schritt und Tritt. Wenn in einem Film (wahrscheinlich) der Geist von Elvis spielt, kann die Bewertung nicht niedriger als fünf Sterne sein. (08.06.2013)

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. (28.03.2018)