Review of Mystery Train

Introduction

Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog) writes and directs this film about a trio of stories centering on Elvis in his hometown of Graceland. In the first we see the arrival of a Japanese couple on an homage to The King, the second deals with a young widow temporily stuck in Memphis, and the last section is about three buddies who have too much to drink and quickly find themselves in trouble. Much like his later film Night on Earth, each of these tales is loosely entwined with the others.

Video

Although not anamorphic, the picture is quite good for a small film. The print is relatively free from damage – although there is some specks and dust in a few scenes – the image is sharp and the colours, such as the gaudy pink neon signs, are vivid.

Audio

A great 50’s soundtrack is assembled here and is reproduced faithfully and clearly on DVD. Although we only are treated to a mono soundtrack, since most of Jarmusch’s films are based on dialogue and music the lack of Dolby is not too conspicuous. The first segment is mostly in Japanese audio and is accompanied by English subs, which are easily readable.

Features

Just the original theatrical trailer guys.

Conclusion

Jim Jarmusch’s intimate method of filmmaking is what makes Mystery Train so fun to watch despite none of the tales really going anywhere. The dialogue is funny and the characters interesting – it just goes to show how far you can go on script alone. The actors put in realistic performances – Steve Buscemi in one of his early roles is great, and it’s a bonus to see the late Joe Strummer (of The Clash) up on screen as Johnny. The DVD is decent, and if you like the quirky style of Jarmusch then this is a great way to spend a couple of hours.