Mystery Train - 1989 
Mystery Train opens with two young Japanese tourists pulling into Memphis on an Amtrak train. The girl adores Elvis and her boyfriend adores Carl Perkins. They are experiencing Memphis as a great American city - ignoring its obvious run down flaws that we viewers see - and as a shrine to the music they love. As Jun says during their night in Memphis, "Its cool to be here in America, right now, with you".
The movie plays the same evening time period over in 3 different vignettes. We see the same events happen from different perspectives. There is a gunshot in the distance and an all night blues station that link the three stories. All three find themselves staying at the same tacky Arcade hotel.
Jim Jarmush only puts out a movie every couple years but they are absolute gems. In Mystery Train, the New York filmmaker, a member of the late '70s/early '80s art-punk band Del-Byzanteens, knew his musical history. He chose Memphis, home of Sun Records, the storefront sound studio at which Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison rockabillied their way to stardom. Memphis, where bluesmen Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters played for change in the parks along Beale Street. Memphis, home of Elvis - and home of Elvis' home, Graceland.
In fact you'll find music personality presence throughout the film: John Lurie, Tom Waits, Joe Strummer, Rufus Thomas and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
These themes - especially the ghost of Elvis permeate through the three stories. As Elvis's Blue Moon is played on that all night blues station, we feel as if we are experiencing a bit of after hours Memphis that is uniquely American.
Mystery Train is not a conventional story. It is not about how the story ends but how the lives go on. It is populated with dozens of small, meaningful moments - slices of life.
This exchange between the Japanese couple and Hawkins as the hotel night clerk gives us a glimpse into the lives of both...
Mitzuko: Hi! Good night!
Night Clerk: Good night. How may I help you?
Mitzuko: Umm... We would like most cheap room please do you have?
Night Clerk: All our rooms for two people are the same rate.
Mitzuko: Oh.
Jun: (speaking in Japanese) What'd he say?
Mitzuko: (speaking in Japanese) I'm not exactly sure. (In English) I'm sorry, that is too expensive.
This is a movie that is more enjoyable with each viewing. You will love it as much on viewing 50 as number 1.
Put this movie on your to do list. Again. And again. And again.
Research Mystery Train on Amazon here
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