Review of Mystery Train (1989) by Joel J — 16 Sep 2008

Being a Bluff City boy myself, I certainly had a soft spot for this piece of work. Since the film was shot in dowtown Memphis in the late eighties, the nostalgic element of the "Old Memphis" is certainly evident. Before that area was renovated, I had truly forgotten just how condemned it was then...awful. Like all Jarmusch films, the pacing is slow and long - but it is well worth the patience. Steve Buscemi is dead on as usual, and Joe Strummer proves to be a far greater actor than one would imagine. With a great Sun Studio soundtrack and Tom Waits as the local DJ, I think the film depicts a darker, lonely side of the city that is usually missing in films shot about her. Again, though slow in nature, this film is well worth the watch.

- 8.5.