Review of Paris, Texas (1984) by Derin S — 17 May 2010

Paris, Texas is a rarity in the world of cinema. It's not only abnormally impressive on a technical level; it manages to transcend the boundaries a film of its type would normally conform to in an attempt to make a name for itself. This in mind, Wenders' singular creative touches take an ordinary tale of self-realization and eventual reconciliation in an attempt to better oneself to a level I've never before seen, regardless of how simplistic the protagonist's circumstances are.

Granted, Harry Dean Stanton's excellent portrayal of central character Travis' plight as an individual struggling to come to terms with the poor choices he's made in relation to those he loves the most isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but to disavow the film's genuineness in this regard would be unfair to say the least. The interaction between him and every other character, his son included, almost always serves as a proverbial key to discovering the truth behind Travis and the reasoning behind his behavior, but the film's latter act can appear to some as a tad rushed despite how satisfying it is as a means of giving both Travis and his estranged wife a much-needed sense of closure. All in all, Paris, Texas is an extraordinarily well-acted, thoughtfully paced and beautifully shot piece of cinema that provides valuable insight behind the ideas of love lost and an individual's attempt to essentially fix what's been broken.