mystery train film mystery train independent anthology film written directed set memphis tennessee film comprises stories involving foreign protagonists course night far features japanese couple played blues pilgrimage ghost focuses italian widow stranded city overnight lost space follows newly single unemployed englishman companions linked run overseen night clerk played scene featuring elvis_presley blue moon gunshot starting point script ensemble cast friends previous collaborators conceived characters formal structure film inspired study literary forms musician contributors involved earlier projects returned work film million budget financed japanese considerable compared director enjoyed allowed freedom background scenes feature films depart trademark black white photography use color tightly controlled conform director intuitive sense film aesthetic mystery train released theatrically classics restricted rating united_states grossed million enjoyed critical acclaim film festival circuit like director earlier films premiered shown competition cannes awarded best artistic achievement award film shown edinburgh london toronto film festivals nominated categories critical reaction overwhelmingly positive reviewers praising structure humor characters film director sufficiently adventurous plot film consists stories place night downtown memphis stories linked run presided night clerk principal characters story spend night room hotel adorned portrait elvis_presley story far features teenage couple making pilgrimage memphis trip america obsessed point believes mystical connection madonna statue liberty film follows couple travel train station downtown memphis exhausting tour arcade hotel second story ghost italian widow stranded memphis escorting husband coffin italy twice stuck magazines forced share room hotel young woman left boyfriend johnny final story plans leave city morning kept awake constant talking young woman finally sleep visited memphis famous icon elvis_presley final story lost space introduces johnny upset losing job girlfriend johnny known gun bar leaving friend robinson girlfriend brother charlie believes johnny brother law stop liquor store johnny gun severely wounds owner process fearing consequences incident johnny charlie retire hotel hide night johnny gets drunk charlie realizes shares character robinson television lost space johnny heard charlie proceed tell comments feels charlie johnny lost space morning charlie discovers johnny isn brother law johnny attempts shoot struggling prevent charlie shot leg leaving hotel rush escape police car isn looking closing credits train airport final views characters stories cast far ghost lost space production script casting wrote script film working title night memphis having southern city idea far segment took act play writing filming law play unrelated memphis concerned constantly young couple gradually comes realize fighting force relationship stories inspired dwelling literary forms specifically work italian episodic films japanese ghost story cinema films starting point writing mystery train actors characters foremost mind great number collaborators contributed complicated film write execute according director role johnny written specifically frontman clash director favorite 1980s rock band conceived years previously spain musician period depression time following collapse band drawn memphis setting film unlike stay set joke veteran actors shots instead preferred company focusing role met blues singer featuring music prominently breakthrough feature film debut stranger paradise acting responded favorably director offer appear written director star actress mind previously collaborated law younger brother director longtime friend days film school cast director saw performance crazy family promoting law japan repeat collaborators worked film included provided original music cinematographer singer voice appearance reprised role radio law cameos include long time girlfriend airport clerk thomas man train station japanese couple clerk liquor store richardson news patrons filming mystery train filmed memphis summer arriving city scout shooting locations drove direction coming intersection disused train station dilapidated arcade hotel film core setting later experience march interview spin man filled ghosts know walked street know train station intersection film primary formal elements effect returning setting different characters different circumstances variations theme film shot bright primary colors black white director previous features retained usual pacing characterized color choice intuitive deliberately chose cool color palette sporadic red japanese couple motif flashes red later described reverse shot giving impression failed attempt grab bit try size inevitably discover looks context film location shots actors film crew photographer published accompany film photo collection mystery train film mystery train american independent film financed japanese produced budget million considerable modest standards company enthusiastic film despite director insisting retaining creative control went fund features substantial budget time available gave opportunity shoot color actors scenes script including courtship memphis nightclub japanese actors production director spoke little english accomplished mimic try chat lines female acting exercise took advantage production second installment coffee cigarettes series collection short featuring acquaintances director sitting drinking coffee smoking cigarettes titled twins starred twins alongside theory having evil twin hostile reception release film domestic premiere 27th new york film festival director previous features stranger paradise law miami herald declared quiet triumph festival film picked theatrical distribution classics united_states released rating scenes featuring brief nudity mild profanity total domestic gross making highest grossing film highest rated film year internationally shown competition cannes film festival subsequently featured edinburgh london toronto film festivals mystery train released dvd march aspect ratio digital surround sound dvd release criticized awarded stars compared film citing special features scene selections scenes booklet criterion collection dvd blu ray released june utilizing new restored high definition digital transfer critical reception like previous films mystery train enjoyed warm reception critics particularly evident cannes film nominated commended festival best artistic achievement nominated categories independent spirit awards best picture best screenplay best director entertainment_weekly reviewer gave film rating complimenting ambitious concluding characters fine cinematography novel structure entertaining viewing hailed eccentric funny rolling_stone remarked director original comedy smoke air new_york_times called thoroughly fascinating delight director best effort date drawing note retention kind charm exhibited stranger paradise praised development screenwriter citing restrained dialogue humor subtlety narrative careful construction plot performances ensemble cast drew comparison stranger paradise judging mystery train accessible work retaining dry wit predecessor washington_post unimpressed film calling engaging bohemian actually film characters critic wrote beautifully imagined realized drawn familiar designed reuse discovery concluding mixed review film feels pushed cool far isn nearly far echoed reviewers found film style stray far director earlier work critical backlash years later following release cultural critic bell hooks cited interaction memphis train station thomas japanese couple examples nuanced subversive treatment american film roger_ebert proclaimed best thing mystery train takes america feel ought able find knew look april retrospective work concluded film valentine american way pop culture bit structural terribly significance
Mystery Train (film)