As you know the relay races have been going on for a while now and they have pointed me to some great actors, actresses and directors. In the best actor relay race Tyler from Southern Vision added Harry Dean Stanton and I had to admit that I didn’t recognise him. Tyler suggested to see Paris, Texas and I bought the DVD on his recommendation alone. I consider Tyler a very knowledgable movie buff, who watches stuff I never even heard of. So what did I think about Paris, Texas?
The movie starts out with a lonely man (Harry Dean Stanton) walking across the desert, he stands out with his beard and red hat, drinking his last bit of water. You wonder why he’s there and where he’s going. He comes across a bar and collapses, a note in his wallet being the only link to someone else, his brother. The man had been missing for years and doesn’t seem to be able to speak anymore, even to his brother. As the movie progresses you get to know more about him, the son he has and a relationship with a woman. This movie is a psychologic drama set against beautiful deserts and a bustling city, all framed in stunning fashion. The movie has been made in 1984, but except for a few details feels timeless. I was pulled into the world director Wim Wenders has created, with a constant tension present which gave me an uneasy feeling, never being sure what would happen next.
This movie made it clear why Tyler nominated Stanton as he’s an actor that can show emotion with very few motions, someone who is mesmerising to watch and this movie made me want to see more of his work. It was also the first Wim Wenders film I saw and I’m looking forward to seeing others.
Score: 9
Glad you liked the film. I haven’t seen a lot of work from Wim Wenders but I can’t imagine him topping this. Great review.
Yeah, since you’re taste in movies is different from mine I wasn’t sure what I thought of it so I was happy that I liked it .
I loved Harry Dean Stanton in Big Love. Not caught much of his film work though. Well aside from Rango and Avengers!
I really wasn’t familiar with him, but he’s very interesting.
Hi, Jaina:
I’ll wager you have, but you don’t know it. 🙂
Harry Dean Stanton has spent most of his career as a character actor. In the background, moving the story along while backing up the lead actor(s). Rarely has he been the lead. And in ‘Paris, Texas’, he plays understated very well, indeed.
If you’ve seen ‘Kelly’s Heroes’, ‘Alien’, ‘Godfather, Part II’, ‘Repo Man’, ‘Dillinger’, ‘Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid’, or ‘Straight Time’. You’ve seen the character actor’s character actor.
Great review! Glad you liked this one, it’s such an incredible, beautifully crafted film. I really need to rewatch it soon.
Thanks Sati!
Paris, Texas is great. Definetly wortthy of a rewatch from me.
Seems you are not the only one planning one 😉
Such a spectacular film. Truly amazing.
I’m surprised by how many people know it, I personally had never heard of it before….
Good stuff, Nostra. I just saw this a couple months ago and was really impressed as well. Harry Dean Stanton is incredible.
Thanks Eric. He’s incredible indeed.
Paris, Texas does pull you into this other world, however the slow pace kind of frustrated me at times, so it didn’t quite win me over.
If you’re interested in watching more Wim Wenders, I’d recommend Wings of Desire (1987) , which is my favorite Wenders(and there’s also a sequel)
I don’t mind a slow pace, but only if the subject matter is interesting, which it was for me in this. Noted Wings of Desire down!