I doubt if this film would have a remake sometime in these days. Wherein movies that we watch today in the theaters are very unconventional, some superhero flicks, some sequels, some remakes, some novels to film, and some recycled story, but I gotta tell you, “Paris, Texas”, is one of the best American films of all time, you will never think that this was released more than 20 years ago, and still, it is I think an essential movie for real movie professional watchers like me. I don’t really know where to start but trust me, if you don’t want to spend your time reading this long review, then go, see this movie right now if you have a time.
The film begins in a desert showing a man walking without anything at all, only a picture of a family and a phone number, but who are those? Now, we know a little who this man is, then someone phones that other person, who thinks he’s is brother, and the brother came to that Texas town to pick him up. Instead, it became a little silent movie, this man doesn’t speak until a moment where he finally speaks and even eat. Anyways, the guy’s name is Travis, and now, he and his brother, went back home to L.A., and there Travis saw his brother’s wife and his son. Now, the son who is Hunter, spends more time with him, like how you doing and how is school, and surprisingly, the two did had a quick easy relationship that we all thought they’re not gonna talk at first. After that Travis and Hunter went to Houston to find next her wife and Hunter’s mother who is Jane. How did they know Jane is in Houston? Because she is giving them (Travis’ brother and his wife) money from the bank. And Travis followed her after Hunter saw her car, and finally going into a sex club? What is he doing there? Is Jane now one of the prostitutes in that club? Travis look everywhere and finally getting to find her, there they talked and remember, she doesnt know who this man is. And that’s another long conversation, but after that, it was an another scene where Jane and Hunter met and saw once again. And it ended again on Travis leaving and probably unsure where he’s headed.
Enough of storytelling now, and I’m sure I said the whole plot of the film now, but that’s not it! As we go also to Travis’ adventure, we also get to know more about him, he’s lost and alienated to a place where everyone was never been there. His character is very important to those people he met, and ending up changing their lives as well, and also reuniting his family again and leaving them again, not in madness, but in a sacrificial way. And you’ll see when you watch it. Another thing that I love is the last 20 minutes or so, on that club where Jane and Travis talk over on a telephone, as if now we all know all the big answers to the big questions right at the beginning of the movie. And that’s not about it, it is also the scene where we finally see their human trapness inside, he’s nobody, she’s nobody too, but there’s a story behind it, which made me so emotional as well. And also above else, the direction is steady is not lost, the stunning photography and camerawork is fabulous that we always think a movie set in Texas is always a western but this one is not finally about a western or a quest, it is all about finding for a hope and life, but the film avoids it pure entertainment an having a one whole scene, and that ain’t no matter.
So, is “Paris, Texas”, one of the best films of 1984, yes, and also the decade of 80’s. “Amadeus” and “Once Upon a time in America” are two of the best of 1984 but I gotta say, this is quite a journey that I will never forget, that also reminded me of some other great film that are similar to this like “Wings of Desire” and “The Searchers”. So, what else? Are you ready to watch this movie now? If not, then you just miss a one hell of a ride!