It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
October 1st, 2011© A.J. Malouin 2011
We’re deep into it now, kiddies! The Greatest Month of the Year: Halloween!!! To start us off? Let’s remember how Screamin’ Jay Hawkins played the hotel clerk in Jim Jarmusch’s stunning 1989 minimalist film “Mystery Train.” Jarmusch gave him that role after using Screamin’ Jay’s music in his [Jarmusch’s] ground-braking [sic] 1985 film “Stranger Than Paradise.” Jarmusch’s people paid for the rights to the song, of course, but Jarmusch said, in an exclusive interview for The Criterion Collection, that he wanted to do something more for Screamin’ Jay. You, Gentle Reader, should do something more [and amazing!] for yourself, by viewing the entire catalogue of work directed by Jim Jarmusch. To set the mood, take a little visit to youtube. Here — and maybe he’s just doing it for Halloween…maybe (but I don’t think so) — Screamin’ Jay gets deep into his own material. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orNpH6iyokI