• Ask Jim Jarmusch

    When we released Jim Jarmusch’s films Down by Law and Night on Earth, the supplement Ask Jim, in which he answered questions viewers wrote in about his films, was so popular that we’ve decided to do it again. We are currently working on the special edition of Jarmusch’s Mystery Train, and we are wondering what questions you would like answered about the film. We can’t guarantee he will answer all (or any) of your questions on the release, but please post them in the comments here.

    We will be accepting your questions through January 6. Please do not post any personal requests; they will not be answered. Please do post thoughtful and creative questions. Post as many questions as you’d like, and remember to include your full name, city, state, and country of residence. Thanks for participating and look out for Criterion’s edition of Mystery Train this summer!

    *By posting a question to this address, you allow the Criterion Collection to use your full name, city, state, and country of residence and your question in full or edited form, in any or all media, worldwide, in perpetuity.

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61 comments

  • By Ben .
    January 05, 2010
    09:14 PM

    How about a "Sons of Lee Marvin" question? Of the known members I get the connections except for Nick Cave. How did he cross paths with you? And if it involves a Tom Waits/Nick Cave collaboration please tell me how to hear it......
    Reply

  • By ben .
    January 05, 2010
    10:04 PM

    Many filmmakers direct out of market commercials to supliment their income between films, seemingly everyone has done a few from Scorsese's "Lost Hitchcock" ad to David Lynch's surreal Japanese car commercials. So, I was wondering have you ever made a commercial or are royalties from you films enough to live off of? If not, what do you do to suppliment your income?
    Reply

  • By David Sakolsky (D.W. Sakolsky)
    January 06, 2010
    01:18 PM

    Dear. Mr Jarmusch I have two quick questions. 1)My girl friends grandfather is Guy Spera and he created "Sound One Studio" (Which you have used for many of your films) he even recived a credit in your film "Down By Law". I was wondering what films were done over at "Sound One" also do you have any fond memories of the place? 2) My dream is to one day become a director/writer and you are my main inspiration, your film "Ghost Dog" is the entire reason I have enrolled myself in a film program. My question for you is what films or directors have inspired you to become who you are? Yours Truely: D.W. Sakolsky (Got a ring to it? Right?)
    Reply

  • By Richard LaRue
    January 06, 2010
    02:38 PM

    Two questions: 1.) I work in a video store and while having a conversation about 'Limits of Control' with a customer they stated something along the lines of "at the end we see this heavily guarded complex and all of a sudden we are to believe this guy somehow snuck in and out just like that, it's impossible." My response was that in every ridiculous action movie the hero/anti-hero faces insurmountable threats and always manages to escape harm while displaying super human feats and asked why they needed everything to be shown or explained in order to have to reach a suspension of disbelief. It is your movie, am I wrong or was 'Limits' basically a treatise on action cinema? 2.) What are some of the directors you admire or respect that are working today? Thank you kindly, Richard LaRue Madison, WI United States of America
    Reply

  • By Mark Gowdy
    January 06, 2010
    03:52 PM

    Hi Two quick questions: 1) How much filming did you do inside the Arcade Hotel? I was saddened when my friend and I paid a visit to Memphis in 2002 to see it no longer there. 2) Any plans that you know of to reissue Sakita's photo collection book? Thanks -- looking forward to the Criterion release. ::Mark Gowdy Toronto, ON, Canada
    Reply

  • By Alexander Bucsis
    January 06, 2010
    05:46 PM

    Dear Mr. Jarmusch, Since very early on in your career, you've been incorporating musicians in your work and Mystery Train is no exception--not only do Joe Strummer and Screamin' Jay Hawkins appear, but Rufus Thomas and Tom Waits as well. How does the experience and outcome of working with primarily musicians differ from that of actors? Are there any musicians you'd like to work with but haven't yet had the opportunity? Of all the television appearances you've made, which are you most proud of? Very sincerely, Alexander Bucsis Trondheim, Norway
    Reply

  • By Michael Kuelker
    January 06, 2010
    07:35 PM

    Will you tell us more stories about Joe Strummer, whether from the Mystery Train experience or otherwise? No detail is too small. We miss the man.
    Reply

  • By David Beal
    January 06, 2010
    07:36 PM

    Mr. Jarmusch- Which photographers influence you and why/how? What is your visual preproduction like? Thanks, David Beal Orinda, CA
    Reply

  • By Rahul Ragunathan
    January 06, 2010
    07:48 PM

    Hi Mr. Jarmusch, How did you come up with the idea of putting Iggy Pop in a dress in Dead Man? Are there any suggestions that you have made to your actors that they have refused to do? Is Roberto Benigni in the coffin in Mystery Train? I have noticed in many of your films the use of a sort of narrative/cinematic ellipses, where the screen fades to black after the end of a scene, giving many of your films a clear episodic structure. Was this narrative style inspired by Ozu's use of "pillow shots" as transitions between scenes? I know you both appeared together in the film "Blue in the Face", so what are the chances of a collaboration between you and Lou Reed? Thank you very much, Rahul Ragunathan East Lansing, MI
    Reply

  • By Rahul Ragunathan
    January 06, 2010
    08:28 PM

    Also, are you a frequent traveler on Amtrak/other trains? And do you have any thoughts on the potential resurgence of high speed train travel in the US? Rahul Ragunathan East Lansing, MI
    Reply

  • By Gabriel Estala lost in Juarez
    January 06, 2010
    09:48 PM

    Why don't you make an album with the "Sons of Lee Marvin". It's about time.
    Reply

  • By Erica L Pardee
    January 06, 2010
    11:20 PM

    Heya, Jim - I'm curious: have you ever been (or are you still) much of a trainspotter? I envy the fact that you grew up in Ohio, surrounded by the C & O, along w/ so many others... Thx for everything - Erica L. Pardee (Seattle, WA)
    Reply

  • By Torleif Torkelsen
    January 07, 2010
    07:58 AM

    That neat trick Masatoshi Nagase did with the zippo - How many takes? (And was it scripted or improvised? Can you do it?)
    Reply

  • By Pete O.
    January 12, 2010
    01:19 AM

    Hey Jim, How much does it cost these days to obtain copyright permission for songs in films? Broken Flowers was one of my favorite films of the decade. For some reason I really love to listen to filmmakers talk about movies they love. Can you name just a few films you loved of this past decade that perhaps not many people have heard of? And can you try and make your fans wait a little less than 4 to 5 years for your films to come out (kidding) Peter O'Hara From the cold sad and beautiful country of Canada Toronto, Ontario Canada
    Reply

  • By Pete O.
    January 12, 2010
    01:21 AM

    Hey Jim Are you at all influenced by Jacques Tati? Fraser Collins New, Market Ontario, Canada
    Reply

  • By Pete O.
    January 17, 2010
    06:06 PM

    Dear Jim How's it going Adam North Bay Ontario, Canada
    Reply

  • By Matt Proctor
    February 01, 2010
    01:26 AM

    Prbably too late, but I figured I'd ask anyway Jim, you've said a lot about how New York in the 70s was a special place to be. I'm a young artist from Ohio trying to figure out what to do with my life and I was wondering: Do you think New York is still the place to go? Or has it become too expensive? AND If you were young and just starting out, where would you go? Matt Proctor Columbus, Ohio
    Reply

  • By Megan Butterworth
    April 09, 2010
    04:50 AM

    Jim, I would like to know what it was like to work with Nicoletta Braschi?
    Reply

  • By Geoff
    November 03, 2010
    02:22 PM

    Dear Jim Hey Jim, I just have to say this first, I loved your directing style in "The Limits of Control". I watched both parts of "Behind Jim Jarmusch" on the special features of "The Limits of Control" & I was highly impressed with your fucking amazing methods of directing in each of your films! If I have any specific questions for you, they would probably be; - What's your ALL time favourite movie?(if you have one) - What's your favourite brand of cigarettes? & - Would you ever come to Atlanta for a movie signing? Haha Geoff Oldham Atlanta, Georgia
    Reply

  • By Patrick
    December 13, 2011
    02:03 PM

    This is a really cool extra on the Mystery Train disc. Almost like a Jarmusch call-in show. Very cool.
    Reply

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