Dead Man

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece, albeit an acquired taste masterpiece
Review: Successfully marrying several dramatic black and white mise-en-scenes inspired by the art of Fredrick Remington, Bev Doolittle and CM Russell to the poetry of William Blake, director Jarmasch has created a complex, funny and surreal world that can only exist in the world of film.

Containing a brilliant cast and eerie black and white photography (that looks like the result of Matthew Brady taking a Peyote trip), this film may be truly stand as the only successful stream of consciousness western. It is as if, besides channeling the western artists mentioned above, Jarmasch channelled the spirits of Dali, Richard Brautigan, Ken Kesey and Ralph Steadman, with a little Elizabeth Kubla-Ross(sp)thrown in for good measure.

Other aspects that make the film so memorable are the brilliant central casting of Gary Farmer (who has the great line: "Stupid F****ing white man") in a non-traditional and yet non "Dances With Wolves" stereotyped Native American sidekick as well as presence of Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian cultures. In the southwestern centric western film narratives of the past, this is a people largely ignored by Hollywood.

Neil Young's twanging and echoing guitar sends chills up the spine as it tweeters, stutters and chimes on the soundtrack. Johnny Depp again evokes the spirit of Buster Keaton as the clownish angel of death (think Eastwood's "Man with no name" trapped in the body of a silent film comedian). Many fine actors (John Hurt, Billy Bob Thorton, Robert Mitchum, Alfred Molina and others) make memorable cameos.

Is this film for everyone? Certainly not. Roger Ebert proudly hails it as one of the films he absolutely hates. If that isn't a reccomendation. I don't know what is. This is a unique film worth taking a chance. At its affordable price, this is a low risk investment.

Rating:
Summary: Funny??
Review: I watched my roomate's rental of Dead Man and reported to him that it was really funny. Well..I guess you need that particular Jarmusch sense of humor. He thought I was dead wrong. It just cracked me up that the Native American character's name is Nothing. A perfect description of this filmmaker who manages to make really interesting movies about not much at all, this one included. Some really beautiful shots, especially one of Johnny Depp squashing...well...you'll just have to see for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Crossing over
Review: If you love mainstream blockbusters, this is not the film for you. If you love movies by innovators like David Lynch, Fellini, or Herzog you might find it captivating.
Shot entirely in black and white, the film's depiction of violence and blood does not affect the viewer on a visceral level. Instead, the story takes on a poignant, lyrical quality that would not be possible in color. I did not understand the film's allusions to William Blake, having never read the poet, but this film made me want to learn more.
The greatest appeal of films of this type is that they pose more questions than they answer. As in all true art, everything is not spelled out for the viewer, and we are able to find our own meanings in this film. For me, it represented the interface between this world and the (possible) next. I was reminded of another of my favorite films, Jacob's Ladder. Both deal with a subject many find gruesome, and both these films resolve in a way that I can only describe as trancendental. I loved this movie.
Of course it would be nothing without Johnnie Depp. He portrays the dying Bill Blake with delicacy and a frail asceticism that is irresistable. And Neil Young's musical background is a minimalist masterpiece. Dead man is one of the most intriquing film I have seen this year.

Rating:
Summary: a trip for those who has a stomach for real movies
Review: = a trip for those who has a stomach for real movies

before i wached this movie i never thought that a filmaker could make so naturaly and axepting the trip of a human through death. is written alot about it and mostly they focus about what is going to happen after it happens, but the moment of agony which might be for a human observer a matter of few minuttes , seconds, hours or maybe days we dont find it so often. as Homer at Iliada describe the batlle between Hector and his Nemecis Ackil en careful observer can find the ten moments of the agony of Hector which is killed at the first strike then the rest are the last moments of the victims living with some ilussions produced in his phantassysing agony at the passwaye to death, Jarmusch has describet unicaly all the stages of the trip of a man before passing on the other side of the livings. it is atractive from the first moments when Deep is on the train where the caracters change as the nature itself. starting in the small peacefully towns with relaxte peacefull passengers and with the nature being uncultivated by humans the pasengers which seat near Deep are getting more wild and scary untill he reaches at the heart ot the most canebalestic part of the unknown by the rest of the educated part of society where he is going to make his meeting with death and the trip untill he gets confortable with the idea that he has to leave life behind. in many wayes i thing Jarmusch in the caracter of Deep created a better image of death than Bergman. soundtrack could not been better. one of the best movies of 90-s.

Rating:
Summary: Another Depp Delight
Review: This is one of my favorite Johnny Depp movies. I love that the sound track was written in the style of the old movies - with Neil Young watching the film and composing to it. So obvious in the way it works with the film. People are going nuts about seeing Depp in Neverland and Pirates, since they are both suitable for family viewing, but this film is a great movie for anyone. Super characters and a great story and moral and ending. It is just a delight! My husband and I have watched this many times and it wears well. Reviewers are worried about being reviewed by other reviewers. Believe me, if you like Depp, you will love this movie. Even if you don't you will.

Rating:
Summary: An Intensely Captivating & Remarkable Film.
Review: I have seen this movie countless times and this is without a doubt one of Johnny Depp's finest. People who dismiss this picture as a shallow film really aren't seeing it for what it is. On the surface of it it may seem dull and uniteresting but these comments are from people who expect to see movies where all the answers are handed to them without having to think. If this is what you are looking for then don't see this film as this one is truly an unbelievable and genuinely outstanding movie where a viewer's utmost attention is required.

I can honestly say that the viewer will be taken on a journey and live every moment of this film through the eye's of Johnny Depp's character "William Blake", and it will actually seem as if you are also on that same journey experiencing it all.

This is a multi layered picture covering many themes such as violence, religion, canibalism, symbolisms and tribal rituals amongst many others. The music is perfectly blended and is at times haunting which ofcourse reflects the dark tones of the film.

You will find yourself watching this film numerous times and each time you will uncover something you hadn't noticed before. Like I mentioned earlier it is not a shallow experience, this movie offers depth and you will either see what I saw in it and love the film or you will simply walk away from it. It's definitely a movie with a lot of vision and I am sure one that in time it will be recognised as an fine and unique motion picture.