Dead Man

Rating:
Summary: One of the better films ever made
Review: All other reviews that are written about this movie that give it low ratings have no grasp on reality. This movie is DEEP. The battle of good vs evil, the irony of the protagonist being named Willam Blake. The reflections on William Blakes poetry and lifestyle. The rhetoric on religion and what is ahead in the afterlife. It is a masterful piece of film, but only if you truly understand all that is referd to and referenced in this movie. Some are born to endless night. Some are born to sweet delight. It is easy as that.

Rating:
Summary: Wasted Opportunity
Review: There's some things to like with "Dead Man", but this is not some great masterpiece, which seems to be the running assessment here at Amazon. The cinematography is superb, no question. The B&W was shot with a heavy contrast that gives the world a look of raw power and fear. I thought that was wonderful, and could have been put to excellent use. The acting was fine, if a little camp at times. But I think we saw enough staring into vacant space for one evening to get across the message that the world's a puzzle and that the main character is lost. These things can be overdone, which Jarmusch seems not to realize. So, in the end, this whole exercise, as lovely as it is as camera work, went for nought. Jarmusch, apparently, has almost nothing to say, which is surprising, since he obviously lavished so much attention on his look. The film does not make any coherent statement about life or death or anything else. The characters are vapid and pointless. The story is a throw-away. And the reviewers who have come before me bear this point our well. They can't tell you what this film is about either, except in the usual generalities. You tell someone the plot, and then you look in your hands, and all you have is a little pile of sawdust. Too, too bad. Jarmusch is very interesting, but he keeps getting lost searching for ways to express his modern ANGST -- the world is SOOOO dark, people are SOOOO bad, etc. Who needs it in the end? It tells us nothing we haven't heard a hundred times before and from writers whose spit he isn't worthy to have on his face, and the idea really isn't true, especially in fat-and-happy modern America. And the comedy, well, it was mildly interesting, but in sum mostly sophomoric. The Indian? Silly. You might as well go read Blake if you want to know something about what he might, just might, mean to this film. See the great "Black Robe", instead, if you want to study Native American culture. Or read the Brian Moore novel on which "Black Robe" was based. So I've had my say. To sum up, even though I've done some bad-mouthing here, it's clear that "Dead Man" is lots better than every Hollywood film that came out in the same year, even though it is a disappointment. (Do you wonder what I like, as a contrast to what I've said here? The greatest film ever made, in my humble opinion, is Kurosawa's "Ran". Now you can decide whether to listen to me or not about this film.) Watch "Dead Man" for the splendid photography (even Neil Young's score, as great as he is, gets a little ridiculous at times -- it was haunting for an hour, and then just a plain pain in the ear), but you better be ready to forget the story and the vision, for they ain't much. It's like a painting of a still life. It's awful pretty, but it ain't gonna tell you much about the meaning of existence. Hey, write to me is you wish to discuss this matter, though what I'd really like to talk about is "Ran".

Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE!
Review: DEAD MAN is one of, if not the finest film to come from Jarmusch yet! The black & white photography is dynamic (color would've been a hindrance)! Depp gives yet another fine understated performance. The mood and pace of the film is slow yet that ADDS to the overall experience that is every Jarmusch film. I saw his in the theatre the sme day INDEPENDENCE DAY opened and am grateful to myself for whch film got my money.

Rating:
Summary: wootka!
Review: I was blown away when I saw this. I was quite impressed with the detailing actually being accurate for Northwest Coast Native Americans. I can't believe this was filmed in the forest where I live and I didn't here about this film for five years! Are they afraid of the locals? This is a must see just because it sticks to the authentic. Although I don't know how that reviewer got the idea they went from Texas to the Pacific Coast in Washington!

Rating:
Summary: Haunting...
Review: That's the only way to describe this movie. From the opening sequence to the very end, I was mesmerized, unable to look away from the screen. Even though I was watching it in a slightly crowded room on a 13" screen, I was riveted. At the end, I convinced my host to rewind it and play it again. The imagery evoked in the movie is awesome and the casting and characters are perfect. As far as I'm concerned, this is Depp's best work to date. The best part of this movie though is that you can watch it again and see something new - not some wierd detail like Sixth Sense, but something actually new, that you just missed. My only regret is that I can't find it on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: awsome movie
Review: This movie is awsome. The black and white adds to the effect that it has. It is really funny and is a great movie to see if you want to escape from the dulldrums of daily life.

Rating:
Summary: View it twice - he was dead all along!
Review: The ending is not as blunt as Jacob's Ladder so maybe you will miss it, but Depp is a Dead Man from start to finish. He is on a journey through limbo - in search of his way home. The how and why are intertwined within the odd places he ends up on his journey. The large indian as his spirit guide is a nice touch. Depp's confussion on what is going on only adds to the mayhen that IS the story of how he ends up the way he does. The final scene is reminiscent of the Grim Reaper taking his fair down the River Styx. Excellent eye candy!

Rating:
Summary: johnny in black and white
Review: johnny depp is wonderful, yes? and neil young doing all the music? who's ever had a greater idea? i wish more movies were still made in black and white; allows us to see the innocence and simplicity of everything. and why hasn't anyone mentioned crispin glover? the best train fireman ever, i'm sure. ("hey, mcfly, your shoe's untied...") and who better to play a freaky transexual woodsman than iggy pop? yes, this movie has the most fabulous combination of actors i believe i've ever seen. johnny's acting is exquisite, the direction is beautiful, the music is creepy and perfect. if you haven't seen it, please do. but, also, please watch out for the head-crushing scene . . . well, close your eyes if you anticipate a head-crushing coming on. i'm pretty darn sure, you will enjoy this movie. you'll atleast enjoy the preciousness that is johnny depp.

Rating:
Summary: Jarmusch's Best Film by Far
Review: Jarmusch takes us on a dark and "comic" journey in the life of William Blake (johnny depp). Leaving the comforts of civilized life (cleveland) Blake finds himself with no job, no money, no friends, no home and hunted down by the law. The atmosphere is heavy, gritty and surreal.

Rating:
Summary: Creative metaphysical take on traditional western genre.
Review: A strange and quirky film that takes us along with William Blake on his last journey. Each new scene only brings life's strangness into a hyper-magnification. When it's all over, you have to watch it again.