Rating: 
Summary: Journey into Darkness
Review: This is one for the BFI archives. A memorable visual feast, as audacious as "Once Upon A Time in the West" and "Heaven's Gate." Jarmusch has deconstructed the Western, turned it inside out into an eery compelling journey into darkness. Neil Young's score is hypnotic, pulling you along on this evocative journey. Depp is first rate, maybe his best role. But, once again he finds himself up against a formidable co-star. This time Gary Farmer, who is fantastic as "Nobody," an existential Native America. Nobody plays wonderfully off "William Blake's" innocence. So many compelling cameos, ranging from Robert Mitchum to Iggy Pop. This film is so heavily laiden with imagery and allusions that one needs to watch it several times to absorb the width and breadth of Jarmusch's vision.
Rating:
Summary: Tyger Tyger Burning Bright
Review: This is a brilliant, stunning, unique masterpiece that, I realize, will not be to everyone's liking. You will either love it, or hate it. I love it because Johhny Depp is in rare form. I love it because it is eerie and forboding. I love it because each scene is an understated gem of cinematic brilliance (but especially the transvestite cowboys, what a hoot!!). I love it because it is as unpreictable as a tornado in Kansas and its meaning as elusive as life itself. Want proof? Just look at the challenging intellectual discourse it inspired right here in these Amazon reviews.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique
Review: Jarmusch movies have always been a kind of hit or miss for most people, mainly because he's one of those directors whose name always pops up in serious conversations about cinema where a good three quarters of the people involved in the discussion haven't actually seen any of his movies. He's one of those filmmakers who seems to elicit a reflexive nod of recognition among those who can't name a single piece by him. Something like Hal Hartley in connotation.Having said that, "Dead Man" is a great flick that got buried in generalized expectations and conclusions. Sure, it's a failed revisionist Western, and sure, the literary and cultural references are patronizing, and sure the choice of black and white over full color dirty Depp smacks of pretentiousness. But all of these apparent misconnections eventually translate into an indulgence on the part of Jarmusch that ends up being a truly meditative, strangely un-American and un-Western, perhaps even zen experience. For example and in particular are the scenes around campfires, where characters engage in confounding conversation, sleep, literaral and figurative awakenings, and cannibalism, where narrative loses focus and the activity taking place in the dull lightning flashes of the fire, however sedentary or offensive, becomes its own commentary. Weirdly enough, this isn't anything new, which is what's so surprising about how this movie has been generally received, even after the many years (by American movie standards) it's been around. Given the context of his better received works (ie,"Mystery Train" and "Night On Earth"), it's actually, and suprisingly enough, refreshing to watch "Dead Man." It's not a movie to invite your friends over to watch for laughs or action, but certainly worth watching on a rainy night meant for conversation. And, despite whatever anyone's told you otherwise, Neil Young's soundtrack is amazing.
Rating:
Summary: It's all love
Review: As a child I loved the small candyballs made of layers of sugar in different colours. As you kept it patiently in your mouth, it changed its colour continuously. This amazing and wonderful movie is like that. The first many times I watched it, it was confusing, fascinating, painful, disturbing and I was shifting from laughter to shock back to laughter. I couldn't stay away from it, it was a mystery to be solved. I then began noticing the beauty of the movie, which was also confusing and fascinating because the contents of many of the scenes are anything but beautiful. Why did I then find the movie to be one of the most beautiful things, I had ever seen? How could violence be so poetic and still not be glorified? A phase of quiet and intuitive understanding grew out of this, viewings became almost like a meditation. This phase lasted for quite some time, pure pleasure, but then the painful seriousnes of the movie slowly took over, and after perhaps 25 viewings I was "hit" by the enourmous sadness. I hadn't really noticed the sadness during the first viewings, it kind of took me by surprise at one point, making it almost impossible to laugh anymore. This phase also lasted for many viewings, so many that I thought that the movie could bring no more surprises. And then suddenly one day it seemed strangely new and unknown to me again and it fell on me as a shock: It's all love! The love between Bill and Nobody. The love of the american wildernes. The love of poetry. I could suddenly see all the love it must have taken to make this movie. Jarmusch must have written the script with his heartblood and all of his love in order to be able to create such a story and such characters. The actors must have really loved it (and Jim Jarmusch) to accept a probably rather poorly paid part in this unfasionable movie, and in order to be able to play the characters so that they come to live and seem strangely touching (even the evil ones) and believable in spite of the on the surface rather unlikely story. Neil Young must really have loved it in order to make the heartwrenching music and the photographer must have put his heart and soul in making the characters and the landscape present in a naked kind of way that make you almost feel part of the scene. The love of all these artists flows from every scene, and as a viewer you sense this and you end up loving the movie because of the strange depths of your soul that it brings you in contact with. This is partly why the movie is so fascinating and so totally in its own league. So - after many, many viewings what to me comes out as the strongest impression from this at first sight dark, violent, confusing and pessimistic masterpiece is the strange glow of trandescent love that unexpectedly radiates from it, when all the other layers have been peeled of.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece, of course.
Review: Is there any doubt that Jarmusch is the greatest living American filmmaker? Certainly now that Woody Allen is well past his prime, I think not. All of the man's films just blow my mind, Dead Man being no exception. Unfortunately, as much as I love them, I always find myself floundering when called upon to explain exactly what it is that fuels this appeal. Jarmusch is nothing if not subtle, and the poetry is so finely woven into the work that it's difficult to do anything other than take the work as a whole. What it comes down to, I expect, is that the brilliantly stylized settings and cinematography, the invariably well-written dialogue, and the distinctive soundtracks come together as more than the sum of their parts. I have no explanation for the poor reviews Dead Man has received, other than the general stupidity of the American film-viewing public. The word 'slow-moving' is often used in a negative sense, suggesting that some people just can't tolerate watching a film without explosions, gee-whiz special effects, and snappy one-liners every five minutes. As with so many things in life, a good part of the blame can probably be leveled at Star Wars. However, this does not apply to you. You are not a soul-deadened consumer-drone. You are an intelligent, thoughtful person, and you should therefore pay no heed to the naysayers (and especially to the previous reviewer--rarely have I seen a more stupidly wrong-headed critique of ANYTHING), and give Dead Man a go. You may not become quite as enamored of Jarmusch as I am, but I think there is little chance that you will not find it haunting and powerful.
Rating:
Summary: very weird
Review: I don't particularly care if this movie was a western, a comedy, arty, pretentious or whatever. I loved it, I thought it was beautiful and moving. Neil Young's soundtrack was great (up to a point...admittedly, there were some parts where I REALLY wanted him to shut up, especially right at the end)and Johnny Depp's face in black and white is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I also thought the black and white worked...if you think about it, would the movie have worked at all in colour? One suggestion; don't watch this movie if your feeling energetic. Wait till you're half-asleep and let yourself drift away with it.
Rating: 
Summary: What you lookin at?
Review: Fans of this movie tend to describe it as a "Western"; this reveals their general cluelessness. Jarmusch is obviously trying to create an artificial world that looks and feels artificial. The film doesn't really suggest the Old West at all, but rather a series of highly stylized sets with heavily made-up actors, like in old Hollywood, or in Henry Weinhard commercials. I'm not a fan of Jarmusch, but he's at least competent enough to render the setting he wants for his films. To describe this as "set in the Old West" is to miss the point completely. Anyway, this is an appalling film regardless of the setting; despite the constant, gaudy thrusting of cultural currency (from William Blake to Iggy Pop) at the viewer (apparently we're supposed to be impressed that Jarmusch knows the name "William Blake" and can quote a line or two from Bartlett's); despite Neil Young's strictly farm-league guitar playing (those who like it should check out Bill Frisell ASAP); and despite the ridiculous violence that's intended to give this flippant mess some gravity. Experienced movie fans will turn this off after 10 minutes; to you kids, just keep watching other movies, keep your mind open, and (until you're familiar enough with film to know what you're looking at) try keeping your mouth shut.
Rating:
Summary: Do you have any tobacco? No, but I have a great film!
Review: I finally watched this film after having two people rave about it repeatedly. I can immediately see why critics panned it. It's not Hollywood flashy nor is it a deep, takes-itself-too-seriously Indie film. It is what it is.
Quite simply, it's a story of a guy (Johnny Depp)who dies. Along the way, he encounters plenty of oddball, surreal people. A cryptic Crispin Glover, Robert Mitchum with a rifle, Gabriel Byrne the jilted lover, the psychotic Lance Henrikson, and Iggy Pop in a dress.
But it's Gary Farmer who steals the show as Nobody, the mixed breed Indian who was raised in the White Man's world. Part mystic guide, part prankster.
Johnny Depp's acclimation to his complete death is fascinating to watch, as he moves from unassuming accountant to an entity he no longer understands but accepts.
This film is fantastic. Watch it and enjoy. Take it for what it is and you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Geh?
Review: Okaaay, not sure what that editorial guy would've wanted this film to be like, prolly would've been a bit less interesting his way though. I personally enjoyed this film greatly. Not into subtext & symbolism (I like my intelectual themes straight up), so I don't bother to make any such examinations. I watch for the experience, and this was a very cool one indeed. The film has a great atmospere to it, that kind of progressively deepening fever dream quality that fans of "Apocalipse Now" will find familiar. All very well done with the crisp black & white photography, excellent plot pacing, and Niel Young's raw & atmospheric soundtrack (I got it on CD after seeng the film, it makes great night driving music!). Nope, not a mystery (what did he think he was supposed to puzzle out?), Just a good, heavy atmosphere with viens of black comedy. The acting's quite good (impressive, considering the off-beat nature of most of the characters), and the story, while straightforward & noncomplex, is emotionally engaging enough to sweep one right off down the long dark river with it. Definately not like any western you've ever heard of before, but definately a very good one.
Rating:
Summary: Hear the train a coming......
Review: My favorite part of this movie remains the opening scenes before opening credits role showing Depp sitting in Train car and occasionally looking out the window at the changing landscape on his journey west. Depp keeps nodding off and each time he opens his eyes he sees a dramatically changed world as the train ventures further and further into the frontier. It is also during these opening scenes that we hear the first harsh chords of NeilYoung's very memorable guitar only soundtrack. Depp is in easterner on his way west to find work. His plaid suit stands out more and more as a most unfitting attire as he gets closer to his destination. The job turns out not to be available after all and the plot of the movie becomes the education of an easterner on the western frontier. The plot is rather simple as Depp gets involved with a girl whose boyfriend tries to kill him. In self-defense Depp kills the boyfriend and for the rest of the movie he is a hunted man, or a dead man. The only person who befriends him is a half breed called Nobody who was captured as a young boy and educated in England and so knows and quotes the poetry of William Blake assuming Depp to be the selfsame poet/painter. As they escape the bounty hunters, hired killers, and sherriff's(many of these characters played by disguised stars such as Robert Mitchum, Crispin Glover, Billy Bob Thornton, Iggy Pop) on their trail they become great friends. Highly entertaining western with just enough art in its cinematography and soundtrack to give it a special evocative power and charm all its own. One of the few movies I have purchased and am glad to own. The episodic nature of the story and the excellent characters and dialogue which is often very funny makes it one you will want to see more times than once. A western that is a perfectly balanced blending of art and entertainment, light and dark themes. Thoughtful but not at all pretensious. Will appeal to all kinds of viewers.
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