Rating:  -
Odd, unique, a cult classic ! I loved it. My husband let a friend at work borrow it. He thought he would like it
as he is half American Indian. He loved it. He asked if he could borrow it again because he wanted to see it
a second time. Another co-worker borrowed it and he loved it.
I found out about this movie while watching a Neil Young TV interview on a website. The producer or
director of the movie asked Neil Young to do an instrumental soundtrack through the whole movie.
Of course Neil was putting himself down and saying things like "You really don't need music in this
film. It would be just perfect as a silent film ".
Rating:  -
Johnny Depp and Jim Jarmusch are ideal collaborators. Both come up with such eccentric ideas that work more often than not. "Dead Man" is proof of both men's twisted genius. Things start out painfully slow, so a fair amount of patience is required. Bill Blake (Depp), an accountant from Cleveland, is boarding a train for the town of Machine. He has just been hired by Old Man Dickinson (Robert Mitchum) to work in his steel mill. Blake's parents are recently deceased, his fiance ran out on him, and he used his last penny to buy a horrible suit and train ticket to get to Machine. He is looking for a fresh start. When Blake arrives at the steel mill he learns that due to a mailing error the accounting position has already been filled. Blake is furious and when he demands to speak with Dickinson he is chased out by the old man himself with a shotgun. Things don't get any better for Blake. By the end of the night he will be fatally wounded in a gunfight and wrongfully accused of a double murder which includes Dickinson's son (Gabriel Byrne). Three bounty hunters (Lance Henriksen, Michael Wincott, and Eugene Byrd) have been hired by Dickinson to bring Blake in. The only relief Blake finds is an Indian named Nobody (Gary Farmer), who tends to his wounds and offers him spiritual enlightenment. Nobody promises Blake that he will help him get back to where he came from. Through the character of Nobody Jarmusch unleashes this film's dark, dark, wit. Nobody is constantly putting down the "stupid white man" and his scenes with Depp are brilliant. These two actors have an unexpected team work and play off each other beautifully. Nobody is also the film's conscience as he tries to teach Blake about spirituality and quotes endlessly the real William Blake's' poetry. I haven't even gotten to Billy Bob Thornton, Iggy Pop in drag, or the brain smashing, and cannibalism that Jarmusch also sees fit to throw in. It is a film well worth taking a chance on. In addition to all the weirdness you are rewarded with hypnotic black and white images from Robby Mueller and a thrashing and moody electric score from Neil Young. A minor masterpiece.
Rating: -
The Amazon Critic says this film is a disappointment. I don't know where they got this guy from or what his credentials are as a film critic, but he is very wrong about this film. The film score is beautiful, I'm a fan of Neil Young! Johnny Depp looks great as William Blake. I'm a fan of Mr. Depp. And Director Jarmusch has made his masterpiece and one of the greatest films every made. So there...Amazon Critic!
Rating: -
To put it briefly, what's not to like! It is brilliantly written and acted (particularly by Johnny Depp and the actor who played "Nobody"). The sound track is strange and awesome--perfect for the film. Loved the black and white and the frequent 'fades-to-black' after each scene.
The first scene that had me hitting the rewind was the cunningulus scene--couldn't have been more weird and unexpected. I'd say 'off the wall', but it was 'on the wall'.
One of the other scenes that had me hitting rewind was when the bounty hunter stepped on the head of the dead marshall. That was very poorly portrayed. I'm sorry, but the special effects department failed miserably in this case. Silly looking.
But, if you don't get this movie, and don't appreciate the kind of film that Johnny Depp looks for and appreciates acting in, nobody (no pun intended), can make you get it. You're not a Depp fan. And please don't watch it. Pffffft!
Rating: -
Was reading William Blake, remembered this movie and that it went away with the ex and that I NEEDED it. I could need it for Iggy Pop's amazing frontier woman drag queen sketch alone, but there are many more reasons. This is a great film; entertaining, thought-provoking and sinister in its rendering of the Blakeian dichotomy between Innocence and Experience.
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