Dead Man Reviews

After all these years, this movie is still one of my all-time favorites. In fact, I remember very well when it came out. Indeed, I even saw the damned thing when it was released and I was just completely blown away by this movie. I mean, basically, I was very young back then, I had never seen anything similar before and, in my opinion, it was nearly pitch-perfect. Basically, the whole thing was just so poetic, I know that many people think it is really slow paced but I thought it was just a really mesmerizing picture. Obviously, the acting and the direction were pretty impressive and it might even be my favorite Johnny Depp movie. Since then, I have kept following Jim Jarmusch’s work, I have seen all his movies (except for ‘The Limits of Control’ which I still need to see) and, even though some of them were really good, no one of them ever managed to reach again this level of awesomeness. Eventually, i have to admit that this movie is a rather acquired taste but it is definitely worth a look, especially if you want to see what Johnny Depp was doing in the 90's when he used to be one of the most inspiring actors in the world.

Dead Man is definitely not a film for all tastes. This stylish production is sometimes difficult to watch due to the grainy black and white imagery, not to mention some of the harsh images of violence and even cannibalism.

Certainly not your average western, we follow a young accountant from Cleveland named William Blake (Depp) who takes the train into a town for an accounting position. Coming into town dressed in a smart suit and carrying a briefcase, he is the odd one out among the murderers and outlaws. But he is informed that he is too late for the job despite pouring every cent he had into coming to the town. After a number of mishaps, William begins to undergo a massive physical, mental and spiritual journey.

William is a young man looking for a steady job, and ends up taking a tragic descent into personal oblivion as he transforms into a wanted outlaw being hunted by numbers of bounty hunters.

To assist in his spiritual journey, William is accompanied by an Indian named "Nobody" (Farmer) who is rich in the ways of his tribe and ancestors. The transformation from meek accountant to hunted outlaw is emphasized by the weight of the wounds William carries, both physically and spiritually. His world becomes increasingly distant and he becomes ever more reliant on his Indian companion.

Dead Man is told with very alluring, unique cinematography and a very certain style. The director's prominent use of fades to cut shots together works exceptionally.

The film is also very ambiguous, told with deliberately slow pacing and performances that wouldn't normally grasp one with a short attention span. This style will not be embraced by modern audiences who crave fast-paced action, but the film will be adored by those who love art house cinema.

The director, Jim Jarmusch, struck massive success with the movie. He was finally discovered with the release of this movie, mainly due to the lead role being portrayed by Johnny Depp.

Depp's performance is sublime. He is able to let the audience empathize with his situation while never looking entirely vulnerable to his surroundings. The transformation of Depp's character was crucial for the success of the movie, and Depp played his role to perfection. If Depp isn't the greatest actor of all time, I don't know how to describe him.

The musical score is good at times, and creates a very haunting atmosphere to compliment the already exceptional visual images. At a glance, many might see Dead Man as one to leave on the shelf. If you crave simple mindless garbage that Michael Bay rolls out, you are correct to leave it alone. But if you are looking for a multi-layered production rich in messages about life, then I suggest you pick this one up without hesitation. I couldn't recommend this any higher.