Dead Man

Dead Man

87% Liked It
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Dead Man

Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Gabriel Byrne, John Hurt, Alfred Molina

Jim Jarmusch takes his quirky, uniquely modern sensibilities back in time, with this western black comedy about a city slicker turned gunfighter, on the run with an enigmatic Indian buddy in the North...( read more  read more... )west wilderness.

Id: 9958820

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Recent Reviews


  • November 5, 2008
    Nice little dark comedy with good cameos a la Billy Bob Thornton and Alfred Molina.
  • July 19, 2008
    Neil Young's soundtrack plays a big part in this gothic, haunted masterpiece.
  • June 16, 2008
    An amazing cast brings this lyrical "western" to life. A poetic cousin to TAOJJBTCRF and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
  • April 22, 2008
    "The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn from the crow."


    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 har

    ...( read more)sh 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.
  • April 20, 2008
    Depp be best. Great movie.
  • December 26, 2009
    I'll start with the positive elements: the photography was gorgeous, certainly the best thing in this movie. Also the cast was pretty solid, but unfortunately the actors were underused and their characters, even Depps, were underdeveloped.
    I can understand that this is almost ...( read more)a poetic approach on a dusty genera, which I think should have staid dead and buried, but that's it all about it. I didn't see anything else good.
    The movie lacks depth, a good script, a good dialogue, a good director.
    Everything in this movie is eerie, I guess I must have applaud for, but the truth is that is so boring that I hoped that those killers would finish their jobs sooner, and let me out of the misery.
    The main character is a witless and gutless dude that overnight (literally) turns into this wild wild west hero. Hm...Even though I don't know anything about him, I sure known every little pore on Depps face.
    The head squashing scene and the hand eating scene were just silly, were there to some purpose?I saw them like desperate attempts to get attention. If those are Mister Jaramush's tricks then I'm cured with his movies.
    But, the most irritating thing in this was the music, Neil Young must have been pretty stoned to write such a insipid stuff.
  • December 25, 2009
    Johnny Depp in black and white
  • December 22, 2009
    It feels like his most recent effort and yet just as satisfying. the use of repetitive lines and the constant travelling is really traits that stands out. Whenever a director puts his own stamp, it is always outstanding, no matter how pretentious, as long as it borders on the ins...( read more)anely obsessive or bizarrely perverse. Jarmusch really displays a film where nothing or no tension genrally happen, where the hunters are just mere men to add more words to and yet, makes a film so enjoyable and enticing.
  • December 10, 2009
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  • November 24, 2009
    Hey Nobody ! I don't smoke.

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