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Dead Man
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £4.20 (subject to change)
Editorial
Product Description
Dead man is the story of a young man's journey both physically and spiritually into the extreme Western frontiers of America sometime in the second half of the 19th Century
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
This disappointment from Jim Jarmusch stars Johnny Depp in a mystery-Western about a 19th-century accountant named William Blake, who spends nearly all his money getting to a hellish mud town in the old West and ends up penniless and doomstruck in the wilderness. A benevolent if goofy Native American (Gary Farmer) takes an interest in guiding Blake on a quest for identity in his earthly journey, but the film is really just a string of endless shtick about inbred woodsmen, dumb lawmen, and a trio of irritable killers. With Robert Mitchum, Iggy Pop, Gabriel Byrne, Alfred Molina, and a noodling soundtrack by Neil Young. --Tom Keogh
An intelligent western of crystalline beauty
Review date: 2008-09-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
I simply cannot understand the published Amazon review of this movie by Tom Keogh. He describes the soundtrack as 'noodling' and the theme as 'endless shtick'-What is such a bonehead doing reviewing films? Has he been born to endless night?
Let me be clear; this is one of the most beautiful westerns I have ever seen with a brilliant rasping guitar soundtrack by Neil Young that captures the film's essence entirely. The black and white photography and camera placement and eye for natural beauty laced with desperate ugliness reminds me of the clarity of the Japanese cinema of Mizoguchi, and particularly the waving bamboo leaves in Shindo's 'Onibaba'.
In addition to the brilliant direction and a cracking script from Jim Jarmusch and the photographic genius of Robby Muller we have a cast that includes Johnny Depp (hey, just think how hard it is to die over an entire film!). The great Robert Mitchum, John Hurt and even a comic Shakepearean cameo with Billy Bob Thornton and Iggy Pop, as well as the beautiful Mili Avital as Thel Russell-the ultimate femme fatale with the paper roses!
Equally the three doomed killers provide lots of bizarre comic moments.
The arrival of William Blake (Johnny Depp) into town and the scene leading to his meeting with Dickinson (Robert Mitchum) is one of the best depictions of the dystopia of the alleged Wild West I have ever seen as well as one of the few insights into the horrors of the American Industrial Revolution. I highly recommend this film if you enjoy watching literate, subtle, well crafted and intelligent films.
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Reviews
Born to the Endless Night...
Review date: 2008-02-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film is incredible, a truly outstanding piece of film making (ignore the crazy French women who thinks its 'TOO weird'). Its a beautifully shot western (of sorts) filmed in Monochrome adding to the dark air of the whole movie.
Its a simple story about a man (Johnny Depp/William Blake)who after travelling west across america, to the frontier for work, finds the job has been taken and he is alone in a strange land. After getting involved in murder he is on the run (wounded/dying)in the big expanse of the American Wild West.
He is befreinded by 'Nobody' a native American who will be his spirit guide from this world to the next! (Far out!) - from this point onwards the film just gets better and better. Its funny, Strange, well acted, has a stella cast including Iggy Pop, John Hurt, Robert Mitchum (yes - ROBERT MITCHUM!)and many others.
Its the perfect vehicle for Johnny Depp and Neil Young who is in charge of the soundtrack (I'm listening to it now!)its haunting, beautiful, angry and sparse. This film is a must see for anyone with a soul, who is sick of Hollywood big screen crap. This film is intelligent and moving. Though maybe i'm biased as I enjoy, westerns, johnny depp/jim jarmusch movies (most of them) and Neil Young - i'm in heaven. Go on try it... 'Some are born to sweet delight... some are born to endless night.'
Just too weird
Review date: 2008-02-15 Rating: 8 out of 10
Right up front I'll state that I generally like movies that have well-defined plots, tell a good story, and have a satisfying ending. So, really, this movie wasn't for me (or my husband, who likes movies with positive endings that exemplify the triumph of the human spirit).
However, having said that, I did recognize some unique things about this film that make it stand out (though I wouldn't watch it a second time). There was some fairly innovative camera work, unique stylistic touches, grim realism superimposed on black comedy, and clever caricatures of some of the bizarrest of human behaviors. The result was that, even though the movie was unrelentingly depressing, at the end, all I could say about it was "That was just TOO weird!"
I love Neil Young, and, as some people have noted, his soundtrack was perfect for the "Too Weird" character of this movie. It was grating at times and too loud; but then, that was what was needed.
The "William Blake" theme that ran throughout the movie was another strange touch. Probably most of the people who watch this film will have as little idea who William Blake was as the protagonist. The bizarre experience of seeing a Native American quoting William Blake in the grim wilderness is just - again - Too Weird!
In the end, trying to give credit where it was due, even though it was not to my taste, I have to say that it was truly a unique movie, probably worth watching once just to be able to say "That was TOO Weird!"
Insane - the soundtrack is outstanding!
Review date: 2007-09-06 Rating: 10 out of 10
I could write for hours about this film, but I'll spare you and state that the Neil Young soundtrack is an outstanding feature of this movie. Moving, haunting, violent (yes, it's loud and invasive - watch the fim, it is perfect!), and most of all as brutally beautiful as the film itself. I'm no Neil Young fan - but this is no simple Neil Young song.
Depp is outstanding in a cast enjoying evey poetic line. Jarmucsh's best.
Alice in Westernland
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 8 out of 10
This film is a bizarre piece of work (but then I expect that from Jarmusch). It's touching, gripping, funny and black. A great cast, wonderful visuals (it's black and white, by the way), and a dreamlike story that takes you on a surreal journey through the frontier country. The only gripe I have, which costs it that fifth star, is the music by Neil Young. At first you think it makes an interesting enhancement to the film, the heavy rock guitar chords, but it never changes, and it's way too loud; by the end of the movie I was wishing they'd shot the composer. An amazing film spoiled by an inapprorpiate score.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Lance Henriksen
Johnny Depp
Gary Wincott
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal
Manufacturer: Universal
Model: 823 843 8
EAN: 5050582384383
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-10-03
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 116 unknown-units
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)