Dead Man (DVD, 2000)

I think this is the greatest western of all time, maybe tying with Clint Eastwood's Outlaw Josie Wales, and maybe Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman. When I watch these movies I think that this is what the real west was like, dirty, crazy and nonsensical. With characters like the Cannibal Cowboy, Iggy Pop's crazed trapper wife, and the Indian Nobody it is like the real history that is so weird that it doesn't get recorded. Yeah, it's a little strange, but so is life. One of the reasons that a lot of people don't get it (plot wise) is that it is based on the writings of the english poet, illustrator and visionary William Blake. One of his themes is that of man going from a state of innocence to one of experience. Which is what Johnny Depp's character goes through. Depp plays an easterner who don’t know anything about the wild west but quickly gets immersed in the thick of it, going from innocence to experience. One of the other things that people don't seem to like is that it is black and white, but you've got to check out the amazing cinematography. All of the scenes are shot beautifully and if you're a western movie fan (or just a movie fan) you won't ever forget the end because of the great visuals. I thought the acting was great including Depp, Pop, and an unforgettably creepy Lance Henriekson as the cowboy who just can't seem to stop killing, screwing, and eating people (including his parents) and not necessarily in that order. If you're a Depp fan, a western fan, a William Blake fan, a Jim Jarmusch fan or just like really good movies check it out.

I saw this movie in 1996 and I became a true fan of Johnny Depp because of it. I was surprised that it was done in black and white but soon forgot about that after the film got rolling. This film is about an accountant, desperately looking for a job, goes to a small town, gets shot, kills someone and becomes a wanted man. It's masterful because you never see it coming and the film is full of surprises. You feel for Depp's character as he takes you on a spiritual and adventurous journey. It's gritty, true to the time period and emotional. It's a great movie. If you want to see Johnny Depp at his best, watch this movie. after watching this movie, we knew Depp was destined to be a star. Truly a great movie.

1st off, I do NOT recommend that you read any review that outlines or tells the story! Enter this one like a child, so as to experience without preconceptions of what is to come. Give it some "quiet" time so as not to be distracted. If viewing w/ spouse or friend, do not discuss it - hold that for later. Do not think ahead - just allow the movie to unfold at it's own beautifully paced self. Permit the gorgeously stark B & W images to soak in. Listen to the sometimes cryptic dialog - you will be amazed how much you will later be able to recall w/ uncanny clarity. Also listen to the soundtrack - I cannot believe it could be more perfectly suited to the subject, images and storyline. In a nutshell - just savor the journey along with William Blake.

I RARELY watch a film more than 1X. Maybe 2X if it's really good, and usually at minimum 1 or more year(s) later. I rented the DVD & viewed 2X in 3 days. Then a week later, went out to buy the DVD & viewed a 3rd X. Now I'm viewing the special features (which I normally never do), and as I find a little extra time, I find myself viewing the various individual chapters - over & even over again. Frankly, it's a little wierd that I find myself so captivated by this film - like the movie itself, it's sort of mysterious.

This is not a typical review, but maybe it may still have merit. This is the movie that opened my eyes to a seldom seen facet of what a movie can be...huh? I watched this movie daily for the better part of five or six months. Now that doesn't mean I sat down and viewed it from start to finish in one sitting once a day. It went more like when I turned on the tube I started playng the movie from where I left off last, and when the end was reached I simply rewound it and started again. After awhile of watching like this the movie developed into a kind of mantra.Certain lines and scenes now had a life of their own,they almost could stand alone without the rest of the movie defining them. Things became personal; take the Crispin Glover scenefor example, after awhile I was almost in the role, looking Blake in the eye,uttering the oh so foreboding words, 'Machine, that's the end of the line'. Don't misunderstand me, I am not delusional, I never felt as if I were tranformed into the actual characters or anything. It's more like after a while things start to seem more important or maybe on some basic level I could identify more with one than another. And so you start to take on certain elements of the film as your own and you can almost stand inside the movie and see things through their eyes because of that base commonality you share. The familiarity is comforting and safe. Repitition has suddenly made this movie yours and even if you can never really convey what happens between yourself and a movie clearly to another it doesn't matter, because you realize that it is something that has to be experienced firsthand to be understood. for me Dead Man was the springboard that made it possible for me to find I could also get this type of "meditation" via repitition with books and music also. It was never a life consuming activity, nor was it weird or cultish. Its more like if I have some free time I'll watch some of Dead Man, etc. So I don't know...want a new experience...a a little repitition to your life you might be surprised how things develop. GUNNS

This movie brings you immediately back in time when buffalo was still running wild, and plenty of them.
Johnny Depp, as usual, was excellent in the movie...learning how to adapt to the land that he had moved to from a city, and Gary Farmer was awesome as the Indian who thinks that Johnny is a famous poet named William Blake, which just happened to be Johnny's name.
I loved the way it was shot in black and white, and the wilderness that they traveled through. Without telling all, this is truly a fantastic movie.
I have previously rented it 2-3 times, and decided to buy it ..i can watch it over and over again!