In bringing his distinct vision to the Western genre, writer-director Jim Jarmusch has created a quasi-mystical avant-garde drama that remains a deeply spiritual viewing experience. After losing his parents and fiancée, a Cleveland accountant named William Blake (a remarkable Johnny Depp) spends all his money and takes a train to the frontier town of Machine in order to work at a factory. Upon arriving in Machine, he is denied his expected job and finds himself a fugitive after murdering a man in self-defense. Wounded and helpless, Blake is befriended by Nobody (Gary Farmer), a wandering Native American who considers him to be a ghostly manifestation of the famous poet. Nobody aids Blake in his flight from three bumbling bounty hunters, preparing him for his final journey--a return to the world of the spirits.
Jarmusch once again employs the beautifully contrasted black-and-white photography of Robby Müller, which sets a poetic, dreamy mood. He also fades in and out of scenes in order to better reflect Blake's dazed, weak mental state. Adding an even greater depth to the film is Neil Young's haunting score, which completes the overall effect. DEAD MAN stands firmly as a timeless work of art whose impact only increases upon subsequent viewings.
Independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch reaches a new plateau in his career with this poetic anti-Western. DEAD MAN follows William Blake (no, not the famous poet), an innocent young man who travels out west in order to find employment but ends up a wounded fugitive on the run from ruthless bounty hunters. Partnered with a spiritual Native American named Nobody, Blake begins to morph into the outlaw that he is mistakenly considered to be. Jarmusch's profound drama features a wonderful performance by Johnny Depp, as well as a moving score by Neil Young.
Theatrical release: May 10, 1996.
DEAD MAN premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1995.
Segments of the film were shot on location in a national forest in Sedona as well as the Peaks Ranger Districts, Arizona.
DEAD MAN is dedicated to the memory of Dick Pfeiffer and Paul D. O'Brien.
The two marshals that appear in the film are named Lee and Marvin, in tribute to Lee Marvin, the great Western actor.
This film was one of Robert Mitchum's final screen appearances before his death in 1997.
Steve Buscemi makes an uncredited appearance as a bartender.
Excerpt: "I'm not dead."--William Blake (Johnny Depp), to Nobody (Gary Farmer)
"The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn from the crow."--Nobody, to William Blake
"That's terrible."--Big George (Billy Bob Thornton)
"It's horrible."--Sally (Iggy Pop)
"Terrible is what it is."--Big George
"By God, I'm hit. Lord have mercy. Burns like hellfire! You son of a bitch. I'm gonna have to kill somebody now."--Big George
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
Additional Releae Material:
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Music Video
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Distributor Notes: Dead Man
Johnny Depp (CHOCOLAT) delivers a remarkable performance in this highly acclaimed tale of adventure and intrigue in the wild, wild west! A young man in search of a fresh start, William Blake (Depp) embarks on an exciting journey to a new town ... never realizing the danger that lies ahead. But when a heated love triangle ends in double murder, Blake finds himself a wanted man, running scared -- until a mysterious loner teaches him to face the dangers that follow a "dead man." With an outstanding supporting cast including Gabriel Byrne (THE USUAL SUSPECTS) and Robert Mitchum (CAPE FEAR), and a sizzling soundtrack, DEAD MAN is another motion picture triumph from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch.
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
Art Director
Ted Berner: Production Designer
Director of Photography
Robby Müller: Director of Photography
Production Designer
Bob Ziembicki:
Costume Designer
Marit Allen: Costume Designer, THE HULK (2003)
Review 1:
"...Striking black-and-white camera work..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.56 05/30/1996
Review 2:
"...DEAD MAN looks beautiful....Neil Young's soundtrack has many moments of great beauty..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.41-2 07/01/1996
Review 3:
"...A piquant humor and eccentric mood that brand it with the mark of one of America's most distinctive indie filmmakers..."
Source: Variety
06/05/1995
Review 4:
"...Sensational....The movie beautifully sustains a vision of the West as wild in the most primal and scary sense of the word..."
Source: New York Times
p.C3 05/10/1996
Review 5:
"...Hilarious, silly, facetious, violent, mystical....DEAD MAN is finally a poignant lament for the cursed coming of the white man to the West..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F5 04/15/1996
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