Dead Man . Tucson Weekly . 09-05-96

Dead Man

DIRECTED BY: Jim Jarmusch

REVIEWED: 09-05-96

New York City filmmaker Jim Jarmusch turns his dry wit on the rough and tumble world of cowboys in this stylish, idiosyncratic western. Johnny Depp stars as a city slicker who accidentally becomes a fugitive from the law. He flees into the black and white, virgin wilderness aided by a dispossessed Indian named Nobody (Gary Farmer). Jarmusch alternates between making fun of the whole idea of a western and embracing that idea with all his heart, resulting in a delightfully complex blend of humor and horror. One moment the movie seems like a spoof of a Marlboro ad, while in the next the characters are murdering one another in serious, cold blood. A blistering (and after 134 minutes, quite annoying) soundtrack by Neil Young keeps Jarmusch's customary slow pace rolling along, though by the end of the movie you'll wish Young knew some new chords. The lack of women in the cast and a slightly camp tone paired with a fascination for violence make Dead Man hazily reminiscent of a gay porno flick--which is quite an achievement. Finally, all that male bonding, buddy energy is exposed for the psychosexual drama it is!

--Stacey Richter

Other Films by Jim Jarmusch
Year of the Horse

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.