User reviews

Dead Man is a unique piece of film. As this is my first taste of Jim Jarmusch, I had no idea of what to expect, but even if I had; I reckon that this film wouldn't have conformed to them. Dead Man is a surreal and trippy western that peels itself away from the staples of the genre and succeeds in creating something truly one-off and self-styled. Lead by a score written by Neil Young, Dead Man is continually satisfying and powerful; and you get the impression that every scene has been fully thought through, and is perfectly realised as the auteur intended. For this reason, Dead Man captivates it's viewer from the moment it starts until the moment it ends, and as it descends into full blown trippy weirdness, you can do nothing but stare in admiration of this strange gem of cult cinema. The plot is thin on the ground and it largely lacks meaning, but it doesn't matter because Dead Man is a purely aesthetic experience. Still, it follows William Blake (Johnny Depp), an accountant from Cleveland that arrives in a town to take a job offer, only to find that the vacancy has already been filled…

Dead Man is filmed in very stark black and white, which only adds to the surrealism of the story. Had this film have been done in colour, it would not have captured the same atmosphere that the black and white gives it; and so this decision was an inspired one indeed. One staple of the western genre that Jarmusch is keen to retain is the use of close-ups. The director spends a lot of time caressing Depp's facial features with his camera and, at times, even focuses on his lead actor when the action doesn't concern him. Aside from keeping in with the western tradition, this also allows Jarmusch to keep the focus on the main character, which keeps the viewer focused on his plight. For this film, Jarmusch has put together a cast of B-movie icons that will have B-movie fans foaming at the mouth. Crispin Glover, Robert Mitchum, Billy Bob Thornton, Lance Henriksen, Gabriel Byrne, John Hurt, Alfred Molina and even Iggy Pop feature and it's great to see so many faces in the same movie. The cast is, of course, lead by a man who is perhaps today's best actor; Johnny Depp. Depp's name on a credit list speaks for itself, and I don't need to tell you that his performance is great; nor do I need to point out the effortless cool that this movie exudes, largely thanks to the great man's presence. My only advice is see it...see it now.

First of all, you have to be a Jarmusch fan. If you walk comfortably through that door, you'll find he does a bang-up job with this existential Western. So does Johnny Depp, who plays the lead--a lost unemployed accountant in the old west who happens to be named William Blake. Gary Farmer, the Indian from Ghost Dog and The Score, calls himself Nobody because he doesn't like his given name that means "one who talks much and says nothing." Nobody serves as William Blake's savior, doctor, guide and boatman "across the river." Neil Young wrote and performed the score. Blake's nemesis is played by Lance Henriksen as a terse cannibalistic bounty hunter. Delightful cameos include Robert Mitchum, Crispin Glover, Gabriel Byrne, John Heard and others.

Symbolism abounds--there are shooting stars, down-shots of a hellish factory where Blake wanders looking for a way out, mines and factories of "white-man's metal," plenty of dead animals, including a small doe that Depp lies down with after decorating his face with its blood.

But the movie doesn't fall into the trap of making white men the fall guys for everything wrong with the world in which Blake and Nobody try to make a living. Nobody mistreats Blake's bullet wound and is arguably responsible for his ultimate predicament. Nobody isn't worldly, despite having seen Europe in his youth. He believes the same white people were in every town he visited. The northwest tribe visited at the end were petty people who obviously thought Blake and Nobody were not worth their attention, evidenced by Nobody's imprecations to "walk proud" to the mortally-wounded Blake, and his nervousness at what might happen if he didn't. And of course, there is Nobody's innocent belief that the hapless accountant is the historical poet and artist.

Held together with Young's musical score--mixed a tad loud for my taste--and the deterioration of the finances and health of William Blake, Dead Man is more than a picaresque, but the overall theme is elusive. Motifs are another story, and are liberally sprinkled throughout. Perhaps that's the point, ultimately--in the face of death, nothing else matters, and all the symbols and themes add up to nothing, driving the story from existential to nihilistic. Personal friendship, religion, wealth, work, technology, tribe, humanity, God, love--all mean nothing or are actively detrimental. For a movie named "Dead Man," that's not an unreasonable interpretation.

Depp is an ideal actor to portray the reluctant gunslinger, and his personality does more to hold the film together than any other single factor. The camera loves him, and his ability to portray a variety of responses to his predicaments, from confusion, surprise and anger to amusement, disappointment and ultimately resignation is the heart of this thoroughly enjoyable film.

Originally from Cleveland, William Blake gets a job as an accountant in a place called "Machine Town". Already in the train that takes him to the Dickinson wood factory an "unknown guy" warn him against the place he is going to. It is not fortune that awaits him but Death. Indeed the first night in "Machine Town", Blake is shot at and wounded. From this point on start a long journey of wandering in company of Nobody, an Indian and a philosopher.

This black and white film is mesmerizing. Obviously the black and white marks a rupture between what you are used to…So in essence this rupture is between let say classic Western and Jim Jarmush western as he re-visit the genre. It is also a way to keep the audience to what is essential…Color is a filter that can distract you, the sobriety of black and white will not.

But what exactly is essential in that movie? Beside the fact that Mr. Jarmush depict a brutal and impulsive America, the movie opposes a new born civilization that is already collapsing and a dying one that is still shining…But more than that the journey of William Blake is a metaphoric and circular voyage from misunderstanding to certitude. The guide Nobody, himself trapped between the two civilizations can not provide a cure to the passing man but may very well provide a path to a curing one. This journey from Machine Town, the "anti chamber" of hell to the sea, first step to Heaven is tremendously poetic and emotional. Also emotional is the evolution from misunderstanding to comprehension between Nobody and William Blake who eventually settles on what is essential reaching a common ground, clarity…

Help by a haunting and beautiful score from Neil Young and an extraordinary cast the film succeed in transforming the wood wagon of hell in which William Blake embarks to the wooden vessel to heaven in which he will lie.

One of the best films from Mr. Jarmush, Dead Man manages to take the audience in one of cinema most poetic journey

What a movie!... didn't want to see it at first.. But, then, when it begins, you take the trip with Blake to the big sea.

So beatiful pictures, such poetry in every single one of them. Hypnotic black and white scenes, still and vast nature, music that takes you down the other side.

It's the unconsious trip of one man to death, slowly descending to another level, deeper into nature. Or is he already dead and is not aware of it? Rivers, trees, animals and spirits to guide him along the way. This is a trip to self-knowledge, a hallucinational, sweet and slow resignation from needs and senses.

Amazing directing, incredible photography and an also amazing Johnny Depp, sunk in his own visions and thoughts, excellent in his portrayal of a man's abdication to parrallel levels of consiousness.

Thank god there is the indie american film making, that we see such beatiful movies.

Fantastic choice of actors, led by Johnny Depp, perfectly portraying a man who slowly crosses to the other side and blends with the nature on his last journey, and Gary Farmer, who brings some colour into this black and white masterpiece. Jarmusch overcame himself in this movie. Beautiful black and white cadres followed by Neil Young's hypnotizing guitar make us slip into a trance and drag us in another world, where we peacefully flow towards the end. The story is deep and sad, violent and romantic, at the same time full of death and full of life. The best performances of both Jarmusch and Young mixed together in one of the best movies of all time. It simply has no flaws at all.

10/10

The Western genre has always been misunderstood as a simplistic, racist (and misogynistic) traditional genre due to the many mediocre Westerns of the 40s and 50s. However, real good Westerns have delighted us with complex stories that take advantage of the setting themes: the conflict between honor & law, wilderness & civilization, and life & death. Director Jim Jarmusch, who has achieved fame and recognition in the independent film community, uses the elements of the Western genre to create his very own poetical meditation on these themes, giving the genre his personal touch crafting a powerful and original gem.

Young accountant William Blake (Johnny Depp) seems to have lost everything as his parents have died and his fianceé left him without a reason; so he decides to take a job in Machine, a town located at the end of "civilization" in the Wild Wild West. To his misfortune, the job he applied to has already been taken and now he finds himself really without nothing. However, his life will change forever after by a series of circumstances he ends up murdering a man, becoming an outlaw, although getting badly wounded in the process. Now, traveling along an outcast native who calls himself "Nobody" (Gary Farmer), he'll begin a strange and surreal trip that'll prepare him for the next stage.

Written by Jarmusch himself, the film's story details Blake's trip guided by Nobody in a similar way to Dante's journey in "The Divine Comedy", where a series of "episodes" are used to explore different ideas and themes across the trip. Jarmusch subtlety mixes drama and comedy to deliver his philosophical meditation making the film an entertaining experience, never becoming boring or tiresome. The Western setting is used effectively to tell this story and "Dead Man" toys with the Western elements in a subtle, respectful and quite entertaining way that neither parodies it nor makes fun of it in any way.

Shot entirely in black and white, the cinematography (by Jarmusch regular, Robby Müller) captures that feeling of loneliness and emptiness that William Blake's life has, as well as his collision with the wilderness of the wild west. Jarmusch camera-work together with Neil Young's excellent soundtrack give the film a beautiful surreal look that echoes Blake's equally surreal journey across the darkness searching for light. Finally, another interesting point is Jarmusch extensive care for detail in his portrayal of the American west, as well as his respect for the Native American cultures that play an important role in his film; making "Dead Man" one of the most realist Westerns ever made.

Johnny Depp's performance is remarkable, and probably one of the best in his career. Blake's complete transformation across the film is a real challenge and Depp makes the most of it. Gary Farmer is equally excellent and he is as effective in the comedy scenes as he is in the drama scenes, showing his flexibility and talent. The supporting roles present an assortment of cameos where actors such as Crispin Glover, Lance Henriksen, John Hurt and Robert Mitchum (in his last role) appear giving outstanding performances despite the limited screen time they receive. Henriksen certainly delivers his best performance in years.

Jarmusch's film is a brilliant poetical meditation of life and death, but its episodic nature make it feel even more slow than it is, as every vignette is separated by fade outs that break the mood created. This really damages the film's atmosphere, as it feels as a forced wake up after a pleasant dream. Another problem, is that fans expecting an action-filled Western may end up disappointed, so bear in mind that this film is more about feelings rather than actions. Despite his minor problems, the film is still a very enjoyable experience and a whole new way to experience Westerns, so even non-fans of the genre will appreciate it.

To summarize, "Dead Man" is an atypical look at Westerns that presents Jarmusch's interesting views on life and death in an entertaining, attractive way. Among the revisionist westerns, "Dead Man" is a valuable gem that is worth a watch. Even non-fans of the genre will find something interesting in it. 9/10

On the run after murdering a man, accountant William Blake (Johnny Depp) encounters a strange Indian named "Nobody" (Gary Farmer) who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.

Okay, we have an amazing cast here: Lance Henriksen, Billy Bob Thorton, Crispin Glover, Iggy Pop, and Robert Mitchum's final role. That automatically counts for something. And we have the whole thing shot in glorious black and white, which is all too uncommon since the 1960s. That is another point.

Now, on the other hand, commercially, the movie lost a boatload of money (making only about 10% of what it cost) and ranks as the most expensive of Jarmusch's films.

And critically, it has mixed reviews. Roger Ebert was not a fan of the film, giving it less than two stars and saying, "Jim Jarmusch is trying to get at something here, and I don't have a clue what it is." He calls it "a strange, slow, unrewarding movie" and says the score "sounds like nothing so much as a man repeatedly dropping his guitar." Others, such as Jonathan Rosenbaum and A. O. Scott, have called it one of the best films of the 1990s.

I happened to like it, though I did not fully appreciate the William Blake references (as well as Tom Petty references). But that is my loss, not Jarmusch's fault. And I am not sure I got the message, if there is one. And I still like "Broken Flowers" better... but there is still much to love here.

Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man is a truly one of a kind film, a film that I have been entranced for over a decade by, and constantly revisit it's haunting beauty, poetic absurdities and stark, gorgeous black and white cinematography (holla to Robby Muller). Johnny Depp basically plays a meek, downtrodden east coast boy mired in a wild, violent and confusing journey through a western outpost town and after a love triangle ends in murder, possibly his own, he embarks on a strange, spiritual walk through a Pacific Northwest netherworld of pine trees, outlaw bounty hunters, and oddball characters, led by a Native named Nobody (the excellent Gary Farmer). Is he dead? Was he even there to begin with? Jarmusch abandons logic for an expressionist approach, and the film ends up as a hypnotic tone poem and visual palette of events that don't really make sense, and may frustrate some. But to those open to its idiosyncratic writing and determined, enigmatic style, oh what a film it is. The cast is absolutely to die for. Depp is incredible in the best performance of his extremely uneven career. The character arc he inhabits here is wonderful, taking a feeble, checkered suited mess of a man and morphing him into a ghostly, predatorial, terrifying wilderness archetypal bandit, a force of nature among the trees and mountains. Haunted eyes, quick draw kill streak, moody contemplation, it really is his finest work. Michael Wincott steals his scenes as a chatty assassin and Lance Henriksen is scary as hell, playing a hired killer who "fucked his parents, then cooked them up and ate them." (Don't ask, just go with the film's demented flow). Gabriel Byrne, Iggy Pop, Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Mitchum, Milli Avital, John Hurt and an especially weird Crispin Glover all nail their cameos, and Neil Young's beautiful, melodic, elemental score is the beating heart of the film. Dead Man isn't a traditional film in any sense, and in fact seems to take place in a cliché free, bizarro alternate western dream universe where the rules don't apply, but all the beauty, mysticism and rugged frontier intrigue of the genre still remain. Fine with me. One of my all time favourites.

My summary above refers to the fact that this is a very unusual Western (not surprising since it's directed by Jim Jarmusch, a director known for always making different sorts of movies). Now this is not for saying that it's a bad movie, but it was somewhere in the middle.

William Blake (Johnny Depp) is an accountant from Cleveland that at the beginning travels by train to the company town of Machine for accepting an accounting job in the metal factory. When William arrives he notices the townspeople's hostility towards him and discovers that is position is already and he is taken out at gunpoint by the evil director of the company John Dickinson (Robert Mitchum in one of his last movies). Blake then meets a young woman at the saloon and spends a night with her. Unfortunately her boyfriend Charlie (Gabriel Byrne) who is also John Dickinson's son, finds them in the hotel room and William shoots him. William then flees and meets an Indian named Nobody and they ride together. John wants to avenge his son's death and hires bounty hunters Cole Wilson (Lance Henriksen), Conway Twill and Johnny Pickett for bringing William Blake dead or alive. Will he manage to end safely? See the movie.

This is a different kind of Western as in most of them there were lots of shootouts yet very clean looking folks. Here instead there are few gunshots and the people all look dirty, grimy and unlikeable. A few of the moments were even a bit gross, but the good outweighted the bad and I wanted to like it more. Johnny Depp gives one of his early great roles and all the supporting actors were good. The cinematography in black and white looked very stilysh and the soundtrack was also nice.

A nice experiment not to be missed by Western fans even tho it might not be for all tastes.

I decided to check this movie out as I am now studying William Blake poems in my English class. This movie is flat out brilliant. To see Jarmusch make something as pretentious as Broken Flowers is kind of shocking. The amount of symbolism and metaphor in this movie is awesome. A real tribute to the actual William Blake. If ever Blake took a quest, this was it. I knew this movie was going to be good as soon as I saw the vast list of slightly eccentric actors lined up in it. This script must have touched something deeply spiritual in all of them and I, if I were them, would have felt as if I wasn't even in the film. So many times was I moved to tears. It is its own entity. Amazing movie. I'm definitely adding it to my collection.

A film that is expertly made by director Jim Jarmusch, Dead Man is slow moving, but never becomes boring thanks to that great direction and a great performance from Johnny Depp. Considered an "acid western", the film stars Depp as an accountant who heads out west for a job and, once there, undergoes a major transformation and becomes a true western gunslinger. The film is also notable for a great performance from Gary Farmer as a Native American who helps Depp. The gentle and sympathetic portrayal of Native Americans living near whites is great and really helps bolster this one. All at once, Dead Man manages to be your typical western, but also manages to be completely unique within that genre, which is a weird place to be and makes this one hard to judge. However, thanks to great dialogue that is used only when needed, great performances from Depp, Farmer, and Michael Wincott, as well terrific direction from Jarmusch, it is tough to look away from Dead Man.

Although DEAD MAN has many of my favorite actors [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black]...

This movie was profoundly boring by any measure [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black]...

Although none of the old cowboys speak using the F-word [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black]...

The fast jive talking East LA Indian (Native American) cusses like a modern day sailor [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black]...

If any IMDB user seeing this thinks my review is a smug read [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black]...

It may be best to avoid this film [three sad guitar licks] [fade to black].

Jim Jarmusch is one of my favorite directors, and Dead Man is probably the greatest work he has ever done. Very rarely does a film come alive with a sense of poetry. The only other film I can compare it to would be Wim Wenders' Wings Of Desire. The film moves like a dream, floating and spinning around you. Neil Young's electric score churns like a ghost train and pushes the film farther. There isn't one performance that is wrong, nor is there ever a false moment. From start to finish this film pulls you into it's dream land, and carries you along on clouds until the finish.

Please...if you think there is no plot and no meaning....visit a few Indian Pueblos, study some American history, read more William Blake. This journey into the fire of hell has the most beautiful and moving ending ever filmed. A train to hell...Have you ever had a dead end job? What is the connection to Nobody? Why is his name Nobody? What happened at the General Store? Why wouldn't the guy sell the Indian (Native American) tobacco? Please reconsider. This movie is not the best ever made, but it doe's have a powerful meaning as it looks into the hell that Native American's were put through. Depp is a messenger. I saw the film six months ago and felt that Depp's performance was superb. I felt that there was a powerful symbolism in the film related to our concepts of life, death, and dying. The ending is the journey into the other world. The questions the film brings up relate to our concepts on premonitions, rebirth, death, life, and dying. Isn't it amazing that a fellow was named William Blake only to be discovered by a man named Nobody? And, after all we put Native American people through, isn't it amazing that someone with the name of Nobody would venture to help a Dead Man, that is one who is sure to become dead. And what of the prophecy, when bullets become words....oh, the meanings may not be clear, but the provocation to thought is at a very extreme level. Joy to all. Live this life and remember, this is a sacred journey. Every step counts!

Dead man is as strange a western as you're likely to see but is in itself a viable measurement of the evolution of American film. It has long been described since release as the ultimate post-modern western but I think it may well serve more of a purpose than that. The film is very nicely shot and the black and white evokes nostalgia toward the American westerns of old whilst the narrative structure, mise en scene and musical score point toward the changing face of American film with influences of European art cinema. The film demands you ask questions of it immediately and Jonny Depp's portrayal of William Blake makes for one of the most undecidedly strange protagonists I've seen in a film whilst ultimately the character of William Blake himself reminds me of James Stuart's Ransom Stoddard from John Fords Classic 'the man who shot Liberty Valance' if he had actually went the full nine yards and shot Liberty Valance. William Blake comes to accept his situation very easily and that's the kind of film this is, you won't enjoy it if you pick at its artistic direction constantly but if you just sit back and come to accept the narrative then you should enjoy it, even if it does tend to get lost within itself toward the end.

This is Jim Jarmusch at his best. I re-watched this movie a week ago and I'm still amazed by how Jarmusch gets under my skin and makes me think. Jarmusch plays with one of his favorite themes here: death. But of course, he's not limiting himself to that. He's questioning the western as a genre, he puts music in this movie in a way that makes it necessary for the viewer. Without Neil Young's guitar, this movie just isn't the same.

Johnny Depp plays William Blake an accountant from Cleveland lost in the west after some strange quiproquo. Blake is shot and dying throughout the movie. Helped with an Indian named nobody, he finds himself on his way to the other world. Lots of resilience shown by Blake, getting stronger and stronger as the difficult times are approaching. As much as the accountant never seemed to have evolved, he's taking bigger and bigger leaps as death is overshadowing him. Touching tale of friendship, resilience, death and guns! This movie is an all time great

"Dead man" combines themes from the films "Deliverance" (1972, John Boorman) and "Dersu Uzala" (1975. Akira Kurosawa).

The resemblance with "Deliverence" is a clerk from the city becoming a murderer due to unexpected circumstances.

The resemblance with "Dersu Uzala" is the friendship between someone with a Western cultural background and someone with a native cultural background. In "Dersu Uzala the cultural backgrounds differed most of all on the view on and respect for nature. In "Dead man' it is human death that is looked upon differently.

Two films for the price of one, Robert Mitchum playing strongly in his penultimate performance and the music composed by Neil Young seems to be a guarantee for a successful movie.

Nevertheless, I am not very enthusiastic about this film. Jim Jarmusch seemed too eager to make a real arthouse movie. This gives the film something forced. The reason for this seems to be that Jarmusch considered his previous movie, "Night on earth" (1991) an artistic failure. He couldn't be more wrong!

Johnny Depp is one of the most talented & influential actors of the Modern-Era. His body of work proves that fact right! Having played some of the most twisted characters, Depp reinvents himself with his outstanding performance as a meek accountant in 'Dead Man'. WOW!

'Dead Man' Synopsis: On the run after murdering a man, accountant William Blake encounters a strange North American man named Nobody who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.

'Dead Man', as a film, has the power to engross its viewer. Its an interesting film, that is executed sharply by Cult-Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. Jarmusch executes the film with style & a sense of wonderment, which works big time. The Narrative is crisp & even humorous at times. Jarmusch's Screenplay & Direction, both, are very well-done. Cinematography is fabulous. Editing is decent. Art Design is proper.

Performance-Wise: Its a Johnny Depp Show All The Way! He's simply outstanding as the protagonist. This has to be Depp's finest performance from the mid 1990's. Gary Farmer is efficient. Crispin Glover & John Hurt are okay. Gabriel Byrne is ever-impressive.

On the whole, 'Dead Man' is certainly a film worth watching.

In the 1920s-50s, Hollywood promoted man myths about the old west. One of the most common one was the 'pretty boy hero'. These heroic guys were nearly always perfectly coiffed, clean and wore clothing that looked more like what 21st century folks would wear to go country line dancing as opposed to acting like a real cowboy. To top it off, many of them loved to sing for no particularly good reason! They were, essentially, caricatures of the west. Entertaining? Yes...but caricatures.

Starting in the 1960s and 70s, a few westerns have been made to completely de-glamorize the wests...with no pretty boy heroes and lots of ugliness instead. Director Jarmusch and the casting directors deliberately chose non-pretty folks for the film...such as Iggy Pop and Crispen Glover (all covered in soot). These are much more realistic...though not necessarily fun representations of the American old west. In the films, there often were no heroes at all...and there was dirty, filth and long, greasy hair on nearly all the men. They are a huge contrast to these earlier Hollywood westerns!

One of the uglier representations of the west is seen in "Dead Man"...a film which tries to look like an old western through the use of black & white cinematography....but a thoroughly modern western when it comes to its sensibilities. All the men could use haircuts and shampoos...and the streets are full of mud, filth, filthy people and sleaze...and a minimum of dialog. Perhaps this film went a bit too far trying to de-glamorizing the west, as it presents a view which is too ugly and nasty...at least to be enjoyed by many viewers. Now this isn't to say it's a bad film....it is, in its own way, very interesting and unique.

The story begins with William Blake (Johnny Depp) aboard a train headed west. However, instead of just arriving in the town, there is a real tedium about these scenes...because such a trip would have taken many days or even weeks . Blake has apparently sold everything and is moving west following his parents' death and the breakup of his engagement. He has a letter from the Dickenson Company offering him a job....but after the train FINALLY arrives, he learns that the job was filled long ago and the owner of the company (Robert Mitchum...in his last film) is a psychotic nut who seems eager to shoot anyone who bothers him in his office!

Soon after leaving the Dickenson office without a job, Blake meets up with a prostitute. After doing the nasty, a guy walks in the hotel room and shoots the girl...and Blake shoots him. Now Blake is NOT familiar with a gun and misses the first couple times he shoots at him from almost point-blank range...illustrating both his inexperience with guns and that the murderer wasn't particularly eager to avoid his fate. He just seemed to wait to be shot. But the bullet that hit the woman and killed her also hit Blake....but Blake is in even more trouble, as the man he just justifiably killed turns out to be the son of the crazed Mr. Dickenson....so you know that he won't rest until Blake is dead. And, he soon hires some hired guns to get Blake...as Blake recuperates with the help of a Native American who clearly hates white folks! What's next? See the film....as describing what follows would not be easy!

So is it any good? Well....that's really hard to say. Much of it is because there really is nothing like it. The film becomes very allegorical and surreal....and probably isn't everyone's tea. As for me, I neither hated it nor liked it....it was novel experience and I did appreciate that and so I recommend you see it...especially if you want something different.

By the way, the reason why Nobody keeps talking about poetry and art is that Johnny Depp's characters, William Blake, shares the same name as the famous British painter/poet.

After an unexpected violent incident with the son (Gabriel Byrne) of his employer (Robert Mitchum), an employee (Johnny Depp) from the East is pursued by vicious bounty hunters (Michael Wincott, Lance Henriksen, Eugene Byrd). Depp wanders the 19th century American West as law-breaking William Blake. He's taken up by a decidedly eccentric Indian named Nobody (Gary Farmer), who imagines Blake as the famous English poet, and the two try to stay one step ahead of the hired gunmen and lawmen pursuing them. Sometimes it is preferable not to travel with a dead person! No one can survive becoming a legend!

A strange western with superb photography in which the action is sporadic and moves along the road in this unusual and long-winded film. This is the particular story of a young man's journey, both physically and spiritually, into very unknown terrain, which will have fateful consequences. A weird, funny and almost mystical version of the Western, Jarmusch's film chronicles the sentimental upbringing of an employee, William Blake, when he travels to the West and finds himself pursued by unpleasant bounty hunters, and develops a peculiar friendship with a flamboyant Indian who believes his new friend is the English visionary poet. More flexible in structure than the filmmaker's previous work, but infused with the same deadpan and unconventional humor. It stars Johnny Depp, who gives a nice performance as the pristine, unfortunate young accountant named William Blake who gets into trouble in the dangerous west and hooks up with a bizarre Native American played sympathetically by Gary Farmer, who steals the show. They are well accompanied by a notable supporting cast with many familiar faces, such as: Crispin Glover, Lance Henriksen, Michael Wincott, Eugene Byrd, John Hurt, Iggy Pop, Alfred Molina, Billy Bob Thornton, Gabriel Byrne, Jared Harris, Mili Avital and special mention for the superveteran Robert Mitchum, .

It contains gorgeous, brilliant black and white cinematography by Robby Muller, Win Wenders' regular cameraman. Plus a haunting but repetitive and some boring electric guitar score by Neil Young. The picture was professional and originally directed by Jim Jarmusch, getting success enough at box office. His films often involve travelers as well as life after midnight, shows and views the American landscape from a non-commercial viewpoint. The narrative structure of his films mostly lack clear plot progression and focus more on mood and character development. Jarmusch doesn't allow his movies to be dubbed for foreign movie markets, they are mostly shown with subtitles in other countries, his only films that were dubbed are Down by law (1986) which was dubbed in French and this The dead don't die (2019) which was dubbed in French and Spanish. Jim is a notorious writer and director, known for: Mystery Train, Coffee and Cigarettes, Down by law, Night on Earth, Dead Man, Year of the Horse, Ghost Dog, The Limits of Control, Broken Flowers, Gimme danger, Only Lovers Left Alive, Paterson, The Dead Don't Die, among others. Rating: 6/10, acceptable and passable. An attractive film for completists of the interesting and hit career of Jarmusch.