'Dead Man' has a great cast, plenty of hilarious moments, a bunch of references and symbolism with regards to the actual William Blake, and is a wholly original enterprise. Although the film starts out seemingly with the intent to tell a story in the traditional sense, a third of the way through it becomes some kind of art-house comedy/philosophy film, full of references and symbols which will be boring and meaningless to a lot of people watching it based upon its popular and positive reputation. This is fine, but be forewarned -- there is something of a select audience for the subject matter. The second half of the film has symbols, not literal characters.
I found the soundtrack by Neil Young interesting at first, but by the second half of the film, Jarmusche relies on it way too much, and fills the film with empty scenes set to droning, meandering solo guitar chords. The aesthetic of the guitar sound works, but the music becomes very monotonous. Given Jarmusche's symbolic approach to old-west America, interspersed with references to Blake's own poetic reflections on the time, a much better musical choice would have been someone like John Fahey or Leo Kottke -- seasoned, well-known folk musicians long since acquainted with old American steel-string music.
Johnny Depp is capable as always, and there is a wonderful supporting cast, including Crispin Glover, whose screen-time is way too short. I liked the first half of the film a great deal, but the second half left me restless and waiting for it to end.
6.5
I found the soundtrack by Neil Young interesting at first, but by the second half of the film, Jarmusche relies on it way too much, and fills the film with empty scenes set to droning, meandering solo guitar chords. The aesthetic of the guitar sound works, but the music becomes very monotonous. Given Jarmusche's symbolic approach to old-west America, interspersed with references to Blake's own poetic reflections on the time, a much better musical choice would have been someone like John Fahey or Leo Kottke -- seasoned, well-known folk musicians long since acquainted with old American steel-string music.
Johnny Depp is capable as always, and there is a wonderful supporting cast, including Crispin Glover, whose screen-time is way too short. I liked the first half of the film a great deal, but the second half left me restless and waiting for it to end.
6.5