The first time I ever saw this film, I didn't realize it was a metaphorical movie of symbolism, and thought "ok, not bad, but....ok". I watched it on the surface, trying to understand the story and some details (why doesn't a lack of food/water/razors change the way any of these men look?). After watching it and learning the meaning behind it, I watched it again with all new eyes and LOVED it. Once you know the story of this being his journey after death; through purgatory to atone for his sins on earth and his final destination, it becomes an absolute classic. Absolutely brilliant and wonderful! Every time I see it, I find a new detail, a new nuance that enlightens me. This is why I love Indie films.
Did you ever wonder who would have played the roles Johnny Depp played if he hadn't broken out of the pretty-boy "21 Jump Street" mold that could so easily have swallowed him? (Richard Grieco, anyone?) I'm trying to think of any actor in that era who could have pulled those characters off. River Phoenix, possibly, if he'd have lived, but he didn't. Anyway....
I wouldn't call it a western myself, it is far more than that. To me it's about the dirty reality of life and more importantly death, after all, life is the door to death. The hell is here. His journey to death is explained as the journey back to where he came ... back to where all spirits came from. I've watched it many times and I always feel so calm and peaceful by the end, with just the guitar licks floating around in my head for the next day or so. The best movie ever.
Shot entirely as an early cinematic project. Quintessential as a story and film. It is everything and nothing, with major emphasis on the perfect soundtrack, as an early cinematic piece rested.
Generally , I dislike contemporary westerns. This film, obscured for over a decade by the onslaught of the internet- which occurred, simultaneously- and my own estrangement from the western genre, surpasses all the movies made in the 1990s. Jarmusch's greatest aspirations of vision & sounds, enmeshed, so far.
A big part of why it failed in the marketplace is because, as I heard it, the Weinstein Brothers wanted to recut the film, and when Jarmusch refused, they kneecapped the release, slashing the advertising budget to a pittance. Often times the advertising budget for a film is a hefty sum, sometimes equal to the shooting budget. Without the ad money to push the film and create a buzz, the film languished. I agree it's Jarmusch's best film, and that's saying something. But you left out mentioning Neil Young's mind blowing soundtrack. Without it, the film would be MUCH different.
The cinematography in this is beautiful. The close ups of depps face are so well lit. It's breathtaking
And he is breathtaking. A beautiful face to light.
The first time I ever saw this film, I didn't realize it was a metaphorical movie of symbolism, and thought "ok, not bad, but....ok". I watched it on the surface, trying to understand the story and some details (why doesn't a lack of food/water/razors change the way any of these men look?). After watching it and learning the meaning behind it, I watched it again with all new eyes and LOVED it. Once you know the story of this being his journey after death; through purgatory to atone for his sins on earth and his final destination, it becomes an absolute classic. Absolutely brilliant and wonderful! Every time I see it, I find a new detail, a new nuance that enlightens me. This is why I love Indie films.
If you like symbolism, you have to watch the movie Mulholland drive.
Glad to see quality reviews like this still exist.
My favorite all times film!
Its about whole humans's life track.
Love and Peace from Russia.
Privyet, tovarishch.
Great film ,Neil Young blasting out on the soundtrack totally made it .
I didn't think it was a perverted depiction of the west. I thought it served to show us a more REAL west then we've ever seen...
Just like Down by Law, that waste land.
@@finnkdy. Also a great film.
number 1. in my movie list. I ´ve seen this movie 30-35 times, i know the scenes by heart.
Such a spiritual trip
This is one of my all time favorite films. Everyone’s acting was incredible. Neil Young’s sound track was perfect.
I love this movie, never the less because of the great soundtrack by Neil Young.
Good review - but he missed the point you make. The soundtrack by the great Neil Young added a lot to this film!!
jarmusch is a genius and all his movies are mint
I love this movie, Gary Farmer is spectacular
Gary Farmer! An absolute legend in Canadian screen acting. If you ever can see the film he is "Heater" - about my hometown of Winnipeg!
didn't neil young do the soundtrack
+Jessica Breznick yes, he did
I thought he done 20 Yrs,
in the can, grilled cheese y ...
Did you ever wonder who would have played the roles Johnny Depp played if he hadn't broken out of the pretty-boy "21 Jump Street" mold that could so easily have swallowed him? (Richard Grieco, anyone?) I'm trying to think of any actor in that era who could have pulled those characters off. River Phoenix, possibly, if he'd have lived, but he didn't. Anyway....
John Cusack could have done most of them.
Such a shame River didn't get to live long enough to reach his full potential. He would have definitely been Johnny Depp's equal or even surpass him.
Wow...Jarmusch got last dibs on Mitchum!
By far the best Western ever made and probably about the best ever. It and ghost dog
I wouldn't call it a western myself, it is far more than that. To me it's about the dirty reality of life and more importantly death, after all, life is the door to death.
The hell is here. His journey to death is explained as the journey back to where he came ... back to where all spirits came from.
I've watched it many times and I always feel so calm and peaceful by the end, with just the guitar licks floating around in my head for the next day or so.
The best movie ever.
We are spiritual beings having a (temporary) physical experience.
Shot entirely as an early cinematic project. Quintessential as a story and film. It is everything and nothing, with major emphasis on the perfect soundtrack, as an early cinematic piece rested.
Perhaps the train takes the dead to the afterlife, Depp is quite literally on his way to hell, and the title is far more literal than you thought.
Great movie.
Generally , I dislike contemporary westerns. This film, obscured for over a decade by the onslaught of the internet- which occurred, simultaneously- and my own estrangement from the western genre, surpasses all the movies made in the 1990s. Jarmusch's greatest aspirations of vision & sounds, enmeshed, so far.
One of my favorite films of all time!
Love this movie
excellent pick
2 thumbs up
A big part of why it failed in the marketplace is because, as I heard it, the Weinstein Brothers wanted to recut the film, and when Jarmusch refused, they kneecapped the release, slashing the advertising budget to a pittance. Often times the advertising budget for a film is a hefty sum, sometimes equal to the shooting budget. Without the ad money to push the film and create a buzz, the film languished. I agree it's Jarmusch's best film, and that's saying something. But you left out mentioning Neil Young's mind blowing soundtrack. Without it, the film would be MUCH different.
@jeremyshambles Well, Year of the Horse can be a tough sit.
Dead Man--Jarmusch's best? Better than Stranger Than Paradise and Mystery Train?!
Yes.
100%
Don't forget Down By Law.
Correct.
a beautiful story "haunted by memories of genocide, environmental desaster, greed and violence" such as are the bases of modern US.
@Julian Borges foundations perhaps also, ....
This movie got panned when it came out, if I'm not mistaken
Critics, what do they know?
@@daves6213 exactly
It got mixed reviews upon its release
I guess Leonard Martin preferred real cinematic masterpieces like Dirty Dancing...
The spoiler, the spoilers, THE SPOILERSSSS
i don't smoke
WARNING SPOILERS
PS. EVEN WORSE SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS
ruclips.net/video/f08fzexk_ec/видео.html to watch the full movie