Review of Dead Man (1995) by Steff A — 16 Apr 2010

I thought that while I was on a Jarmusch roll, fresh from my second go at "Permanent Vacation", I should try this one. After all the box was sitting on my collection for a long time and the circumstances almost forced me towards it. I'm glad I did. This simply has to be one of the most unique, deep, mysterious and strange movies I've ever seen. It is a spiritual trip, progressive and regressive alike for our main hero. To the average viewer I suppose it would a little hard to swallow but still I'm not here to talk about the average viewer, I'm here to talk about my emotions, my journey through Jarmusch's West.

The film as you probably already know is a spiritual western. A different take on the old west that dwells into uncharted territories, touching the paranormal, being open to interprentations. It is the story of one William Blake a simple accountant in the old West who's walking from his tidy well adjusted Cleveland life to hell. Hell being the town of Machine and the people surrounding it. But while this town is quickly left behind our hero, probably, changes planes of existence and a new journey is upon us. One of trascending and self-discovery. The guide in this journey? Nobody. Only in this film that's an actual character.

Now to what this film is all about. Vision. Jarmusch definitely has an extremely clear vision for this one and it shows. No detail is left to chance, even the last rock is stylised. It also has an exquisite cinematography with great american forests that add to our journey by being beautiful and harrowing alike. The film is full of symbolisms some gentle some more obvious but in general the thing that keeps it together is the atmosphere. Seriously, this movie offers an atmosphere that you can almost touch. You simply feel the world you 're into! And while this is a western, it is quiet. This silence is probably Jarmusch's greatest tool. It offers a canvas for the emotions, behaviours and encounters to evolve and is only disturbed by Neil Young's mesmerising music. This music is simply otherworldy. It is definitely the soundtrack to damnation, hell, life and catharsis. An elegy like no other and if Young truly improvised all the music while watching the film for the first time, as legend has it, I simply have no words to express the height of the artistic collaboration between director and composer.

Speaking about collaborations, what a cast! Quite simlply THE CAST and it is also admirable that Jarmusch doesn't abuse them. He clearly knows where everyone's place is and resists the temptations offered to him such as Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, John Hurt, Gabriel Byrne, Alfred Molina, Iggy Pop (in a woman's dress too!), Crispin Glover, Lance Henriksen and Robert Mitchum. Well, about Mitchum, his role could be a little longer just to capture more moments of what turned out to be his last role. Alas, man can't predict such things. At least he went out in style, may he rest wherever he is. back to the acting though, everyone is perfect. And they are perfect just by using their faces. Truly this is a film that could be easily silent because the expressions really go the distance to show every emotion and add on the subtle atmosphere of the whole film.

As to grasping upon the film, deciphering the symbols, breaking the Jarmusch code. I really don't want to go into great lengths. This is a movie about life, death, mortality, spirituality, transcending. Nobody can clearly put their finger on it as people's understanding of such subjects is, and should be, so personal and unique that it would laughable to think that there is only one truth. You create your own and reading between the lines is necessary but you 'll certainly be benefited from the experience. I will say that much though. A man's life can only be judged after his death and then he can also understand his path.

To sum up, I'm gladly to report that for me fourth time was the charm. I finally found a perfect Jarmusch movie. It is one of his small stories that give us great insight and touch us deeply.