Review of Dead Man (1995) by Dylan C — 13 Jul 2011

The plot itself is about as basic as a film can get, except for the somewhat ambiguous ending (the only part that I feel will divide viewers on whether it is worth watching). What makes this film worth viewing is the style and mood it conveys. The black and white cinematography offers some relatively minimal imagery that, oddly enough, sticks to the mind. Each performance is downplayed to a certain degree, save a few quirks that enable them to keep interest. Depp in particular is able to grab your attention as his character progresses in a moral and emotional arc, while not once spelling out exactly what is going through his mind (it's worth mentioning that you could make a drinking game of how many times he falls asleep and wakes to a stranger environment.) What sold the concept and atmosphere for me was the score, clearly inspired by Morricone while giving off a flavor of its own, that haunts you for hours after you hear it.

While it is certainly worthy of being called a western, its definitely an artistic endeavor more than regular viewers will tolerate. But fans of such things, or even just fans of Depp, will likely find it a satisfying experience.