Cast: Johnny Depp, Lance Henriksen, Gary Farmer, Robert Mitchum, Gabriel Byrne, Alfred Molina, John Hurt, Crispin Glover, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop.
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Running Time: 127 minutes
Grade: C+
Overall: 3 stars (out of five)
Drama: 2 stars (out of four)
Action: 2 stars (out of four)
Mystery: 2 1/2 stars (out of four)

At one point in DEAD MAN, William Blake (Johnny Depp) says to his Indian companion, "I haven’t understood a word you’ve said to me since we met." That’s just about the way I felt as the movie progressed, when it had ended, and even the day after I saw it.

It’s a beautifully filmed movie, with the western landscape shown in stark black and white. There are several unforgettable images involving Depp on horseback and in a canoe. And Depp, who is constantly on screen, is totally captivating. He puts in yet another standout performance in a quirky, small film. If you’re not acquainted with Depp’s perfect facial features by now, you certainly will be by the time the film ends.

The plot of the film concerns the journey of William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, going west to escape a failed romance. Upon arriving in the town of Machine—the end of the railroad line he takes west—his journey takes some unexpected turns. He is befriended by a large, enigmatic Indian, who likes to be called Nobody (Garry Farmer). Together, they come across other wanderers, while making their way toward their destination.

The other major characters are three bounty hunters, led by the taciturn Cole Wilson (Lance Henriksen). His companions are the talkative Conway Twill (Michael Wincott) and a young, black boy, Johnny Picket (Eugene Byrd). They are almost as much of a puzzle as the William Blake and Nobody characters. The three are the cream of the crop of old west professional killers, we are told as they are hired by John Dickinson (Robert Mitchum).

As you might imagine given the title, a theme of Death pervades the film. There are bones everywhere; buffalo and other animal bones scattered in the streets of towns, as well as a few human skeletons that pop up on Depp’s odyssey. Who’s alive and who’s dead? What’s real and what isn’t? These are some of the questions the film raises. The fact that a film can be interpreted in many ways is the sign of a good film. DEAD MAN, however, doesn’t really provide enough evidence to lead to any valid insights—at least for me.

As much as the imagery, dialogue, and performances of the film captured me, I cannot give it a very high rating. It’s obvious that Jarmusch is an excellent filmmaker. Making the film in black and white was a good choice, and he managed to assemble a cast of some of today’s finest actors. The score, by Neil Young, is haunting and somehow appropriate for the Old West setting. However, the film as a whole was not very satisfactory. Quirky and enigmatic, yes: a fulfilling movie experience, no.