Johnny Depp stars in Jim Jarmusch's strange and bleak western as William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland who just moved to the crime-ridden and belligerent town of Machine, only to realize the job he moved there for has already been filled. Outcast and penniless, he is discovered drinking alone outside of a bar by Thel Russel, a beautiful brothel girl who takes him in for the night. The next morning, however, the two are awoken by Thel's old lover, the son of a powerful factory owner in Machine, who comes by to make ammends. How awkward. Needless to say, words are had, shots are fired, and Blake escapes the only survivor, fated now to live his life on the run from lawmen and cold blooded bounty hunters. Oh, and along the way he meets up with a pretty badass Indian man who calls himself Nobody (the big fella in the picture).
Personally, I'm both a fan of Jim Jarmusch and westerns, so naturally I was delighted to stumble upon this title in the Queue. Beautifully gritty black-and-white cinematography by Robby Muller, who went on to do more work with Jarmusch on movies like
Ghost Dog and
Cigarettes and Coffee. An awesome crunchy soundtrack scored by none other than Neil Young. All in all, I'd say what the film lacks in action and suspense (it can feel slow paced for a western at times) it makes up for in breath taking aesthetics. And like many Jarmusch films, fantastic celebrity appearances and cameos, particularly Billy Bob Thornton and Iggy Pop. Recommended for any Jarmusch or contemporary western fans. Or Iggy Pop fans.
Johnny Depp stars in Jim Jarmusch's strange and bleak western as William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland who just moved to the crime-ridden and belligerent town of Machine, only to realize the job he moved there for has already been filled. Outcast and penniless, he is discovered drinking alone outside of a bar by Thel Russel, a beautiful brothel girl who takes him in for the night. The next morning, however, the two are awoken by Thel's old lover, the son of a powerful factory owner in Machine, who comes by to make ammends. How awkward. Needless to say, words are had, shots are fired, and Blake escapes the only survivor, fated now to live his life on the run from lawmen and cold blooded bounty hunters. Oh, and along the way he meets up with a pretty badass Indian man who calls himself Nobody (the big fella in the picture).
Personally, I'm both a fan of Jim Jarmusch and westerns, so naturally I was delighted to stumble upon this title in the Queue. Beautifully gritty black-and-white cinematography by Robby Muller, who went on to do more work with Jarmusch on movies like Ghost Dog and Cigarettes and Coffee. An awesome crunchy soundtrack scored by none other than Neil Young. All in all, I'd say what the film lacks in action and suspense (it can feel slow paced for a western at times) it makes up for in breath taking aesthetics. And like many Jarmusch films, fantastic celebrity appearances and cameos, particularly Billy Bob Thornton and Iggy Pop. Recommended for any Jarmusch or contemporary western fans. Or Iggy Pop fans.
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