I have chosen this film for formal discussion at DeppFest, and I would be grateful for any submisssions of discussion points or questions that might help me get the ball rolling.

I've never moderated something like this before, and I could really use some help.
:thanks

Arnelle I've moderated discussion groups at Depp events as well as charity events and seminars. Please let me know if I can help.

There's a commentary on Dead Man, isn't there? I read it at some point, but I can't remember the title or author. It had all kinds of goodies about the symbolism, etc., in the film. I'll see if I can track it down...

Arnelle, I assume you've read or been referred to Jonathan Rosenbaum's masterful book on Dead Man ( click here for Amazon offering ). If not, I highly recommend it. While I don't agree with everything he says, he provides excellent insight and a lot of information from Jarmusch. Here's a link to his review published in the Chicago Reader, a sort of prequel to his book:
click here for review

I just finished reading it as a matter of fact, and still I'm asking for help. :blink:

I assume most of the Fest-goers are just simple(-minded) folk like myself.

I couldn't cull much from Rosenbaum's book. He spends a lot of time referring and compare/contrasting arcane films to Dead Man.

I suppose I'll do what I always do, watch it (I wanted to NOT watch any of the Fest films ahead of the Fest) and take notes as I'm thinking about it.

Do we really have to pick it apart ad nauseum? I like to discuss how it makes me feel. But I will try to conduct it like an intelligent film discussion.

I think the symbolism is pretty obvious, really. I need help with phrasing the questions/points.

Karen, I AM asking for help!


help me
I'm just a lowly hairstylist. :huh: with a degree in clueless.

That's the one! Too academic for humble pirates? I agree. I'd rather discuss how said movie made me feel - if I liked it or not, and why - than a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. One thing I remember from the special features on the dvd was about Neil Young's music - that might be worth a question or two. I'd definitely watch this movie before moderating a discussion of it...not in order to be an 'expert', but to know what I'm letting myself in for! :unsure:

We can take this offline, PM or email me when it's convenient for you!

I was hoping I'd find a discussion here already to get some ideas, but we haven't had it yet it seems. :lol:

I appreciated Jarmusch's fade-in technique, for it's simplicity and segmentation of the story. On the train: it's got to be a long trip, and you see what Blake sees when he dozes off and wakes up to a different set of strangers.
In the Makah village, he fades in and out of consciousness due to blood loss, and you can feel Blake's surrender and weakness, an almost trancendence; a peek into the next realm, DEATH.

I really enjoy this movie. The pace does not bother me as it might in other movies with a slow pace. Perhaps it's all those close-ups of THAT FACE.

Wow. I would love to hear the questons, AFTER Deppfest of course! It must be wrought with symbolism, because even :blink: me, can see a few obvious ones!
Deppfest is going to be FANTASTIC!

LOL Let me jump in here to add that there usually are some discussion points that happen at the event. As usually a question you ask will inadvertantly spin off into another one. lol

Indeed, that's what I would expect...I need some good openers (my sticking point, it seems) and something for back-up in case Dead Man becomes a dead discussion.

Here is a really neat write up on Dead Man by Scott Tobias, written June 5, 2008.

He does a synopsis of the movie and uses videos to show certain scenes. This was the movie that introduced me to Johnny. The symbolism and the fact that it was done in black and white is symbolic in itself. Although there is speaking, it still has some qualities of a silent movie.

Beware: colorful language and scenes not appropriate for all audiences.

Click
Dead Man

Here is a 10 minute clip from Youtube.

Youtube Clip