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Dead ManDead Man is a 1995 film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Billy Bob Thornton, Iggy Pop, Michael Wincott and Lance Henriksen. The soundtrack and the plot are based upon a Neil Young record with the same name. Johnny Depp plays a character named William Blake who travels from Ohio to Machine Arizona for a bookeeping job, but instead finds himself wrongly accused of two murders. Blake is not initially familiar with the works of the William Blake(18th-19th century artist and writer of the same name). One of the more memorable lines in the film comes from Depp's character before he kills a man; after the victim asks if he's William Blake, Blake replies, "Yes I am. Do you know my poetry?" and then shoots. The poetry of William Blake is quoted by Gary Farmer's character, a Native American named Nobody, at several points in the film. Nobody was aquainted with the works of Blake when he was captured by English trappers and sold as a circus curiosity to be exploited throughout North America and England before being assimilated and then finally returned to his people, only to be rejected as a liar. Nobody's character is fictional but there are many well-documented instances of Natives exploited like this throughout the early history of the New World. Another character, a canabalistic parricidal bounty hunter indirectly refers to Blake's poetry when he advises a colleague not to drink water from a still pond ("Expect poison from standing water" -Blake). Blake and Nobody travel from the Crow area of the Southwest, up to (presumably) the Makaws along the Northwest Pacific coast. This film is generally regarded as extremely well-researched in Native American culture. It is also considered to be one of if not the only film by a white about Native Americans that is considerate of the individual differences in Native American tribes and free from stereotypes. The movie makes many poetic statements about both Native American and Anglo-American cultures. A brief but highly informative book on the film, by the same name, was written by noted film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. Robert Mitchum, Gabriel Byrne, Crispin Glover, John Hurt and Alfred Molina also have minor roles or cameos. = Original Neil Young Plot = Track order Guitar Solo 1 The Round Stones Beneath the Earth Guitar Solo 2 Why art though Silent and Invisible.. Organ Solo Do you know how to Use this Weapon?.. Guitar Solo 3 Nobody's Story Guitar Solo 4 Stupid White Men... Guitar Solo 5 Time for you to Leave, William Blake.. Guitar Solo 6 The Round Stones Beneath the Earth (Faint car sounds) Blake coughs and sighs. Nobody: The round stones beneath the earth, have spoken through the fire. Blake: What? Nobody: Things which are alike, the nature grow to look alike, and the speaking stones have lain a long time looking at the sun. Blake: The speaking stones.. Nobody: Some believe they decend with the lightning, but I believe they are on the ground and are projected downwards by the bolt. Did you kill the white man who killed you? Blake: I'm not dead, am I? Nobody: What name were you given at birth, stupid white man? There is a short pause. Blake: Blake. William Blake. Nobody: Is this a lie? Or a white man's trick! Blake: No! I'm William Blake. Nobody: Then you ARE a Dead Man. Blake: Sorry, I don't.. I don't understand. Nobody: Is your name really WILLIAM BLAKE? Blake: Yes. Nobody: "Night, and every morn, some to misery are born. Every morn and every night, Some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night. ".. (A poem by William Blake) Blake: I don't understand.. Nobody: But I understand, William Blake! You were a poet! And a painter! And now.. you are a killer of white men.. Why art though Silent and Invisible.. Do you know how to Use this Weapon?.. Nobody's Story Stupid White Men... Time for you to Leave, William Blake..
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