Arizona Dream
1995
Director Emir Kusturica and screenwriter David Atkins crafted this absurdist comedy in which Johnny Depp plays Axel Blackmer, who lives in New York State and is obsessed with fish. He tags fish and monitors their habits for a living, but his greatest curiosity is when and how they dream. Axel's uncle, Leo Sweetie (Jerry Lewis) .. Read more
| Starring | Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway, Jerry Lewis, Lili Taylor |
|---|---|
| Director | Emir Kusturica |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
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Arizona Dream
Director Emir Kusturica and screenwriter David Atkins crafted this absurdist comedy in which Johnny Depp plays Axel Blackmer, who lives in New York State and is obsessed with fish. He tags fish and monitors their habits for a living, but his greatest curiosity is when and how they dream. Axel's uncle, Leo Sweetie (Jerry Lewis) would prefer Axel take over the family business, a Cadillac dealership in Tucson, Arizona; against his better judgment, Axel drives from New York to Arizona to check out the lot and attend Leo's wedding to Millie (Paulina Porizkova), a woman who is hoping that marriage will keep her from crying all the time. While watching the Cadillacs, Leo meets Elaine Stalker (Faye Dunaway), the sexy widow of a wealthy mine owner, and the two strike up a romance, while Elaine's daughter Grace (Lili Taylor) wanders through her mother's home playing Besame Mucho on the accordion to her pet turtles. Needless to say, Warner Bros, the film's United States distributor, didn't figure this was a sure bet for box-office success, and they trimmed Arizona Dream of 22 minutes before putting it into limited release and eventually dumping it onto home video without opening it in most major cities. Kusturica's original 142-minute cut was released in Europe (where it did respectable if not ground-shaking business) and to a few art houses in America; the shortened 120-minute version is available on home video.~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway, Jerry Lewis, Lili Taylor |
|---|---|
| Director | Emir Kusturica |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Romance |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 30 Aug 2004 Production year: 1995 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Talented European directors often fail to succeed in transferring their specific view of life to English-language cinema, and this sprawling eccentric drama from Bosnian film-maker Emir Kusturica is a case in point; Kusturica, director of the acclaimed Time of the Gypsies and When Father Was Away on Business, fails to do himself justice. Nevertheless, it remains mesmerisingly watchable, largely owing to the superb performances of an eclectic cast, particularly the marvellous Faye Dunaway in one of her best roles as the emotional wreck that drifter Johnny Depp falls for, and the cleverly cast Jerry Lewis as Depp's very practical uncle. Cult favourites Vincent Gallo and Lili Taylor also emerge with credit. Despite their efforts, however, it still doesn't really work.
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A quirky fantasy, sometimes engaging, sometimes maddening in its deliberate oddness, but always original and often surprising.
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Most helpful member's review
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Dreaming Mad Chickens In Arizona
Arizona Dream is very early outing for Johnny Depp in this off-kilter, quirky comedy drama about a young man coming to terms with the fact that he might have to follow his uncles foot-steps and be a second hand car salesman.
The cast features an excellent Faye Dunnaway as Axel's (Depp) slightly mad lover and Jerry Lewis as Axel's car obsessed and grief stricken uncle.
Depp is on form and is a pleasure to watch as the confused Axel. Great for a nostalgic Depp night in! -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Whoops - Emir!
After really enjoying everything that Emir Kusturica has done in pursuit of the Palme d'Or - I was really interested to see what his sojourn in the US yielded. Five minutes into this effort you fully understand why he never achieved the transition into the American arthouse mainstream. After building his credentials with Martin Scorsese and Michel Gérard what was Jerry Lewis thinking of in descending into the goofball that was 'The Nutty Professor.
Back on track within two years with the altogether wonderful 'Underground' it was too early to write Kusturica off, thankfully, but this is a must see oddity only for strict fans.' -
News and features
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Depp in talks to play Pancho Villa
- 04 Dec 2009
Johnny Depp is in talks to become the latest big name to play Mexican bandit revolutionary Pancho Villa in a new movie. The movie star is slated to lead the cast of Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica's biopic, The Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman With Six Fingers. The Spanish-language film will be shot partly in Mexico in 2011 and Depp's Once Upon A Time In Mexico co-star Salma Hayek is in negotiations to co-star, according to Variety. If the film comes together, it won't be the first Read more
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Arizona Dream
Director Emir Kusturica and screenwriter David Atkins crafted this absurdist comedy in which Johnny Depp plays Axel Blackmer, who lives in New York State and is obsessed with fish. He tags fish and monitors their habits for a living, but his greatest curiosity is when and how they dream. Axel's ...
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