The Brave (1997)
Directed by Johnny Depp
Written by Paul McCudden, Johnny Depp and D.P. Depp
Based on the novel by Gregory McDonald (who also wrote the Fletch novels)
This, unreleased in America flick, is Johnny Depp’s debut as writer/director. Shown at Cannes in 1997 it was well received by European audiences but panned by American critics. Depp backlashed by vowing to never release it in the states. You can track down region 0 copies of the film through ebay, and I think you should because it shows another side of Depp’s creativity, one which I believe to be a flawed success.
Depp plays Raphael a down on his luck Native American who has just been released from prison. He is a 3 time loser trying to do good for his family. His family and friends all live in abject poverty in a trash dump, which is set to be destroyed by construction. In an attempt to finally do something for his family Raphael accepts $50,000 which will allow his family to rise above poverty and have a chance at a life… of course to get the money he had to sell himself to a snuff film producer (played by Brando in a brief cameo) who intends on making him the ’star’ of his next film.
The film is far from perfect but I found it to be amazing. I think think that Depp was doing too much and couldn’t divide his attention. I think that if he had chosen to just direct or just act this film would bed amazing. As it stands it’s good, but it could be so much better.
Anyone familiar with Depp’s celebrity friendships and his collaborations with other filmmakers will sense them in this flick. Jim Jarmusch is especially felt as Depp fuses existentialism and spirituality to create the tone of the film. The cinematography is pretty good and there are some great dolly shots (especially in the amusement park scene) and the score, by Iggy Pop (who makes a cameo), is amazing and the performances by Clarence Williams III and Floyd ‘Red Cow’ Westerman are equally impressive.
