Arizona Dream *** (1992, Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway, Jerry Lewis, Lili Taylor) – Classic Movie Review 1626

Co-writer/director Emir Kusturica’s 1992 American drama stars Johnny Depp as Axel Blackmar, a rebellious, naive young drifter tagging fish in New York as a naturalist’s gofer. He is brought back home to Arizona for his uncle’s wedding and a place in the family business – and instruction in seduction and salesmanship as he romances Elaine Stalker (played by Faye Dunaway).

Kusturica’s film is an overall offputting, but occasionally taking tale of the American dream turned sour. At 142 minutes, this is a gobsmackingly long cinema-emptier/theatre-clearer that veers wildly between being enragingly daft and highly imaginative. But the hugely talented performers and esteemed Yugoslav director work overtime to try to make it work and do produce something of worth.

More folly than jolly, it remains an interesting, even highly intriguing oddity, that rewards patient viewers and deservedly found a few admirers. Jerry Lewis (as Leo Sweetie), Lili Taylor (Grace Stalker), Paulina Porizkova, Vincent Gallo and Michael J Pollard are in the cult cast.

A cut version at 120 minutes. David Atkins is the co-writer. Dunaway and Pollard starred together in Bonnie and Clyde. Depp  re-teamed with Dunaway for Don Juan DeMarco in 1994.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1626

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