Synopsis

A master of Minimalist cinema Jim Jarmusch excels in this story of William Blake, who, having lost his parents, travels to far-west Machin with a few dollars and a letter promising a job, only to discover himself a month late for the post. There could be no other man more in the wrong place at the wrong time than William. Surprisingly William seems to make his career as a real westerner. As he shoots a man in self-defense, he needs to flee further westward - into the wilderness.

Credits

Directed by - Jim Jarmusch
Writing credits - Jim Jarmusch
CAST (in credits order)
Character	Actor's name
William Blake	Johnny Depp
Nobody	Gary Farmer
Train Fireman	Crispin Glover
Cole Wilson	Lance Henriksen
Conway Twill	Michael Wincott
Johnny 'The Kid' Pickett	Eugene Byrd
John Scholfield	John Hurt
John Dickinson	Robert Mitchum
Salvatore 'Sally' Jenko	Iggy Pop
Charlie Dickinson	Gabriel Byrne
Benmont Tench	Jared Harris
Thel Russell	Mili Avital
Marvin, Older Marshal	Jimmie Ray Weeks
Lee, Younger Marshal	Mark Bringleson
Mr. Olafsen	John North

Awards & Nominations

Nominee - Cannes Film Festival - Golden Palm 
Winner - European Film Awards - Screen International Award 
Winner - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Cinematography/ Best Feature/ Best Screenplay/ Best Supporting Male
Winner - New York Film Critics Circle Awards - Best Cinematography

Comments

'I was held by Depp's transformation from white-man non-entity to the Jarmusch version of the affectless Man With No Name' - Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Trivia

The lines "The vision of Christ that thou dost see / Is my vision's greatest enemy" that Nobody says to the trading post missionary are from William Blake's "The Everlasting Gospel".

The lines "Every night and every morn / Some to misery are born / Every morn and every night / Some are born to sweet delight" are from William Blake's poem "Auguries of Innocence".

The names of the two marshals that Blake (Johnny Depp) kills are Lee and Marvin, an homage to Lee Marvin.

The line said by Nobody, "The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn from the Crow," is also a William Blake quote, from the proverbs of Hell in "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell".

Billy Bob Thornton's character is named Big George Drakoulious. George Drakoulias is a musician and has produced music for The Black Crowes and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Jared Harris' character is named Benmont Tench. Benmont Tench is a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Gary Farmer would reprise his role as Nobody in the later Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999).

The character Thel is also taken from a William Blake poem called "The Book of Thel".

The lines "Some are born to sweet delight and some born to the endless night" are also lyric of a song entitled "End of the Night" by The Doors.

Trailer