Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30720 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-14
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 123 minutes

Special Features
Theatrical trailer

Synopsis
Johnny Depp writes, directs and stars in this tense drama about a man racing to save his own life. Depp plays Raphael, whose family are struggling to make ends meet and defy poverty. He seeks a more secure future for his family when he meets the sinister McCarthy (Brando) who offers him $30000 to star in a snuff movie. With just seven days to go before he forfeits his own life Raphael is determined to make the most of his time. Rediscovering his love for his children and wife he realises that he is worth more to them alive than dead...but is it too late to give back the money and cancel his contract

From the Back Cover
"You have one week to live the rest of your life. It should prove to be a very enlightening experience."

Raphael (Johnny Depp) and his young family live in Morgantown on the edge of the American Dream, with one step over the poverty line. He sees only one way out … money. Raphael meets the monstrous snuff movie maker McCarthy (Marlon Brando) – he offers Raphael $30,000 to be the star of one of his movies. He accepts and has $5,000 in his hand, $25,000 to go to his family and just one week in which to live the rest of his life. Determined to make something good out of his last seven days, he builds a junkyard paradise for his family. He relishes his new friendship with his kids and falls in love with his wife all over again. Realising that he is worth more to his family alive than dead, he tries to return the money and end the contract … but is it too late?

Customer Reviews

More Hidden Depps
If you are going to watch Johnny Depp films, you need to appreciate that this man uses his face to tell his story- sometimes there is no need for dialogue.

I found this a beautiful and sad film. For me, it was about the racism that North American Indians still face in their own country and how a young man (Raphael) has lived a sterotypical life of trying to make ends meet, turning to booze and crime. As a consequence, he feels utterly worthless, figuring that selling his life so that his family can escape the life of poverty will be the best option.

The character displays such dignity, such warmth and such pain as we see (mainly though his facial expression) how he makes yet another rash decision, believing there is no other option. He then learns from his wife what he needs to do- 'If you want to provide for your family, you have to love them'- so he rekindles his relationship with his wife and children for his last 7 days.

Marlon Brando is superb in his creepy role (did he agree to be in this after Don Juan?)and so is the nasty, nasty man who makes sure R does not change his mind. The scenes with the priest were superb too.

If you want to see JD tortured then you will be dissapointed (and have missed the whole atmosphere of the film). If you want to see a beautiful and sensitive actor and director, then this is one for you.

When you see an actor, you never know how much is him and how much is good direction- when you see an actor who has directed himself, you know it has come from the heart. This film is not just about Raphael but is a strong statement about discrimination and the consequences- perhaps that is why it was condemned by the critics, maybe it made some Americans too uncomfortable?.

one of Johnny Depps best films
Not ownly has he directed this film but Johnny himself plays in this epic tale. I can say that from reading a few reviews on this film it help make up mind to buy this dvd. all i can say is it is brilliant, it has a mixture of warmth, sadness, laughter. when watching it the day it was deilieved i sat up for the whole film,it made me cry aswell as making me laugh.It keeps your attention through out the whole film.If your a new Johnny Depp fan like i am after seeing him in pirates of the carribean this film is one you should definatly buy. you'll be lost with out it.

A Masterpiece By Johnny Depp
I read the reviews on this film the other day and was so intrigued about the film that I ordered it. I am a big Johnny Depp fan and was excited about seeing this movie as it was his first attempt at directing. I watched it as soon as it was delivered and I couldn't move the whole way through. The first thing that struck me was there is no dialogue at all for the first ten minutes, and again the last ten are speechless. Johnny Depp plays Raphael, a Native American. He has two children and a wife to support, and isn't doing a very good job. He decides that they would be better off without him and so takes a job from Marlon Brando.
This is where I have my only criticism. In the movie it isn't made perfectly clear what the job entails, only that he will lose his life. But I think I can say, without jeapordising the plot, that the job is to star in a snuff movie. It actually says that on the back of the DVD case and I found that it makes the film all the more poingnant to know this.
Raphael is given one week to live before he has to go back and make the film. The movie follows his character as the week goes on, and it gets harder to watch as you feel his week coming to an end.
I spent the last ten minutes in absolute silence, except for my sobs and heart wrenching sadness. When it ended, I vowed not to watch it again for a while. But as the day wore on, I couldn't get it out of my head. So much so that I actually broke down in tears again just thinking about it! I watched it again that evening and cried even more as I saw things I had missed first time round.
This film is an amazing directorial debut for Depp and I would definately want to see anything he may direct in the future. He has shown that not only is he a brilliant actor, he has talent behind the camera aswell. I think this film proves that he is not just a pretty face!
This definately isn't for the lighthearted, but should you want to see something that will stay with you, then see this!!!