Brando, Depp and Dunaway in an amusing and inspiring romcom
After a psychiatrist in New York (Marlon Brando) talks a young Lothario out of committing suicide (Johnny Depp), the supposedly delusional man is interned at a mental hospital for examination where his charisma has an interesting effect on the people. Faye Dunaway plays the doctor’s wife.
"Don Juan DeMarco” (1994) is a whimsical romantic dramedy with psychological insights highlighted by the three stars. Brando was verging on 70 during shooting and would only do four more feature films while Depp was a rising star who wouldn’t hit it big for another five years, as far as box office success goes. While the movie performed mediocrely in America, it made almost three times its cost worldwide and thus was considered a success for New Line Cinema.
This was Marlon’s beefiest role since “The Missouri Breaks” (1976) and “Apocalypse Now” (1979) with the rest of his late-era films having minimal parts (for big bucks). While it’s criticized that he “coasts” through the role of the psychiatrist, mumbling, his performance fits the fun, insightful and inspiring tone.
Depp would team-up with Brando again for his dismal oddity “The Brave” (1997).
The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot in Southern Cal (Saugus, Los Angeles and Santa Clarita) with second unit work done in O'ahu and New York.
GRADE: B