Don Juan DeMarco (1994) User Reviews

Its one of those never-fail pick-me-up movies - fun, cheeky and sensual

[Ben_Cheshire · 8/10 · 28 July 2004]

Psychologist Dr Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando) is called upon to negotiate a man down from the top of a tall building - a man claiming to be the great Latin lover Don Juan de Marco (Johnny Depp). Although Mickler is about to retire, he agrees to take Mr de Marco on, and delve into his mind and past. What he didn't count on was that Don Juan is starting to make him feel like HE'S missing something...

The lives of Brando and Dunaway interact with their roles in the film - as oldies in need of rejuvenation by the young sex god. They were both sex symbols in their youth - Brando, till about the age of 60, was a real life Don Juan - he really HAS probably slept with over a thousand women. So if you know this it brings an interesting layer to the movie.

It is a great journey which calls up all the great noble romances of the past in a tongue in cheek manner, with a love of stories, of fantasy, of women.

I wouldn't hesitate to call it the most romantic movie ever made. If there was one flick you had to put on to set the right mood between you and a girl, this would be it.

Looking at Johnny Depp might also help her in that regard.

Its also a great fun family movie - which is a delicate balance to strike.

4/5

Disclaimer: there are about two sex scenes, which, though very discreetly and beautifully shot, featuring no vital organs, may be inappropriate for littlies, if you wish to shield them thus.

Enrapturing and Unique

[Mitch-38 · 7/10 · 22 September 2000]

Wholly different the usual fare Hollyood dished up in the nineties, DON JUAN DEMARCO is charming and disarming. The screenplay seems lovingly crafted around the two stars, Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. They share scenes of relating, discovery and moving, personal respect. Mr. Brando shows easily, why he is still one of America's leading thespians. Faye Dunaway as his wife, is marvellous beyond words. The interplay between these three characters is a spirit lifting tour de force, that will leave you holding hands long after the screen has gone dark.

well done and very unique

[muchneededescape · 8/10 · 13 June 2004]

This is simply another great film by Johnny Depp. In the film, he plays a delusional man who believes that he is Don Juan. When I first watched the film I was actually waiting for another film to begin. However, I'm glad that I watched it. It has just the right balance of comedy and drama to make it a very unique film. As the movie progresses, Don Juan is telling his life story to his psychiatric doctor. As Don Juan commences, his doctor is also affected in many ways. The movie is directed very well, the ending is well done as well. I definitely recommend this movie to those who are fans of Depp's other works or just for anyone who hasn't seen a good film in a while.

4 SECRETS OF THIS FILM YOU SHOULD NOT MISS !

[nz man · 5 March 2000]

Unless you understand these 4 secrets, you will miss what the film is all about:

1. The film is NOT about Don Juan !

2. The film tells us how to rekindle love in our lives, even if we are old and gray-haired. This is so very important!!

3. If we do not have a good dose of fantasy, of rich imagination, of beautiful dreams in our lives, then we will become 'burned out' by the harsh boredom of reality-as-we-perceive it. We are also challenged by the question "What really is real?"

4. If we have too much fantasy and not enough reality, then we cannot cope with the rest of the world. Also, society will not be able to cope with us and we will be isolated, perhaps in a mental institution or at least in our own twisted world.

Oh - did I say that this film is not about Don Juan? Well, in a sense, I lied. It is and it is not. See the film and think about it.

Superbly well acted by Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, and Fay Dunaway (what an incredible beauty even at her age!). An amazing script and a very original story. Unless you understand the meanings above, or if you have a cold heart, you'll probably rate it a 5 or 6.

I give it a 9 out of 10!!

Guienuenly a good film

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 7 January 2008]

My mom and I have been trying to see more Johnny Depp movies since we saw his biography, we've seen the main movies that highlighted his career, but never the little one's along the way. Don Juan DeMarco, I don't remember hearing much about it when it was released, I think it was one of those small success films. But the thing that was interesting is that so many people who compared Johnny Depp to Marlon Brando on his diverse roles and character acting methods, they finally got to work together in this movie and bonus, they had great chemistry on screen. Don Juan DeMarco isn't by any means my favorite Johnny Depp film or a great film, but it's a good one that I think had a decent story and is very watchable at least one time. Johnny and Marlon just deliver the story so well and were so charismatic on screen. Johnny truly became Don Juan DeMarco.

Dr. Jack Mickler is a psychiatrist who is on his last few days before his big retirement. He meets a suicidal man who is claiming that he is the legendary Don Juan DeMarco, he is put into the hospital. He begs Jack to take the time to tell him his story and that if he can convince him that he is Don Juan, that Jack will let him go. He agrees and Don tells him his story. But Don's grandmother tells Jack a different story, is Don really Don or just some crazy guy who is desperately in love with a woman? But Jack believes him and even becomes a Don Juan at home with his wife.

Don Juan DeMarco is a cute film and is definitely worth a look. There's nothing wrong with the film, I just wasn't into it as much as I am usually thrilled with Johnny or Marlon. But I think this was one of those films they could be more relaxed with and they were already very much established as great actors, so they could do a movie like this. It didn't matter that it wasn't a box office success, it's just a cute movie that I'm sure you'll enjoy. It definitely leaves a smile on your face and makes you feel good, so I would recommend it for a fun little comedy.

7/10

A great Johnny Depp in a good romantic comedy.

[filipemanuelneto · 6/10 · 17 June 2019]

This film is a romantic comedy based on the story of a young man who believes he is Don Juan, the famous and fictional Spanish lover who seduced more than a thousand young maidens, and the attempts of a psychiatrist on the verge of reform to cure him before losing his last patient. Although the story of the film has not turned out brilliant, the film is worth the poetic beauty of what happens on screen, as well as the grandiose interpretation of Johnny Depp in the lead role.

In fact, the script of the film is not particularly remarkable. It is what it is, no surprises. It has beauty, has poetry, the main character itself was idealized under poetic and very literary premises (it behaves as if it had come out of an adventure book), but nothing more. There is not even a concern to give credence to what is shown. The bet made lies in the poetic beauty of the plot, and in the beautiful and convincing performance of Depp, who metamorphoses when he puts on the seducer's mask. He has all the charisma, the presence, the strength necessary to give life to that character, associating them with a genial touch of madness and dissociation of reality (something very present in most of the characters the actor has done). Beside him, Marlon Brando, in one of his last works worthy of mention.

Moreover, I believe that there are two or three characteristics that deserve a positive reference: the first is careful flashbacks, with great attention to the costumes and scenarios chosen; the second is the dialogues, and particularly the Depp monologues, loaded with literary beauty; the third is the insertion, on the soundtrack, of a beautiful song by Brian Addams, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Women," a theme that fits like a glove in the film's tonic.

It's an interesting movie, full of positive features that will certainly appeal to Depp fans, but it may not have much more to offer those who do not like romantic comedies.

An intelligent film

[mashii99 · 10/10 · 1 June 2004]

This is really an example of how a romantic comedy should be and how fantastic a romantic comedy can be. Intelligent, witty and great fun. It gives its audience respect by delivering a clever story with good actors and great lines.

The story is quite absurd and so is the duo in it - Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. But this is just a good thing. Hollywood usually thinks its audience is filled with morons when making romantic comedies, but this is not so. There are still a few of us out here who enjoy the combination of intelligence, elegance and romance. This film delivers on all counts.

Love is a simple enough ingredient for a film. This film knows how to use it and the result is wonderful.

An entertaining early Depp romance film

[breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com · 7/10 · 25 February 2023]

Romanticism is a genre of many stories. Some of which are just fairy tales and are by no means close to real. There are others which happen to be based on true events or happen to be exactly the story itself. Of course then there are others where the story is so muddled in its history, it becomes more of a myth; blurring the lines between what is truth and what isn't. The legend of Don Juan seems to be one of those stories in that undetermined area. Complimenting that is this film which sort of does the same thing in its narrative. And who could best fit that role, none other than rising star at the time Johnny Depp. After coming off several successes in the early 1990s like Edward Scissorhands (1990), Arizona Dream (1993) and Benny & Joon (1993), it's really no surprise he was awarded the character of focus here.

Written and directed by Jeremy Leven who would later pen the screenplay to Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook (2004), the story is about a mysterious man who goes by the name of Don Juan DeMarco (Johnny Depp) who legitimately goes around wooing and sleeping with any woman that falls for him. He dresses with clothes that represent the mid 1800s, he speaks with a Spanish accent and yet it is current day. After making love to the last woman he feels he can, he prepares to take his own life, only to be talked out of it by Dr. Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando). Being pressured by his boss Dr. Paul Showalter (Bob Dishy) to put the man in the psycho ward, Mickler asks that he try to see what can do to prove the eccentric man is not indeed crazy.

For most of the time, it involves Depp's character explaining to Dr. Mickler his story and how he came to be. How he originally only had one love Doña Julia (Talisa Soto) who of which her father forbade him from seeing. To later discovering he had a talent for swooning women very easily but wanted only one woman and her name was Doña Ana (Géraldine Pailhas). Despite much of the narration being between the two, the characters' charms rub off on others. As Dr. Mickler spends time with Don Juan, he begins treating his wife Marilyn (Faye Dunaway) differently. It's interesting to see how that plays out among others, which lends to some of the light comedic aspects to the movie. Perhaps the one thing that doesn't feel completely concrete is the story being told to the audience.

It's funny because essentially, the movie is treating the plot as a mystery just like the myth of the original Don Juan. At the same time, provide some closure. It's not really clear if this movie does that. The film also contains a number of other actors fans would recognize like Rachel Ticotin from Total Recall (1990), Talisa Soto from (Mortal Kombat), Richard C. Sarafian from Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Carmen Argenziano from Unlawful Entry (1992), Tom Lister Jr. From Universal Soldier (1992) and even the late popular Latin singer Selena has a cameo appearance. All of which each cast member gives a welcome performance that is just as credible as the next. It's truly amazing just how many faces appear in this particular feature that viewers can pick out among the crowd.

Cinematography shot by Ralf D. Bode was okay, but not anything worth noting. It was standard for the film but did not come across as different or really inventive. This is probably perhaps due to the film itself not being an energetic production, requiring crazy camera skills. Surprisingly though, Bode isn't some nobody. He also shot for Saturday Night Fever (1977). As for music, the film score was composed by Michael Kamen. For the rough 40 minutes of the available album, Kamen uses a recurring motif for the story which is now best known in Bryan Adams "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman". It's interesting because some viewers may not know that this is where the song originated from. Not that it was something Adams just made up on his own and the film ended up using it because it matched.

Even though the story itself remains sort of mysterious like the character of focus and the cinematography is just standard, the story is still fun to watch play out. The characters are likable, there's a slew of other actors and the music is enjoyable to listen to.

Every bit as great a performance as in "Pirates".

[GrannyInArizona · 10/10 · 15 September 2005]

I loved this movie. Within five minutes I was smiling and didn't break stride for the entire performance. Depp is strong in this role and very convincing as the world's greatest lover. Marlon Brando is funny and witty and is well supported by Faye Dunaway in the marital relationship of a couple heading for retirement and the best times of their lives.

Johnny Depp is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of all time. His performance is true and expressive and I just love his smile. I compare this performance to that of his character of Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean".

I have no problem, whatsoever, recommending this movie to everyone.

Brando and Depp

[michaeltrivedi · 7/10 · 13 November 2019]

This is a good movie. I like the playboy aspect to it, and Depp fits the character well. Brando also does well opposite of Depp.

It's a real and sweet movie. Depp's character is fun and mischievous. Faye Dunaway is also in it, and you could compare and contrast Depp's role and lifestyle with Brando's marriage. And come to some conclusion about life and relationships.

All in all, it was a great watch. May not be everyone's cup of tea, but is one of my favorite Depp movies.

The Usual And The Unusual

[ccthemovieman-1 · 5/10 · 20 August 2007]

It's odd how you can see a movie twice within, let's say, 5-10 years and totally change opinions of it. When I saw this movie in the theater I really enjoyed it. It was unique and, like a lot of Johnny Depp films, had a bizarre character that was fun to watch. It also was unique to see Marlon Brando in this kind of odd comedy. Both she and Faye Dunaway are very subdued in here. Depp is rarely subdued.

When I saw it again on tape about seven years later, I thought this was so stupid it was an insult. I couldn't believe I liked it the first time. What I was I thinking?

I will say, only Johnny Depp could play a guy who THINKS he's "Don Juan," and convince me he's sincere! He's that wacky, film after film. He is his usual self and keeps this film alive, not Brando or Dunaway who are both very dull. I blame the script for that. Neither of this famous actors was given much to work with in this movie. At least Brando was having fun making the film. That's obvious....and unusual.

By the way, for those who look at ratings, despite the light, fluffy atmosphere of this story, this is yet another PG-13 that should be "R" for all the sexual content. Always beware of the rating PG-13; it's the most misleading rating of them all.

Superb!

[Cheetah-6 · 10/10 · 24 July 2000]

A superb story where patient helps heal the doctor. In this case by spreading a bit of his romantic affliction. When one is so utterly convincing in their fantasy, it can become charming and attractive. If you have one ounce of the whimsical in your soul, who can't help but be drawn in. A story so well written and acted by all involved, it has to get a perfect 10.

So refreshing

[deickos · 7/10 · 31 July 2018]

This is a beautiful film, very modest but with a great message. It is difficult to explore the boundaries of sanity and madness, yet it is done here lightly and with much humor. Brando has a part to envy once more in his seventies as "Don Octavio del Flores - the best psychiatrist in the world".

Crappy Movie

[folsominc2 · 1/10 · 7 November 2017]

A stupid movie that's only plot line is for a young punk to imagine himself the "greatest lover" while he delights to envision and live his sexual fantasies thru another, the psychiatrist who takes pity on his disassociation with reality.

The psychiatrist gets stirred to the point where he begins reliving the fantasies in his mind with his wife, who he has basically ignored and overrun their entire married life.

Furthermore, the film borders on the surreal because the viewer never knows what is true and what isn't. Once doped, the young punk retells information that the psychiatrist told him about another centerfold-obsessive as if it was his life (and without the overrated accent).

Therefore, the obviously drugged punk is "rescued" by the psychiatrist and his wife back to an island where he was supposedly romantically involved with the centerfold before disillusioning her (so much so that she ended up demeaning herself in near-naked photographs), and she is there to make a "happy ending" although strangely unrealistic for the viewer - since what is true and what isn't is obviously under question. Is the kid under another delusion? Did the psychiatrist notify the centerfold of the punk's change in heart? The viewer is left with too many questions to make sense.

The entire film was nothing but a waste of time for the male libido in the unreal world of sexual fantasy. And any individual who admits to being with 1503 (remember the last one who even came back), I wouldn't want to be in the same building with. Think of the germs!

I will finish by quoting a popular saying: "A great lover is not a man who romances a different woman every night. A great lover is one who romances the same woman for a lifetime."

Glorious

[Cosmo-5 · 21 December 1998]

A witty and original story with a real sense of character. I was compelled by the mysteries of Don Juan before gradually understanding that the question I had been asking myself - whether Depp is a slightly insane guy from Phoenix, or the world's greatest lover of 1502+1 women - is irrelevant. His story, whether fact or fiction, is a highly effective feel-good fable that brings across a whole new concept of the meaning of passion -- while not attempting to take itself too seriously. Equally enjoyable is psychiatrist Brando's transformation from mid life crisis-ridden man to great Hispanic lover. Hilarious, thought-provoking and romantic in equal measure, this film will make you hum latino melodies for days to come, and is perhaps the ultimate date movie for those less fortunate than the Don.

Johnny Depp is Don Juan DeMarco

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 February 2014]

Johnny Depp plays a delusional man who thinks he's Don Juan DeMarco, a legendary lover. When he's on top of a billboard, the police brings in Dr. Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando) to talk the jumper down. Jack is retiring in 10 days, and struggles to get him for his swan song. As everybody gets to know the kid, they start to fall under his spell.

Johnny Depp is incredible in this. His magnetism is evident just with him in that costume. The restaurant scene at the start is funny and sets the character up perfectly. Depp is probably the only actor who could have done this character correctly. When every woman goes crazy for him, it's actually believable.

As for Brando, it's probably his best performance in awhile. That's not a big praise since he hasn't been in a good movie for over a decade before this movie. His presence is big enough to counter weight Depp's magnetism, and I'm not making fun of his weight. He is basically playing the Robin Williams damaged psychiatrist role in 'Good Will Hunting'.

The story isn't much. There are no real surprises, or real insights into mental health. The character is more poetry than reality. And I'm not sure the delusional flashbacks are that compelling. I actually think an early reveal of his real life and a more tragic true love story would make those flashbacks more compelling. For Johnny Depp as Don Juan alone, I would recommend this movie. Otherwise, the movie doesn't have a big enough true story befitting of Don Juan DeMarco.

the ultimate date film

[plankton · 7/10 · 12 January 1999]

I have yet to see a bad Johnny Depp movie (I haven't seen Cry Baby), and this is one of his better flicks. I can't imagine anyone else playing the part of Don Juan better. Marlon Brando also lends a solid performance (but he's definitely had roles that better showcase his talent than this). The costuming was superb, the old Mexico scenes were handled well, and the plot was an entertaining mix of flashbacks and present day. Depp's monologue about the "two great questions in life" will forever be ingrained in my memory. This movie, while not ground-breaking, is an excellent choice for an evening with a special someone. It's a charming tale that will give you a warm feeling every time you watch it. I bought it and have not regretted the decision. 7/10

A beautiful fantasy

[wyyrd1 · 10/10 · 16 August 2003]

I want to live in Don Juan's world. Johnny Depp at 32(?) is quite believable as a 19 year old. He is also even more sexy than usual. I love him as Don Juan, but I think the most touching scene is when he is being interviewed by the judge and is "just a kid" and admitting to his real story. I cried when Marlon Brando asks Faye Dunaway what she wants to do and she says "I thought you'd never ask." I missed these characters after the movie was over. I could watch it over and over.

unabashedly amorous and sweet

[saska-3 · 7/10 · 13 August 2003]

DON JUAN DEMARCO lives in the comedy section at my local Blockbuster. I suppose that is the best place for it; it does not suffer under the weight of its psychiatric-evaluation plot device, is exultant and exhilarating, and includes some truly laugh out loud funny lines.

For the most part, though, DJDM is a romantic fable with lessons not just for men (about how to seduce a woman touching nothing but her hand, for example), but for women as well (about how romance can exist in our everyday lives, even if we never encounter Don Juan).

Johnny Depp plays Don Juan DeMarco, the world's greatest lover - a 21 year old man in Queens, NY when we meet him. He has nothing left to live for and climbs to the top of a billboard to await a worthy adversary who will end

his life. Instead, he gets a somnambulistic psychiatrist on the verge of retirement (Marlon Brando), who convinces him to come down and promptly commits him for observation.

In tone, the film is similar to CHOCOLAT (which also stats Depp) and LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE; its environment of a psychiatric hospital where the young Don Juan must prove his sanity reminds me of the grandfather in A PRINCESS BRIDE. It gives us a point of reference in our own world and prevents the unbridled romanticism of Don Juan's monologues from getting out of hand.

No man other than Depp could sit squarely in this modern-world fishbowl and deliver the lines of Don Juan. He insisted on working with Brando on the film, but he outshines the cinema icon in every shared shot. His physical beauty is less important than his utter sincerity - a sincerity so convincing that even my "I hate chick flicks" husband can watch with a straight face and come away in a better mood.

As Don Juan says, "there are only four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for? What is worth dying for?" By the end of the film, he has proven his point: "the answer to each is the same - only love." Not that the story answers all of its own questions...

Is Don Juan a pathological liar and a schizophrenic? Is he troubled but sincere? Does Brando's Dr. Mickler really get conflicting evidence from Don Juan's family, or has he slipped into a daydream fueled by his desire to recapture the part of himself Don Juan represents? No matter how many times I see the film, I end up believing *in* Don Juan, even if I do not *believe* him.

DJDM gets a 7 in spite of being one of my favorite films. The reason: Brando can be nearly intolerable at times, but Depp picks up his slack. Highly recommended to romantics of all ages - one of the sexiest movies in my collection, despite its PG rating.

Exceptional Romance spiced by witty comedic dialog worth its 10

[jeromec-2 · 10/10 · 23 January 2007]

Every movie reflects its times. This one is certainly no exception. The mysteries of courtship have reduced to awkward teen-age comedies or sexual romps where the sex has little or no relevance and even less lust.

So much of the wonder of this film is derived from its fantasy. As long as we think its fantasy, we do not have to ask how accurate it may represent our reality. In other words this film wisely avoids what is and focuses on what should be. Or maybe what was.

The movie opens with Don Juan DeMarco (Johnny Depp) walking with purpose and in the full costume of an 18th century cavalier (complete with a cape). He goes into a restaurant. There he finds a beautiful young woman waiting for her dinner companion (who is late). Don Juan begins to talk to her. He takes her hand, and noticing her knuckles (a word of cacophony if ever there was one) and delivers an ode, which celebrates the perfection of that part of her hand. His words are smooth and his delivery flawless. His sincerity cannot be questioned. She succumbs to his charm. After a seduction (he would not have been concerned if he had failed), he announces that he is now ready to kill himself! Talk about tongue in cheek.

He is set to do it when Marlon Brando enters as the wonderful Dr. Mickler/ Don Octavio De Flores who is hoisted up to where Don Juan is by a Cherry Picker that he has trouble getting into. Don Octavio immediately talks Don Juan down by accepting whom Juan thinks they both are. That's the wonderful beginning.

In the next 10 days, Don Juan tells Don Octavio, a series of tales that reminds one of Scherezade. In the meantime every woman and one of the men besides Don Octavio (a really tall muscular masculine type named Rocco) come completely under his spell and they all listen to their hidden romantic side.

Don't confuse Don Juan DeMarco with the Decameron. The movie is not really about sex, seduction, or relationships between men and woman.

I may be wrong, but I think it is a yearning. It is a cry for something better that we all want for ourselves. What woman would not want to have notice taken of the effort she has gone to make herself as good looking as she can? What man would not like to have the skill to make a woman believe what he says about her? What man does not secretly wish he was so deeply committed to something (women in this case) that his words would convey his deep feelings effortlessly? Furthermore that his commitment was pure and truthful? That it was not a line? We cannot look at these questions in a movie without covering them with something like fantasy. The ideal is so unappealing. We want instant gratification.

I have thought about this for a considerable time and have come to the conclusion that a woman could never accept what I have written without thinking it was masculine crap. If cornered I would agree. But before I did, I would point out that Don Juan was a poet whose verses are life. He believes what he says: it is his ultimate truth. Seduction and sex are really quite secondary. Finding perfection and conveying it is primary.

Don Juan is well worth your two-hour investment. Perhaps it will connect you to what you yearn for and the truth everyone seeks.

Despite a rather dopey plot, it's enjoyable because of a couple nice performances.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 8 February 2012]

If you've ever seen the Joanne Woodward and George C. Scott film "They Might Be Giants", then you'll no doubt recognize this plot in "Don Juan DeMarco". The film begins with Johnny Depp making a sexual conquest in modern day America---yet he THINKS he's the legendary lover Don Juan. Later, when this lover suddenly is found contemplating suicide, an aging psychiatrist (Marlon Brando) is called in to help. Not surprisingly, Don Juan DeMarco is committed to the institution where Brando works and Brando fights hard to get assigned him as a patient--even though he's due to retire very soon. The Doctor tries hard as he works with his new patient NOT to medicate him. After all, the Doc LIKES hearing all of his patient's weird stories of love, sex and adventure. And, through the course of the film, DeMarco starts rubbing off on his doctor--to the delight of the man's wife! Johnny Depp is very nice playing a suave Latin lover and Brando is really good because he seems nice and relaxed. My only big complaint is not them but the bafflingly stupid ending. Really. Up until then, I could suspend disbelief and enjoy the film, but the ending really left me shocked at its silliness. Still, worth a look.

A dismal attempt at a romantic tale

[chris12345678 · 2/10 · 10 April 2002]

This movie is supposed to be romantic, beautiful and full of subtle grace. It fails terribly. All that dancing in the moonglow is supposed to be romantic but it's just corny and ridiculous, and it can only make one laugh. Brando is a good actor, but here he is just out of place. In the final scene, dancing on the beach, he looks like a whale. Both him and his partner instead of looking graceful look like a pair of circus clowns. Others, including Johnny Depp, do no better. This was supposed to be a beautiful, romantic movie but what we get is "Naked Gun 4 1/4".

mind-map to higher conscious

[cluelessinstlouis-1 · 10/10 · 2 June 2002]

Jeremy Leven wrote the screenplay as an instructional piece on attaining higher consciousness and, as such, is superior to any other work including the other fine works of this genre, The Thin Red Line, The Mission (1985), and American Beauty.

Most individuals observing the film, unless learned in the mystical teachings, will have difficulty grasping the metaphor, which encompasses the film from beginning to end. For those who have not had the privilege of yet viewing this film, may I suggest that Don Juan's perception be viewed as (divine)"Truth"; the "facts" are completely irrelevant except as a means to discover these Truths.

Depp Is In Top Form But Brando Is Questionable

[eric262003 · 6/10 · 16 July 2017]

In the 30+ years as a performer, Johnny Depp has always found way to reinvent himself as a performer and has always made us invested into the roles he's played. Even the oddball characters, Depp has depth to every role that's given to him. Not just the physical shaping of the characters, but the personality to go with the character/s.

In "Don Juan DeMarco" Depp plays a psychiatric case who thinks he's the Lothario of all Lotharios, even going far as sporting a Zorro mask and speaking with a Spanish accent. He eventually tries to manipulate his psychiatrist Dr. Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando) into thinking he's Don Juan who's unenthusiastic in curing this eccentric patient.

Brando in his heyday had outweighed Depp in terms of depth in the role his played. From "The Godfather" to "A Streetcar Named Desire" to "On the Waterfront" he could outperform anyone who crossed his path. But it seemed like in the later years of his career, Brando seemed like his heart was just no longer in the business. In his younger days, he was energetic, robust and larger then life, in his twilight years, his weight got so overwhelming, it was just so painful to see him let himself go like that. It's quite sad actually.

If his composure to move around about doesn't raise some concern, it often makes me wonder if he actually even caring about performing in general. The trademark mumbling he's most famous for may have touched hearts with people from the past. That's because it felt like a thing of importance. In this movie, his mumbling is demoted to petty incoherence. Is it possible that writer/director Jeremy Leven was intimidated by the larger than Marlon Brando that he thought he should speak by way of articulation?

Most of the movie seems too unbearably uncomfortable to adjust to the presence of the heavy-set Brando who had to be filmed from the waist up and where one who has to manipulate us into thinking that they can conceal it long enough so that no one would notice it.

Leven's complex initiative to infuse bored-out-of-his-mind Jack, who's near retirement into showing some sort of interest with the love hungry Don Juan whose youthful charm matched with his honest approach tries everything he can to conceal any kind of personal interest in him. Even Depp has his limits when it comes to embodying sappy dialogue.

Suddenly his words of poetic lingers into the mind of Jack as he tries to make love with his wife, Marilyn (Faye Dunaway) who's turned on by his seductive overtures while she takes her Metamucil, estrogen and calcium medication to surpass the effects of aging before they get down to business behind the sheets.

Even the performers feel the off-sided effects of Brando's acting which makes everything all out of balance. Dunaway seems so full of life enjoying her bedtime scenes with Brando without even caring that the scenes written looked forced and feels very awkward. It's like everybody is having a ball and that at times feels very unnatural. It like you go to night out with friends and all the jokes come off as private.

At least it doesn't hinder the performance of Johnny Depp. Depp does successfully cement his role as Don Juan even if the other performers are meandering in other directions and has the right facial features that could make hearts melt. That picturesque complexion like a 17th century painting is the sole reason why this film works while the others are in their little world. See this film for Johnny Depp's performance because he's the only performer who truly cares about what's happening in the script.

Unsuccessful Romance

[gcd70 · 3/10 · 12 June 2008]

Unsuccessful romance and would-be satire which attempts to suggest that in the real world we are all seventeenth century Spanish noblemen and women (and all fantastic lovers), if only we could see.

Johnny Depp is Johnn De Marco (Don Juan De Marco), a depressed twenty-one year old who is convinced he is the famous womaniser. Marlon Brando plays the kid's psychologist Dr. Mickler (a.k.a. Don Octavio De Florez), who agrees to give Johnny ten days to convince him he is in fact De Marco.

It is never quite clear whether writer/director Jeremy Leven is actually trying to convince us, or is merely playing around with an idea. Perhaps he felt he might provide us with a little light entertainment. In truth, "Don Juan De Marco" is nothing more than a hedonist's dream, as De Marco goes from one woman to the next, literally. One thousand, five hundred and two women bend to his will. If sexual conquest is your thing, then maybe Don Juan is you man. For me though, all play and no morals make Jack a promiscuous boy.

The cast, including Depp, Brando and Faye Dunaway, do little to help.

Sunday, June 8, 1997 - Video