Don Juan DeMarco - Maestro d'amore

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.

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

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.

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!!

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.