``Benny & Joon'' A bouquet of flowers instead of words, a masterpiece from Johnny Depp's early years

comedy and sadness

Jeremiah Chechik's career in the film industry began when Stanley Kubrick praised him for a beer commercial. Spielberg read the newspaper article, invited him, and quickly signed a contract with Amblin. Although no film was ever made at Amblin, Chechik's story became legendary.

His feature debut, ``National Rapoon'' (1989), is a masterpiece filled with Keaton's love for classic comedy, which is connected to ``Benny & Joon''. If we follow the saying that a debut film contains everything a filmmaker has to offer, Chechik's core lies in classic comedians such as Keaton, Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd.

Julianne Moore, who made her film debut in the 1990s, stars in ``Benny & Joon'' as Lucy, Benny's girlfriend. Lucy has given up on her dream of becoming an actress and works at a local diner. At this diner, Sam performs the "Bread Dance" by stabbing bread with a fork. A homage to Chaplin's ``Bread Dance'' in `` The Golden Crazy '' (25). Also, the episode where Sam, who knows all kinds of movies, remembers the movie in which Lucy appeared is wonderful.

"Benny & Joon" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

Sam improvises a movie she starred in right in front of Lucy. A fictional movie titled ``High School Serial Killer''. The amateur film-like charm of this B-movie, shot without even the camera's shadow hidden, is not only strongly tied to the intimacy of the film, but also to Depp himself, who would later play Ed Wood. It is also strongly associated with the image of The scene in which the four of them, including Lucy, enjoy watching ``High School Serial Killer'' is a scene in which the four of them, including Lucy, look at the sadness of their lives in the background with a gentleness that seems to embrace them.

instead of words

``Benny & Joon'' incorporates many of Depp's ideas. For example, in the scene where Sam and June kiss for the first time, their lips almost touch, but they don't. Their lips not touching shows Sam's sincerity in respecting June's decision, and also elevates their bond into a more erotic form. It is said that Depp came up with this idea on set.

Depp's performance influences Quinn's and even Masterson's reaction performances, just as Sam, the eccentric young man in this film, forever changes the lives of a lonely brother and sister living in the countryside. They also express their emotions in their facial expressions and gestures rather than in words. Depp and Quinn Masterson. It seems as if there is a common acting plan tacitly shared between these three actors.

It is indicative that Sam is dyslexic. Sam can't write words. In the scene where he is writing a contract for his part-time job, Depp, who is right-handed, intentionally writes his name with his left hand, making it look like a child's handwriting. Benny, June, and Sam. What connects these three people with a strong intimacy. Communicating in their own language, with gestures rather than words. At least there was this chemistry between Sam and June from the moment they met. After many twists and turns, Benny joins the group.

bouquet of roses