Salt-of-the-earth mechanic Benny (Aidan Quinn) has devoted his life to taking care of his younger sister “Joon” (Mary Stuart Masterson) – short for Juniper – who is very bright but suffering from an unspecified mental disorder (apparently a form of schizophrenia).
When their part-time housekeeper leaves, they acquire an eccentric replacement, Sam (Johnny Depp) – a dyslexic lost soul with a love of silent comedy – when brother Benny loses a poker bet.
Sam perches in trees, recites lines from obscure B Movies, and keeps house for the Pearls in his own silent and sweet fashion – making grilled cheese sandwiches on the ironing board and mashing potatoes with a tennis racket.
Meanwhile, Benny is staving off the advances of a former horror movie starlet named Ruthie (Julianne Moore) who has run away from the Hollywood fleshpots to become a waitress in the Pacific Northwest.
You’ll either find this so-so romantic fable a whimsical joy or annoyingly eccentric, as beguiling spaniel-eyed man-child Depp woos mentally unstable Masterson, much to her overprotective brother’s concern.
Depp’s silent movie skills – much in evidence because his character is besotted with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin – are truly remarkable.
Sam
Johnny Depp Juniper ‘Joon’ Pearl
Mary Stuart Masterson Benjamin ‘Benny’ Pearl
Aidan Quinn Ruthie
Julianne Moore Eric
Oliver Platt Dr Garvey
C.C.H. Pounder Thomas
Dan Hedaya Mike
Joe Grifasi Randy Burch
William H. Macy Claudia
Liane Curtis Mrs Smail
Eileen Ryan Waldo
Waldo Larson
Director
Jeremiah Chechik
Video
Related Posts
Black Samson (1974) Nightclub owner Samson (Rockne Tarkington) does his best to keep his neighbourhood clean of crime and drugs. He is assisted…
Blacula (1972) 1972 was a big year for Blaxploitation movies (also seeing the release of Superfly and Barry Shear's Across 110th Street). But this movie…
Bedazzled (1967) The legend of Faust provided the inspiration for this charming fantasy about Stanley Moon (Dudley Moore), a short-order cook in…
Bronco Bullfrog (1969) In 1969, Britain woke up to skinheads. They had been around for ages but in September 1969 the Daily Mirror christened the…
Baby Boom (1987) Diane Keaton is JC Wiatt, the quintessential Ms. magazine career girl - married to her job, working twelve hours a day,…
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Below-par Walt Disney musical about a good-natured witch, played by Lansbury, and some children who help the British war effort…
Backbeat (1994) The early days of The Beatles, when the yet-to-be-fab four were chasing fame and fräuleins in the grimy basement clubs…
Born To Boogie (1973) Born To Boogie was, first and last, a celebration of the phenomenon of Marc Bolan. There was no plot, no…
