slightlymad22
Continuing my plan to watch every Johnny Depp movie in order, I come to Benny & Joon (1993)The title characters are Benny (Aidan Quinn )and his younger sister, Jooniper, known as Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). He works to support them, after their parents died, when they were younger!! I suspect Joon is schizophrenic, though it's never said what is wrong with her.This is always a movie I always recommend to people. This charming movie is another of my favourite Depp movies. His performance here is perfect. As with Edward Scissorhands, Depp gives an essentially wordless performance (He does talk more here) out of expression and gesture, and again he is a joy to watch. There is a scene at a dinner, that should feel old and unfunny, when he sticks two forks into two bread rolls, holds them under his chin, and moves them to suggest that the rolls are his feet, and he is dancing. It's stolen from Chaplin in The Gold Rush, but Depp does it with such charm that it is a delight all over again. See below.Although Depp stands out, all of the cast are in top form. Julianne Moore plays a love interest for Aiden Quinn, who had the task of being the grounded straighman. Masterson is also great, being able to swing in an instant from calm to rage, can come off awful and badly acted at times, but she is great.Benny & Joon grossed $23 million at the domestic box office to end 1993 the 56th highest grossing movie of the year.
alxx0209
I should have wrote this review about a month ago when i first saw the movie however i kept just putting it off for no reason. So Johnny Depp is the " man " I'm serious and this film shows his acting skills through dialogue , feelings , emotions and movements. I know its not like his other more popular movies like Pirates of the Caribbean , Edward Scissorhands and others but this one has a special place. This movie is all about loving each other and taking care of another person like Benny was trying to do for joon - I was trying to figure were his mind was at for majority of the film and I'm glad of the outcome because you could tell what his feelings toward Sam were overtime of the film. Joon was very interesting herself - mentally ill yet so artistic seems only right her and a guy like BuStEr kEaToN ( Sam ) would have a connection. I also really liked the scene of them trusting each other and feeling comfortable enough to make real love with one another . In my opinion it was great not seeing private parts it was not needed for the movie , If they would have shown skin it would have seemed to romantic or to open or to pushy or trying to hard for that scene.Its so obvious that Depp did a great job as this quirky / silly / warm hearted / caring / unique character. Benny & Joon's actors also give a good performance I'm not sure how well Aiden and MsM ( Mary s masterson ) would / have done in other movies but in this one they do well and even better when in scenes with Depp. Also I loved the song " 500 miles" they used in the beginning and ending which matched perfectly and had the song in my head all night ! This movie has an amazing three characters and actors -1= some what plays the straight man Benny who changes - 2 = mentally ill yet creative Joon and 3 = wonderful and different one of a kind Sam a guy like buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin ,soundtrack great and overall a happy movie with tons of laughs till the last scene. My family ( even my mom who dislikes a lot of movies loved this one) - especially the ending of this quirky / cute / comedy movie. I recommend this movie go watch it !!
Desertman84
Benny & Joon is a romantic comedy film about how two eccentric individuals, Sam and Juniper,also known as "Joon",who find each other and fall in love.It stars Johnny Depp,Mary Stuart Masterson,Aidan Quinn together with William H. Macy,Julianne Moore and Oliver Platt.It was written by Barry Berman and Lesley McNeil; and it was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.Benny runs a small car repair shop. He must also take care of his mentally ill sister Juniper, better known as Joon. After losing a bet, Benny is forced to bring another eccentric into his house.His name is Sam, the cousin of a friend. Not inclined to conversation, Sam expresses himself by performing Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton routines.Not surprisingly, he immediately hits it off with Joon. As Sam and Joon fall deeper in love, Benny for the first time in life experiences the pangs of jealousy.Good acting,funny plot and great characters.Although there are some problems in the script and directing,the performances of the cast overshadowed them particularly Johnny Depp,who did extremely well as a physical comedian.His portrayal of Sam is delicately touching, a maladjusted waif with both soul and grit.Watch this for his performance alone.Added to that,Mary Stuart Masterson resists the temptation to soften Joon. That in itself made this movie compelling and worth watching.
ingoboris
During my Johnny Depp film binge I discovered Benny and Joon, a charming little piece that left me tingling with optimism and warmth long after the credits rolled. Johnny Depp again transfigures himself into another quirky yet endearing character: a dyslexic young man who channels his shyness through his jaw-dropping imitations of Buster Keaton, and finds his soul mate in Joon, a girl who suffers from a mental illness, maybe schizophrenia. She cannot get along with anyone besides her protective brother Benny, as she is prone to panic attacks at the slightest provocation, which includes the former housekeeper having smelly hair. But throughout the film, we see, as Depp's Sam sees, that despite her mental illness she is a strong-willed, bright, and beautiful individual who may be more independent than her brother presumes. Not that Benny is an overbearing hover-copter; we see how concerned he is for her happiness and well-being, sacrificing his freedom and romantic pursuits to give her the best care possible. You can't help admiring him (his good looks and steadfast love for his sister) and wishing he were your older brother. All three characters are marvelously portrayed, and the plot, though somewhat predictable and cheesy, ends in such a hilarious and sweet note that it makes the whole movie experience delightful. Not too melodramatic, but not the typical Hollywood fluff either, this rom com will leave you contented, with just a tad squeeze in your heart.
AD
