BENNY AND JOON   1993 Directed by Jeremiah Chechik 99 minutes In English

This offbeat romantic comedy starring a young Johnny Depp surprised audiences in the early 90s, when the cinemas were only filled with big-budget action films. Its disarming charmer appeared and became a hit sleeper. The movie revolves around the bizarre interaction of three central characters. In a small town, a car mechanic named Benny is taking care of his mentally-ill sister Joon, who is both an artist and a pyromaniac. Benny is doing everything he can to keep the harsh realities of life away from his delusional sister. Then one day a guy called Sam (Depp) comes onto the scene, who acts like a silent film actor from the 20s.... a bohemian character swinging a cane, wearing baggy pants and a worn-out felt hat. The intersection between Sam and the sister creates a dreamlike tone that carries through the film.

Although the acting is great all around, it's Johnny Depp’s animated Buster Keaton-esque routines that make this film glow. But beneath the domesticated surrealism of the film, there is also a deeper underlining message. Like Harold and Maude, the film sits on the weirder side of what’s possible in Hollywood entertainment. It also stars Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, and a pre-stardom Julianne Moore.

Ah, poor Johnny (Depp). What a sad mess he's become after going through the Hollywood Babylon meat-grinder. He seems bewildered, lost, cynical and wasted... willing to take any junk he's offered. Lets step back and see the magic and innocence that was lost.

This will be a high definition screening.