Benny & Joon (1993)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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I had heard about this film many times in the past, and I've seen the images of the leading actor with his costume and choice of pork pie and top hats, so I had to see if I was going to like it. Basically Benjamin "Benny" Pearl (Aidan Quinn) and his mentally ill sister Juniper "Joon" Pearl (Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe's Mary Stuart Masterson) have lived together since the accidental death of their parents. Benny's friend Mike (Batman Forever's Joe Grifasi) has his cinephile cousin Sam (Golden Globe nominated Johnny Depp) staying with him, Joon joins a poker game, and loses a bet that means Sam has to live with the Pearls. Benny is outraged at first, but spending some time with Sam, and finding he cleaned the house, Benny allows him to stay as a "housekeeper", other housekeepers have been scared away by Joon's outbursts. Joon and Sam bond as he is illiterate, she helps him write a letter to his mother, they go to a local diner together where waitress Ruthie (Julianne Moore) works, Ruthie comes over for dinner, she and Benny bond when he takes her home, they set a dinner date. Alone together, Joon and Sam kiss, Benny and Ruthie have a fun date, but he ends it, wanting to get back home and look after Joon, and Sam tries to apply for a job advertised in the video store. Benny, Joon and Sam hang out in the park together, Sam attracts an appreciative crowd when he starts doing Buster Keaton style tricks with his hat and his body, Benny is amazed of his talent and stays to reflect in the park, while Joon and Sam back home make love, Sam tells Joon he loves her, she returns the sentiment. Benny persuades Sam that he could do more with his life and make a living with his talent, he arranges with buddy Randy Burch (William H. Macy) to have an audition. Joon becomes agitated with Benny, making comedy routine suggestions to Sam, and she makes Sam explain that they are romantically involved, Benny is angry and throws Sam out, and yells at Joon, telling her Dr. Garvey (Orphan's C.C.H. Pounder) thinks she would be better in a home. Benny leaves Joon, feeling guilty after he pushed away while she was hitting and screaming, Sam returns to the house, he and Joon pack suitcases and get on a bus, but Joon becomes agitated, Sam tries to calm her, but she becomes increasingly panicked, the bus stops and Joon is retrained and taken in an ambulance. Benny is told at hospital by Dr. Garvey that Joon does not want to see him, Sam also arrives, they argue in the waiting room, Sam goes to stay with Ruthie, also an apartment manager, and he gets the job working in the video store. Benny finds Sam and asks for his help to see Joon, using diversion from Sam, Benny is able to see Joon, he apologises and persuades her to consider getting her own apartment, and that Sam can come back with her. Joon is interviewed by Dr. Garvey, while Sam is swinging outside the window and waving, she says she wants to try living in her own apartment, the doctor agrees for her to make this choice. In the end, Benny and Joon reconcile, Sam and Joon are reunited, Benny and Ruthie become romantically involved, and Benny is happy to leave Joon and Sam alone together content and making grilled cheese sandwiches using an iron. Also starring Eraser's Oliver Platt as Eric, Commando's Dan Hedaya as Thomas and Liane Alexandra Curtis as Claudia. Masterson is convincing as the psychologically unstable, Quinn is likable as the concerned brother, but the show belongs to Depp, who is fantastic with his obsession for classic films, his impressions of Buster Keaton and Sir Charlie Chaplin, and his overall eccentric man-child personality. It is a fairly simple story about an odd character turning the lives of a brother and sister upside down, the adage of the film is "lunatics are saner than the rest of us", you will either lap up and enjoy this quirky, whimsical and heartfelt sleeper hit, or find it annoying, I personally really like it, it's a fun and good-natured romantic comedy drama. Good!

At the heart of 'Benny & Joon' is the story of Joon, a mentally ill young woman, and her older brother Benny, who takes constant care of her and, while complaining about how much that complicates his life, actually uses the obligation as an excuse for the fact that his own life is going nowhere. It's a story that's simple, realistic and painfully honest. It could have made for a touching little drama if only Chechik made a clean decision that that's what the film is about.Unfortunately, 'Benny & Joon's biggest asset is also its undoing, and that is the wonderful and charismatic performance of young Johnny Depp. Depp enters the scene almost halfway through as Joon's love interest, the mentally unbalanced but extremely charming Sam who chooses to model his personality (or lack thereof) on silent comedy stars Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Sam swoops Joon off her feet and disrupts the delicate balance of the siblings' relationship, which forces Benny to face up and decide whether he can let Joon go or not. Depp is terrific in his role; in one extended scene where he showcases his slapstick abilities he proves just how much of a screen personality he was and why he became one of the most bankable movie stars of the 90's. The problem is that he's so charismatic that he can easily fool the audience (and often does) that Sam is a romantic hero rather than a disruptive, chaotic presence; that this is the love story of Joon and Sam, rather than the story of Benny and his coming to terms with his own life decisions. What's worse, Depp's charisma emphasizes just how pale and unimpressive Aidan Quinn is in the role that should have been the lead.It's not a bad film; it's a pretty and touching little drama, wonderfully scripted. On the other hand, Depp's scenes are a pleasure to behold. But the contrast between the two is what ultimately makes it a failure. It doesn't help that Chechik can't quite make up his mind about how seriously he's taking Joon's mental illness, which is played for laughs a bit too often.

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 !!

I would say this film was pretty much a cliché. Two strange people fall in love in this mainstream society. But there were some interesting aspects: for example, there was not too many mushy-mushy moments of verbally expressing love (I really can't stand that in films!); also, the actors were believable and did not over do it. But overall, the film didn't give any insight on new ideas and just focused on a standard topic of "forbidden love", and was pretty much predictable all the way till the end just like all Hollywood films. As a Johnny Depp fan, I don't regret watching it, but it is not a movie I would recommend to anyone.