Johnny Depp

| BEST FILM: Finding Neverland ... Usually playing real people, Depp is charmingly over the top (Brasco, Thompson, Wood). Here, though, he is perfectly real and never more charming as the dreamweaver of “Peter Pan,” J. M. Barrie.BEST TIM BURTON FILM:Edward Scissorhands... The brilliant story was brought to life by the always perplexed Depp, trying to figure out these strange things called suburbanites. |
GREAT PERFORMANCES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (one of three fill-ins for Heath Ledger)
Finding Neverland (Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated performance as author J.M. Barrie)
Benny & Joon (Golden Globe-nominated performance as a strange circus-type clown, opposite Mary Stuart Masterson)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (Leonardo DiCaprio’s big brother)
Donnie Brasco (real-life FBI agent who infiltrates the mob)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Hunter S. Thompson)
Don Juan DeMarco (Brando’s patient)
Dead Man (accountant at the wrong place at the wrong time)
Cry-Baby (a ‘50s singer)
Arizona Dream (Jerry Lewis’s nephew)
THE TIM-BURTON’S-ALTER-EGO JOHNNY:
Edward Scissorhands (Golden Globe-nominated performance as a boy with scissors for hands, opposite Winona Ryder)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Golden Globe-nominated performance as candy mogul Charlie)
Sweeney Todd (Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance as the rather unorthodox barber)
Ed Wood (Golden Globe-nominated performance as the worst director ever)
Sleepy Hollow (Ichabod Crane)
BLOCKBUSTERS:
Public Enemies (John Dillinger)
The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated and SAG-winning performance as Jack Sparrow in the first of the three)
Platoon (small role as a soldier)
THE REAL JOHNNY:
Finding Neverland and maybe Benny & Joon...
As complex as any of his characters, Depp was abandoned by his father (Scissorhands, Gilbert Grape, Charlie), did lots of drugs (Fear and Loathing, etc., etc.), and traveled around as a musician (Chocolat). He’s misunderstood (most of his films) partly because he mistrusts fame and the media that sell it. Basically, though, he’s a quiet genius of entertainment.
ACTING STYLE:
Deep. (Did they misspell his name?) His Jack Sparrow is actually an anomaly; virtually every other character (besides Ed Wood and maybe Charlie) he’s played is quiet, often moody, and containing more layers than two hours could ever mine. Many of his best roles are whispered, and with very few words at that.
BITS AND QUIRKS:
They are subtle but abundant (not even counting the “Pirate” ones). After all, Depp acts, and reacts, most with his face. They are also hard to describe because they are so subtle. Start with a long but soft stare. Take time for a shy glance downward, or a long look somewhere else. Work the hair. Work it some more. Finally, part with a hard-fought smile. The quirks in the Tim Burton films are another category altogether, but wholly original and delightfully over the top.
IF YOU LIKE HIM, YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T LIKE:
The Astronaut’s Wife
The Ninth Gate
GREAT SCENES:
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS - The robotic walk > Trying to eat his first meal > Cutting hair > Cutting the dogs’ hair > Making the ice sculpture of Winona, creating a snowfall
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - The squirrels testing nuts > The scenes with his father, the dentist > The glass elevator
ED WOOD - The transvestite scenes
CHOCOLAT - The party on the boat > Fixing the door
GILBERT GRAPE - Burning down the house
BENNY & JOON - The acrobatic scenes
PIRATES - Every scene, of course, but certain ones stand out >> Getting slapped by the girls > Stealing the ship > Arriving on a sinking ship > The waterwheel > Running from the cannibals > Fighting the Kracken > Davey Jones’ locker
MOVIES:
Johnny has been in 44 movies if you want a list of them here you go 1. A Nightmare On Elm Street 2. Private Resort 3. Slow Burn 4. Platoon 5. Cry-Baby 6. Edward Scissorhands 7. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare 8. Arizona Dream 9. Benny & Joon 10. What's Eating Gilbert Grape 11. Ed Wood 12. Don Juan DeMarco 13. Dead Man 14. Nick Of Time 15. Donnie Brasco 16. The Brave 17. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas 18. The Ninth Gate 19. The Astronaut's Wife 20. Sleepy Hollow 21. The Man Who Cried 22. Before Night Falls 23. Chocolate 24. Blow 25. From Hell 26. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl 27. Once Upon A Time In Mexico 28. Secret Windows 29. Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d'enfants 30. Finding Neverland 31. The Libertine 32. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory 33. Corpse Bride 34. Pirates Of The Caribbean : The Legend Of Jack Sparrow 35. Pirates Of The Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest 36. Pirates Of The Caribbean : At World's End 37. Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street 38. Public Enemies 39. The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus 40. Alice In Wonderland 41. Rango 42. The Rum Diary 43. The Three Stooges 44. Sin City 3 45. Dark Shadows