Johnny Depp
This entry is likely to get very fangirl-ish. Be forewarned.
I fell in love with Johnny Depp back in 1990 the first time I saw "Edward Scissorhands". There was a lot I liked about that movie- Tim Burton's artistic vision, the whole theme of the angst of the artist being separated from the world, Danny Elfman's haunting music, still it was Johnny Depp who brought me back to the theatre a second time and then a third time to see the movie again.
A few months later I saw "Benny and Joon". Now "Benny and Joon" is a middling movie at best, but the scenes where Johnny Depp's character, Sam, acts out the routines from old Charlie Chaplin movies are just wonderful. I was smitten and becoming more than convinced that this Depp guy was more than just a pretty face.
Shortly after that Johnny Depp teamed up with Tim Burton again to star in "Ed Wood". "Ed Wood" is a must-see, a strange little black and white movie highlighting the life of the world's worst film maker, a movie that simply celebrates the act of creating. Johnny Depp's turn as the star-struck, forever optimistic, cross-dressing Ed Wood is inspired and pretty much from that point on if Johnny Depp's name was on the movie marque I was likely to go to the movie or at least give it serious consideration.
The cool thing about Johnny Depp is that he's an actor who's lovely eye candy on the screen (sigh...), but can always be counted on to put in a nuanced and interesting performance in any movie that he's in. I have great respect for the fact that with his looks he could take the easy route and play romantic leading roles all the time, but he often seeks out off-beat, odd character parts. Not to say he isn't to die for when he does settle into a romantic leading man part (Don Juan De Marco, Chocolat).
I haven't seen all of Johnny Depp's movies and I find I am more inclined to go and see his movies when he's playing a more unusual role (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Sleepy Hollow). Some of his movies I haven't seen because they're too graphic (From Hell) or they just didn't appeal to me (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Ninth Gate, The Astronaut's Wife). John did manage to get me to one Depp flick, Blow, which I otherwise wouldn't have gone to by using the magic words, "But, hey, Johnny Depp is in it!", but I found it hard to get into the movie's perspective of feeling sorry for a drug peddler. Next year Depp will be starring as J. M. Barrie in "Neverland" and I am looking forward to going to see it.
Rumour has it that Tim Burton is presently working on a new film version of "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory", one of my favorite books from childhood. The very idea is both frightening and intriguing, because when Burton is good, he's wonderful, but he's not always good (see "Planet of The Apes"). I read an article not long ago suggesting that Burton should consider casting Depp as Willy Wonka. I recoiled from the idea at first and then I found myself reconsidering. If anyone could live up to the grand performance of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka back in the 70's, maybe it could be Johnny Depp. He and Tim Burton always make a magical team.
And, of course, this whole entry was inspired because John and I are off to see "Pirates of The Caribbean" tonight. At first glance I wasn't overly impressed, but, hey, it stars Johnny Depp so I am there. All the reviews have said that Depp is inspired as Captain Jack Sparrow, acting the part to the hilt and playing him like a burned-out rock star a la Keith Richards. In fact the Toronto Star review this morning said that Depp is the only good thing the movie has going for it. Good enough for me :).
So, tell me, do you have a movie actor or actress who affects you in the same way? That you will go see (or at least seriously consider going to see) any movie that he or she puts out just because they're in it? Let us know.
Exercise log- Didn't walk for two days then did a bunch of walking yesterday. Up to 256 miles now.
I fell in love with Johnny Depp back in 1990 the first time I saw "Edward Scissorhands". There was a lot I liked about that movie- Tim Burton's artistic vision, the whole theme of the angst of the artist being separated from the world, Danny Elfman's haunting music, still it was Johnny Depp who brought me back to the theatre a second time and then a third time to see the movie again.
A few months later I saw "Benny and Joon". Now "Benny and Joon" is a middling movie at best, but the scenes where Johnny Depp's character, Sam, acts out the routines from old Charlie Chaplin movies are just wonderful. I was smitten and becoming more than convinced that this Depp guy was more than just a pretty face.
Shortly after that Johnny Depp teamed up with Tim Burton again to star in "Ed Wood". "Ed Wood" is a must-see, a strange little black and white movie highlighting the life of the world's worst film maker, a movie that simply celebrates the act of creating. Johnny Depp's turn as the star-struck, forever optimistic, cross-dressing Ed Wood is inspired and pretty much from that point on if Johnny Depp's name was on the movie marque I was likely to go to the movie or at least give it serious consideration.
The cool thing about Johnny Depp is that he's an actor who's lovely eye candy on the screen (sigh...), but can always be counted on to put in a nuanced and interesting performance in any movie that he's in. I have great respect for the fact that with his looks he could take the easy route and play romantic leading roles all the time, but he often seeks out off-beat, odd character parts. Not to say he isn't to die for when he does settle into a romantic leading man part (Don Juan De Marco, Chocolat).
I haven't seen all of Johnny Depp's movies and I find I am more inclined to go and see his movies when he's playing a more unusual role (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Sleepy Hollow). Some of his movies I haven't seen because they're too graphic (From Hell) or they just didn't appeal to me (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Ninth Gate, The Astronaut's Wife). John did manage to get me to one Depp flick, Blow, which I otherwise wouldn't have gone to by using the magic words, "But, hey, Johnny Depp is in it!", but I found it hard to get into the movie's perspective of feeling sorry for a drug peddler. Next year Depp will be starring as J. M. Barrie in "Neverland" and I am looking forward to going to see it.
Rumour has it that Tim Burton is presently working on a new film version of "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory", one of my favorite books from childhood. The very idea is both frightening and intriguing, because when Burton is good, he's wonderful, but he's not always good (see "Planet of The Apes"). I read an article not long ago suggesting that Burton should consider casting Depp as Willy Wonka. I recoiled from the idea at first and then I found myself reconsidering. If anyone could live up to the grand performance of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka back in the 70's, maybe it could be Johnny Depp. He and Tim Burton always make a magical team.
And, of course, this whole entry was inspired because John and I are off to see "Pirates of The Caribbean" tonight. At first glance I wasn't overly impressed, but, hey, it stars Johnny Depp so I am there. All the reviews have said that Depp is inspired as Captain Jack Sparrow, acting the part to the hilt and playing him like a burned-out rock star a la Keith Richards. In fact the Toronto Star review this morning said that Depp is the only good thing the movie has going for it. Good enough for me :).
So, tell me, do you have a movie actor or actress who affects you in the same way? That you will go see (or at least seriously consider going to see) any movie that he or she puts out just because they're in it? Let us know.
Exercise log- Didn't walk for two days then did a bunch of walking yesterday. Up to 256 miles now.