THROWBACK THURSDAY: WAMG’s Favorite Johnny Depp Films

A film based on a Disneyland ride! Everyone thought, “Are they high?” And Johnny Depp to boot? Well actually, that was always a good idea.

Once again the multi-faceted actor is on brink of opening another chapter in the wildly popular PIRATES franchise. Along for the ride are newcomers Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, and Sam Clafin, as well as fan favorite Captain Barbossa Geoffrey Rush.

Maybe its kismet that brought Depp and Penelope Cruz together again some 10 years after they appeared together in 2001’s BLOW. A decade later the former would be a 3-time Oscar nominee, the later an Academy Award winner.

One of the Geeks has fond memories from 1995 while working at Paramount where Depp was shooting NICK OF TIME. The actor took the time to speak to the tours. Friendly right from the start!

Even with the fourth PIRATES opening this weekend and with estimates reaching as high as a $90M – $100M, there’s no stopping the biggest actor on the planet from his next role…or roles. Look for Johnny Depp in GK Films THE RUM DIARY on October 28, 2011, Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Tim Burton’s DARK SHADOWS on May 11, 2012 (which just began shooting) and Tonto – to Armie Hammer Lone Ranger – in Jerry Bruckheimer’s THE LONE RANGER. (http://www.jbfilms.com/#/film/lone-ranger)

Oh, and don’t forget that Depp also has a small, uncredited cameo in Sony Pictures remake of 21 JUMP STREET on March 16, 2012.

Phew!

Below are a sampling of our special Johnny films. So have at it readers…what are your favorite Depp roles? THE LIBERTINE, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CHOCOLAT, WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET? Let us know which films you would have included on our list.

Ph: Peter Mountain ©Disney Enterprises, Inc.

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

Glen Lantz

Here’s where it all began.

ED WOOD

Ed

ED WOOD speaks to the passionate cinema-loving man-child in all of us, who just cannot play it straight with the big guys and has to live the independent route–even if he does suck. For the first time in Johnny Depp’s career, he was able show what he’s capable of in a leading role. Depp brings this naive charisma and desperation to make motion pictures however the heck he wants to Wood, who clearly had to have had a few screws loose to make the movies he made. Since Wood also took pleasure in dressing up in womens’ clothes, particularly angora sweaters, this adds another quirky dimension to a film that most would recognize as one of burton’s very best. Depp plays those scenes with a silly modesty.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

Raoul Duke

Johnny Depp transformed himself, running full throttle with little to no regard for his own personal sanity, when adapting Raoul Duke for the big screen. Clearly in tune not only with Hunter S. Thompson’s literary vision, but also the uniquely quirky one-of-a-kind imagination of director Terry Gilliam, Depp paints a wildly abstract cinematic portrait of a man made as boldly brilliant and bat-shit nuts by his unconditional love affair with controlled substances.

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

Edward

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are like peanut butter and jelly… on bread shaped like funny little animals! The two have colaborated on some pretty amazing projects, starting with Edward Scissorhands. Sure, Depp had been in films before, but had not played a character quite like Edward. Depp wanted to break free of his “teen idol” image, and that he did. . The character of Edward is an interesting one, filled with fantasy, innocence, and wonder. Actually, Depp had to convey a wide array of emotion when playing Edward, while only saying 169 words throughout the entire film. This began a long running collaboration with Burton that continues to amaze audiences.

BENNY AND JOON

Sam

Johnny Depp created an inspiring role as one half of an unconventional couple in BENNY & JOON by displaying his talent virtually silent. His Buster Keaton-esque performance displayed yet another aspect of his immense talent as an actor and as an unforgettable character. Just one of Mr. Depp’s many memorable and charming films we have grown to love over the years.

DONNIE BRASCO

Donnie

In 1997 Johnny got to leave the Tim Burton fantasies and veer into Scorsese/Lumet territory with DONNIE BRASCO. With this true story, Depp showed he could hold his own on screen with a cinema icon. While he shared some great scenes with his on screen wife Anne Heche, the real chemistry was between Depp and Al Pacino as the low level mob runner Lefty.

THE NINTH GATE

Dean Corso

One of favorite Depp films, it was truly black magic when Depp joined forces with director Roman Polanski for this eerie supernatural thriller. The film depicted so dark a mood, that even we feared for Depp as he went up against the evil author of The Nine Gates.

SLEEPY HOLLOW

Ichabod Crane

The role of Ichabod Crane was tailor made for Depp. What with his build and physical stature, the persona of the actor and the character seemed interchangeable. If any director and actor could bring Irving Washington’s tale to the big screen it was be the pairing of Depp and director Tim Burton.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

The Mad Hatter

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jabberwock, my son

The frumious Bandersnatch!’

Director Tim Burton could simply not pass up the opportunity to put his spin on this classic tale, originally published by Lewis Caroll in 1865. Giving The Mad Hatter a more substantial role, unlike in the original, was all part of that plan, and who better to play the role than Johnny Depp. (Fun Fact: “Mad Hatter” or “Mad as a Hatter” was a term used to describe hat makers that were affected by mercury poisoning. Mercury was used in the hat making process at one point, and caused anything from “hatters shakes” to hallucinations.) Depp plays the character with an added richness. The character is not just “mad”, he is fearless, passionate, and intense.

“I always saw the Hatter as kind of tragic,” says Depp. “He’s a victim in a lot of ways. The mercury has certainly taken its toll, but there’s a tragic element to his past in this particular version that weighs pretty heavily on the character.”

Not to say Depp is lacking of a sense of humor, one last video.