johnny depp
Sunday, 17 February 2008 | | |
Johnny Depp
In the glitz and glamour of Hollywood it takes a strong character to
stand out in the crowd. Johnny Depp has made a habit throughout his
career of picking the parts of colourful personalities, when perhaps
it would've been easier and even more beneficial to choose a simpler
role. However, the dedication shown to his selections has been
fruitful for Johnny, who now has the pick of the roles he has always
sought. He has proved himself to be a strong character.
His turns as infamous eccentrics like Willy Wonka in Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory (2005), and Edward Scissorhands (1990), were
relatively well received by mainstream cinema audiences. Both films
were directed by Tim Burton, who will collaborate with Depp once more
for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, due for release
next year. Helena Bonham Carter, another regular of Burton's movies,
will be included in a cast featuring Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
and Alan Rickman.
Any feverous anticipation that previously awaited the latest
Burton/Depp movie was strictly reserved to a cult following in the
past. Those who wore ninety percent black attire, lived in their
attics and dabbled with witchcraft would be awaiting the next
instalment from the duo. It was in 2003 that something happened
forcing them to rethink the attic and move onto a boat instead. That
something was Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Curse of the Black Pearl would be the first of a trilogy of pirate
movies starring Johnny Depp as the mischievous Jack Sparrow. It would
also launch Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley into the Hollywood
atmosphere, while making Depp's star shine brighter than ever before.
He had gone beyond bland mainstream compliments and distinguished
himself as a unique movie icon, comparable to the stars that littered
Hollywood in the days of the silver screen.
When his next film is released he will receive the focus of a far
wider audience than he had previously, having acquired new fans from
the success of Pirates of the Caribbean. Whether they are prepared for
his portrayal of a homicidal barber or not remains to be seen, frankly
I'm not sure if I'm ready for that. The family viewing appeal of
Pirates of the Caribbean has created a following of young teenage
fans, which might be too young for his other rumoured project, Sin
City 2. The previous incarnation of the graphic novel, by Frank
Miller, featured sex, guns and lots of bloody violence.
With his profile raised to new heights it will be interesting to see
if Depp's performances still embody the bizarre characteristics of the
oddball personalities he plays. All eyes will be on Sweeney Todd,
which if convincing may see a sudden rise in hair growth. It could be
a case of avoiding the barbershop or risk ending up in a particularly
meaty pie.
Posted by Steven Miller at 22:10