For Johnny Depp Fans

Murder and crime fill up the screen

in Black Mass, which needs to be seen

to grasp the fact that Depp is great

as a bad man we love to hate.

Whitey Bulger is this guy’s name,

a criminal who knows no shame.

He even cons the FBI

while working with them as a spy.

But charming he can also be

with old ladies and family.

His escapades in Boston crime

made him top dog for a long time.

Too bad this film leaves out so much.

Whitey’s free years it does not touch.

What did he do not to be caught?

Why did searches result in naught?

Still, Johnny Depp fans must see this.

It’s not a movie they should miss.

Silver Upstages Johnny Depp

I love movies with horses or with trains or with Johnny Depp. Because The Lone Ranger offers all three of these delights, I expected to enjoy this rollicking Western action comedy. However, how much I enjoyed it is a big surprise to me! First of all, the horse Silver captivated me every time he came on camera. And those many exciting train sequences really had me on the edge of my seat (cliché, I know – but true here). Then there’s Johnny Depp – bizarrely decked out as a new version of Tonto – whose facial expressions when watching his sidekick do stupid things are nothing short of priceless. Yes, you read that right. The Lone Ranger, played amusingly by Armie Hammer, gets more help from Tonto than vice versa in this comical take on the legendary duo.

W.C. Fields warned actors not to work with animals or children, and The Lone Ranger proves his point. Silver steals this movie. All he has to do is turn his head, look over his shoulder, gallop on top of a train with the speed of light and we can’t take our eyes off him. Who plays this marvelous creature? An 11-year-old quarter horse named … wait for it … SILVER!!! According to veteran horse trainer Bobby Lovgren , Silver is “a quiet, patient horse with a lot of personality.” Lovgren, who worked with Silver and three other horses helping to play the role, says that director Gore Verbinski  knew how to showcase Silver’s personality. I think Verbinski did this so well that both Depp and Hammer must know they’ve been upstaged by a remarkable white horse.

Verbinski also deserves kudos for the film’s thrilling set pieces involving trains. My favorite? Two rushing locomotives with people running and fighting on top of them. And congratulations to cinematographer Bojan Bazelli for the awesome Western vistas showcased in many scenes plus the lovely opening and closing shots of a Ferris wheel at night. I would be remiss not to mention Hans Zimmer’s stirring background music, for it added considerably to my enjoyment as did the clever screenplay by Justin Haythe and those two Pirates of the Caribbean scribes, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.

Actors Depp and Hammer project a humorous chemistry with each other as Tonto and Jack Reid/Lone Ranger. Their characters here are a far cry from the ones played by Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore. But Tonto and Reid are both still out after a bad guy (played with gusto by William Fichtner), and they want justice to prevail in the Old West. I found it great fun retuning to the days of yesteryear -- when out of the past comes a fiery horse, a cloud of dust and a hearty “Hi, Yo, Silver, away!”

(Released by Walt Disney Studios and rated “PG-13” by MPAA.)

Review also posted at www.reeltalkreviews.com.

More Jack Sparrow

Captain Jack Sparrow is one of my all-time favorite movie characters, thanks to Johnny Depp’s marvelous performance in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. In fact, my only complaint about these movies has been that Sparrow doesn’t appear in EVERY scene. However, with the recent release of the fourth film in the series, On Stranger Tides, I almost get my wish. Depp’s Jack Sparrow receives much more camera time – so I’m a happy viewer indeed.

This outing also features a spectacular clash between pirates and mermaids (!) as well as exciting swordfights, daring stunts, fast action and humorous dialogue.

Read my complete review at ReelTalk Movie Reviews by clicking on this link:

www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=review&id=3671

Great Speech, Annette!

Amid so many crude remarks and rambling acceptance speeches at last night’s Golden Globes awards program, Annette Bening added a touch of class. During her remarks upon receiving recognition as Best Actress in a Comedy for The Kids Are All Right, Annette was poised, articulate and amusing. Congratulations, Annette, for your professionalism as well as for your well-deserved award.

Most of the awards were predictable this year, especially in the movie categories, but I was surprised about Paul Giamatti winning Best Actor in a Comedy for Barney’s Version. He won over Johnny Depp, who must have split the vote with ….. Johnny Depp. Depp was nominated in this category for both Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist. (Was the latter a comedy? Hmm.)

This year’s Golden Globes appeared like a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Oscars. Best film? The Social Network. Best actor in a drama? Colin Firth in The King’s Speech. Best actress in a drama? Natalie Portman in The Black Swan. Best supporting actor? Christian Bale in The Fighter. Best supporting actress? Melissa Leo in The Fighter. We’ll probably hear most of these same names called out during the Academy Awards presentation in February.

And speaking of dress rehearsal, my fashion awards for the evening go to Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta Jones, who both looked stunning in their gorgeous green gowns.

Johnny Depp: Actor of the Decade

I’m delighted with the “People’s Choice” pick of Johnny Depp as Actor of the Decade (2000-2009). Depp definitely deserves this honor. The camera loves him probably more than any other actor, and because of his incredible attention to detail, the diverse – and often bizarre -- characters he portrays come alive on screen with a special vibrancy. My favorite Depp performances during the past ten years can be found in CHOCOLAT, FINDING NEVERLAND, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, SECRET WINDOW, and all three PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN movies.

CHOCOLAT: Depp, who modeled his character Roux (an intriguing Irish drifter) after ex-Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, may not be in this movie as much as I would like, but he looks and sounds terrific. His musical brogue enchanted me, and I even liked his pony-tail hairdo. Depp’s exciting chemistry with Juliette Binoche also deserves mentioning. They sizzle together on screen. At the film’s London premiere, Binoche described Depp as "My perfect chocolate --- he’s dark, sumptuous, and tasty."

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Depp claims his inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow came from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards -- because "Pirates were the rock stars of their day." He also admits throwing a bit of Pepe Le Pew, the cartoon character, into the mix. Depp's extraordinary efforts to create another memorable -- even iconic -- screen character succeeded with flying colors: Jack Sparrow is every bit as unforgettable as Depp's squeamish Ichabod Crane in SLEEPY HOLLOW, released in 1999.

FINDING NEVERLAND: Depp portrays Sir James M. Barrie, creator of PETER PAN, as alternately sad and playful -- but always fascinating. Depp’s understated Scottish accent seems perfect for this character, and his soulful brown eyes register a range of emotions as Barrie faces his loveless marriage, a failed play, a new friendship with an ailing widow and her sons, and the work involved in writing a new play.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO: Playing a greedy, corrupt and downright evil CIA agent, Depp almost steals this action movie from leading man Antonio Banderas. Too bad he doesn't have a sexy outfit or at least one guitar. Depp's weapons? Just clever one-liners, a few silly T-shirts, and an extra arm.

SECRET WINDOW: Depp's portrayal of Mort Rainey, a troubled author, is fascinating to watch. It’s also the talented actor’s very best work to date, in my opinion. The film opens with the Depp’s photogenic face almost completely covering the wide screen -- his dark eyes staring directly at the audience. Fortunately, director David Koepp wisely gives Depp every opportunity to show the inner workings of a mind slowly coming to grips with its own demons. Depp uses little things like unusual voice inflections, worried frowns, intriguing grimaces, even a tattered old bathrobe to cast a spell over viewers and draw us into his confused world.

Congratulations, Johnny!

Johnny Depp Named Screen Legend

Johnny Depp, along with eleven other terrific actors, was inducted into the MAHQ Screen Legends Hall of Fame during yesterday's "Movie Addict Headquarters" radio show.

That's good news for Depp fans like me! We admire the way he takes the most bizarre roles and always makes them appealing to audiences. Long before Hugh Jackman sported Wolverine's deadly claws, Depp's Edward Scissorhands captivated viewers. And he didn't stop there. Whether playing a very squeamish Ichabod Crane, a Don Juan wannabe, a reclusive author, a roguishly eccentric pirate, or a demon barber, Depp never missed a step. In Pirates of the Caribbean, he proved how an actor's awesome talent can make even incredible special effects and funny action sequences pale in comparison.

Yes indeed. Legendary is the word for this extraordinary actor.

To find out about the other honorees, click on the link below:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters/2009/05/12/Legendary-Film-Actors

Big Night for Kate and Slumdog

I always watch the televised Golden Globes Awards show from beginning to end – and last night was no exception. As usual, the evening included some surprises. Kate Winslet’s win in two categories was not expected, especially considering the strong competition for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Kate seemed surprised also – and her acceptance speeches reflected that. She even said, “I’m sorry!” when arriving on stage for her second award. Surprised or not, I’m sure Kate’s brilliant work in Revolutionary Road and The Reader deserve recognition.

And talking about surprises, who thought Slumdog Millionaire would take away four Golden Globes and win Best Picture over Doubt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon? But I’m very happy it did. Slumdog is a unique film with all the best dramatic elements movies can offer, including romance, adventure, suspense, and triumph of an underdog.

The posthumous award given to Heath Ledger for his amazing portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight was a sure thing as soon as the nominations came out – as was the WALL-E win for Best Animated Film. If you’re a gambler, don’t bet against Ledger or WALL-E in the upcoming Oscar race.

Colin Farrell, who won for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (In Bruges), delivered the most thoughtful and articulate acceptance speech while Sally Hawkins gave the worst speech I’ve ever heard in accepting her award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Happy-Go-Lucky).

Glamour definitely filled the air last night at the Golden Globes. Most of the stars looked great, and my favorite, Johnny Depp (be still my heart), actually showed up to present one of the awards.

Next up? The 2009 Academy Awards! As a confirmed movie addict, I can hardly wait.

New Year's Resolutions

As a film critic, here are my New Year’s resolutions for 2009:

1. Be nicer to Penelope Cruz. During 2008, this busy actress earned considerable acclaim for her work in Elegy and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, so I hope to see these two movies – and maybe even rave about her for a change.

2. See more foreign language films. After watching Let the Right One In, a haunting Swedish vampire film, I can’t help wondering how many other terrific films from different areas of the world I’m missing.

3. Stop complaining about so many bad movies. Why? Because these flicks make us appreciate excellent films even more.

4. Be more objective about Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman and Antonio Banderas. Hey, I’m only human. This will be the most difficult resolution to keep, but I’ll try.

Happy New Year, movie fans!

Pre-Oscar Jitters

Only one more day until we find out who wins those coveted golden statuettes. As always, I'm on pins and needles because I fear my favorites might not win. We already know Daniel Day-Lewis is practically a sure thing for Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of that ruthless oil tycoon in "There Will Be Blood." I even found myself picking him over my all-time fave actor Johnny Depp (please forgive me, Johnny!). But most of the other categories seem up in the air to me.

By the way, did you know there are no new movies starring Johnny Depp being released during 2008? Bummer. Still, he has three in production for 2009. He plays John Dillinger in one of them. Maybe he'll get another Oscar nom for that role. I think he's destined to win an Academy Award or two in the future for his marvelous acting, don't you?

Back to this year's Oscars. I hope one of Alan Menken's ditties wins in the Best Song category, but I'm worried because Menken has three songs nominated ("The Happy Working Song," "That's How You Know," "So Close"). Remember the same was true of "Dreamgirls" last year, and a forgettable tune from "An Inconvenient Truth" won. Go figure!

I think it would also be a shame if "Ratatouille" lost out to another movie in the Best Animated Movie category. Still, stranger things have happened on previous Oscar nights -- such as Grace Kelly winning for "A Country Girl" instead of Judy Garland for "A Star Is Born." Sometimes there's no justice in the world.

I'll stand up and cheer for any awards given to "Juno." What an absolutely perfect little film. And I almost feel as supportive for "There Will Be Blood," "Michael Clayton," and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" -- all three are wonderful movies. My biggest fear? That "No Country for Old Men" will walk away with almost everything. I couldn't get into that violent picture anymore than I could follow the pretentious "Atonement."

Okay. I'm glad that's off my chest. Sharing all this has helped me calm down a bit. However...

Dear Oscar, please don't disappoint me too much.

Reflections on the Oscar Nominations

While still reeling with mixed feelings about the 80th Academy Award nominations announced yesterday, I feel compelled to document my reactions. After all, what do you expect from a confirmed movie addict like me?

Yes, I’m excited about three of my top ten films of 2007 (“Michael Clayton,” “Juno,” “There Will Be Blood”) earning nominations as Best Picture, and I’m very happy Alan Menken received three – count ‘em three – nods for his delightful “Enchanted” songs. But I can’t believe the Academy voters snubbed Angelina Jolie’s terrific lead performance in “A Mighty Heart.” What were they thinking? Although four of the nominees in that category (Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard), deserve Oscar recognition, I think Jolie should have Laura Linney’s spot. Linney is always reliable and sometimes even brilliant, but her excellent work in “The Savages” can’t compare with Jolie’s superb acting as the widow of a murdered journalist.

Other nominations that both pleased and surprised me include: the legendary Ruby Dee for her supporting role in “American Gangster,” Tommy Lee Jones as Best Actor for “In the Valley of Elah,” “Ratatouille,” an animated movie, for original screenplay.

As the world’s most avid movie musical fan, I’m disappointed, of course, because “Hairspray” received no nominations. However, I wasn’t predicting any. (I still think it’s the best and most entertaining movie of 2007.) And, speaking of predictions, it looks like a close race between “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” in the Best Picture category. These films tied with the most nominations – 8 each. My only predictions right now? Daniel Day-Lewis will win Best Actor for his complete transformation into a ruthless oil tycoon in the latter film and Javier Bardem will walk away with the Best Supporting Actor statuette for portraying the most menacing villain of the year in the former movie.

And now a word about my favorite actor, Johnny Depp. It’s wonderful to see his name in the Best Actor category, but I would prefer it to be for something other than “Sweeney Todd.” Don’t worry, Johnny, I still love you.

We’ll find out who wins in all categories on February 24.

Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd?

Much as I love both Johnny Depp AND movie musicals, I worry about the upcoming film version of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Yes, Johnny can do almost any character on film, and fans like me will flock to see him. However, is his singing voice up to the quality required in this dark, disturbing production? I certainly hope so, but the previews are of little help in determining the answer to that burning question.

Too bad we have to wait until Christmas to find out. The suspense is excruciating for me!