The Tourist

This movie didn't seem to be one of Johnny Depps best performances.That's what people say anyways,but I never go by what others say anyway.

I have not seen the movie yet,but not sure if this is my type of movie anyways.Here is the movie trailer.I'll keep adding more Johnyy Depp movies as they come out.

Nick of Time

"Nick of Time" is one of the movies you never hear that much about. It's hard for me to believe that it's not one of the most popular suspense movies of the last few years. A psychopath (Christopher Walken) gives an accountant (Johnny Depp) a job that he didn't want to have. It's 12:00 noon and if Johnny Depp doesn't kill the governor by 1:30, the psychopaths will kill his daughter. He doesn't want to kill the governor and he tries to get help but everytime he sees a policeman or talks to somebody, he finds the psychopath that hired him right beside him or that either the person he turns to for help is involved in the murderous scheme. Johnny Depp has to either find someone to talk to or he must kill the governor, because he will do anything it takes to see his daughter again.
The people who made "Nick of Time" did a brilliant job in making the film suspenseful with the frequent showing of clocks and the great score of the movie. The music and sound effects couldn't have been better for the movie. "Nick of Time" is also well acted by everyone, especially Christopher Walken, Johnny Depp, and Charles S. Dutton. I think "Nick of Time" is one of the most underrated movies of the 90's. It doesn't get the credit that it well deserves. If you like great suspense movies, I definitely recommend getting "Nick of Time."

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is quite simply the best fairy tale never told. This is Tim Burton in his eccentric prime, and his presence is palpable in every arena of this beautiful and personal film. The inventive art direction is perhaps the most memorable aspect of that presence, most notably in the pastel palette that covers everything from the ingenius solid-color costumes to the quaint neighborhood/town our characters inhabit.
The genius of this movie is more far-reaching than that. Everything fits seamlessly together--from Danny Elfman's quirky score to Stefan Czapsky's meticulous camera work to an entire cast full of nuanced performances... the list goes on and on. While this film's acting gem is Diane Weist in the role of the sweet and overly altruistic mother, Johnny Depp plays the titular role in a beautifully understated performance. Similarly, Winona Ryder wonderfully (and blondly) embodies young beauty and Alan Arkin turns in a comedic yet touching performance as the sometimes-overbearing father. The ensemble cast is flawless, complementing the quirky but ultimately realistic tone.
Perhaps the best aspect of this movie is that it achieves its goals with amazing subtlety--the overt themes of "being different", family, and (let's not forget) love are constantly driven into cliché these days, but Edward Scissorhands accomplishes it all with a snip, not a stab.
This 10th Anniversary Edition DVD is everything this movie deserves--insightful commentaries from Tim Burton AND Danny Elfman and an interesting featurette, along with the concept art, trailers, TV Spots, and scene selection we've all come to expect. (The Interactive 3-D Menus are priceless!)

Donnie Brasco

I have been wanting to see this movie for what seems like years now, due to the fact I love Mob movies and Johnny Depp's acting ability in any film he does. This is one of Johnny Depps first Big leading roles in a film and he holds up even against the great Al Pacino. Speaking of Al Pacino..he should easily have been nominated for a Oscar for his portrayal of Lefty, but more times than not the Oscar Academy has no clue what great acting is (Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York should have won last year no questions asked!). Michael Madsen is always a fun actor to watch on screen and this is one of his best performances. Anne Heche really impressed me with her acting as well and she actually looked kinda hot. The last scene in this film featuring Al Pacino opening a drawer, putting in a few precious items, closing it, only to open it again and leave it ajar a few moments later is truly powerful because of what it implies. This film may not be as great as Goodfellas, but it is one you can mention in the same sentence and not feel guilty about it. Tired of renting bad movies that look interesting because of the cool covers on the dvd, fuggetaboutit, rent or buy Donnie Brasco and go home happy.Johnny Depp DVDs have never been easier to get.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing is just outright "wet your pants" hilarious at every junction. Not only does Del Toro sport the best beer belly in the business but Depp's take on Hunter S. Thompson just goes to show what a talent he is because the performance is 610% perfection in every department. This film just cracks me up!
The problem with this film is that it assaults mainstream movie-goers unconditionally from start to finish by never conforming to the standards that keep them "safe" inside their shell. If you don't let go then chances are you are another false member of that which Hunter S. Thompson is expounding about - the crook called the "American Dream". The person on your left is laughing. The person on your right is sitting smug faced. The one behind is complaining and the one in front is crying. The result is that if you hate this movie you hate it because you can just never understand it, like the business guy who walks into the toilet only to see a grown man sniff LSD from another's felt sleeve. The person leaves confused, will never understand it, because he has never experienced anything like that and has no clue what it is all about. People will try and deal with all of this by labelling it somehow. "Drugs! Its all about those druggies and only druggies will get it!" some may cry out. The truth is that people who may have done drugs will know a little about the unconventionality that this film is based on but yet again there are many others who will also get it, but never have done drugs. This film attacks a certain type of personality - those who are stuck so far up their own orifice with the American dream that they have limited their perceptions of life indefinitely and remain wooden throughout the rest of their existence.
Here we see two guys just make it to freedom of the "self" in any way that they can. The movie is one big trip of letting it all go and is by the far a screaming ride of absolute insanity from start to finish. There is not many mainstream Hollywood productions that do this and Gilliam's take on it is done passionately. This is just a wholly original riot of a move about utilizing mayhem and madness to transcend the banality of chasing phantoms that very few will obtain. While masses delude themselves with power and riches, the rest will just put their feet up and play with the cards that they have been dealt.
This movie is a wonderful experience that just goes to show that not everyone in life is an Ikea slave debaser of themselves. This is a film that has some humanity sown in among the insanity. Love or hate it, it is still needed and fills that cultural void nicely.

Private Resort

This movie was easily one of the greatest movies of the 80's. The fact that it hasn't been re-released yet when so many other less profitable movies have been, is a shame. If there was anyone involved in the decision making process at the big movie companies that grew up during the 80's, this movie would already be out. PLEASE RELEASE IT!
Johnny Depp and Hector Elizondo are a couple of the main characters, and even Andrew Dice Clay, along with tons of actors before they were huge. Everytime I bring this movie up I wish, I had a copy to show to people that haven't seen it.

From Hell

Okay if Jack the Ripper doesn't interest you, than skip the movie and ignore the 5 stars. If you do find the tale of the never-caught, premier serial killer still fascinating then this is your flick. The Hughes Brothers have dusted off the old boy's story and done him up a treat!
Quite crazily fanatical in their devotion to detail, the Hughes Brothers have confessed to an enduring obsession about Red Jack. I, rather shamefacedly, must admit the same. There is something about the fog-shrouded lanes of Whitechapel, prowled by the diabolical and demonic murderer, dressed to the nines in formal cape & top hat (we imagine) with black surgeon's bag hiding the long slim razor sharp scalpels with which he does his horrid work, that is so chilling and creepy. And that he does his villainy on poor, broken-down prostitutes with such a ferocity, that deep & dark motives must be at play here. It is the fuel for both nightmares & movies.
Others must share this fascination, for we have had him as a fixture in our imagination from The Lodger on to dozens of film and television treatments and riffs on the theme, i.e., encounters with Sherlock Holmes etc.
Well, the Hughes's have done a job here, in some instances with absolute brilliance. This is a dark and moody meditation on the Ripper, as stylish and delirious as Johnny Depp's Inspector Aberline's fever-dream hallucinations. Beautifully shot and composed with clever uses of the camera and an evocation of those foggy streets, filled with terror and panic.
Certainly not for everyone. This is a superbly crafted film of an admittedly peculiar interest. Jack the Ripper has provided a Hannibal Lecter-like fascination for audiences for 100 years now. The granddaddy of them all, Red Jack was the real deal, and the true fascination is in his unrevealed identity which leaves him open to any interpretation imagination can take us. He is the monster half-hidden in our nightmares.

Secret Window

This past weekend, my family and I decided to catch the new Johnny Depp movie. When I first saw the trailers for Secret Window, I thought it was going to be just another insane, slaying movie without a plot and without any real acting talent in it. Boy was I wrong!!! The movie is based on the Stephan King novels, Secret Window and Secret Garden, and knowing this, I knew this movie was going to be a suspenseful thriller. Johnny Depp plays a well-known writer who lately is having an extreme case of writer's block. Now he just sits around in his worn, old bathrobe and talks to his dog, mostly because his wife left him about six months ago for another man. To add to his problems, a stranger from Mississippi comes knocking on his door one day and accuses Mort (Johnny Depp), of stealing his story, Secret Window. Mort becomes fed up with the stranger who calls himself Shooter (John Turturro), and ignores his accusations. But now strange things begin to happen; to Mort, and his family. Mort soon discovers that Shooter is the one reeking havoc on his life. Shooter demands that Mort fix the ending of Secret Window to the way it "should be" and to re-publish it under Shooter's name. He wants the new ending to be that the character kills his wife and buries her in the garden, under the attic's secret window. Mort still refuses to listen to Shooter, and the deadly "accidents" keep on happening. Eventually Mort understands the real reason why Shooter is stalking him, and why the ending of Secret Window needs to be changed. I'm not going to give away the ending because I must say it is one of the MOST unexpected and thrilling finales I have ever witnessed! The repeated saying , "the only thing that matters is the ending", is a major element throughout this movie.
What really made this movie so believable and terrifying was the acting. Johnny Depp's character makes us all jump whenever he opens a closet to discover something or wakes up from his daily nap to find terror right in front of him. And also John Turturro's "Shooter" make's us all think twice before opening the door. This horror film gets an A+ from my family and me! Secret Window will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time and will leave you breathless with an ending to 'die' for!

Finding Neverland

I went to the screening of `Finding Neverland' and found it to be a wonderful movie! Rarely do we get to watch a movie in which the story is filled with so much fantasy, imagination, and spirit that will keep us entertained throughout the movie.

The story starts off with James Barrie, a Scottish playwright whose most recent work is a failure. One day in the park, he meets Sylvia Davies, a widow, and her four boys and strikes up a conversation with him. Little by little, he becomes closer to them, and gets inspired to write a new play, one that would be one of the greatest classics of our time.
The film focuses mainly on Barrie's relationship with the Davies family, and by viewing small things such as the children's behavior, how he created Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, and added the pirates and the Indians to create a magical masterpiece.

Marc Forster, the director of this movie (who also directed Monster's Ball) gives us magic in this story inspired by the life of James Barrie, the author of `Peter Pan'. Johnny Depp acted flawlessly as J.M.Barrie. His expressions (along with the accent) were perfect, and his performance laudable. The rest of the cast, including Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Christie also acted incredibly well. However, I was really amazed by the performance of Freddie Highmore, the young boy who acted as Peter Davies in the movie, especially towards the end of the movie.

I think this is one of the best movies to be released this year. If you loved watching movies like `Big Fish', you will definitely enjoy this movie.

Ed Wood

"Ed Wood" is such a gloriously brilliant film. It's the perfect meshing of the unique talents of director Tim Burton and an almost surreal Hollywood story that probably needed to be told. Fact is indeed stranger than fiction, and "Ed Wood" embraces this lovable (and seedy) story of the underbelly of 1950s filmmaking.

Most of what you see in "Ed Wood" is true, and if Burton bends the tale for his own sensibilities, well, I doubt Mr. Wood is turning in his grave. Edward D. Wood, Jr. has long been considered the worst filmmaker in history. His resume is stocked with horror/sci-fi films from the late 50s so inept they cause unstoppable laughing fits. Churning out "Glen or Glenda," "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space," Ed Wood created Drive-In turkeys replete with staggeringly horrid dialog, cardboard sets and atrocious acting. These outrageous films are applauded today by bad-movie connoisseurs.

Burton, whose love of old horror films is well documented, was the perfect man to make this movie. The casting choices, most notably Johnny Depp as Mr. Wood, Martin Landau as a decrepit Bela Lugosi and Bill Murray as John Breckinridge, are inspired. There's some bittersweet elements in "Ed Wood," as our obsessively positive protagonist recruits one Hollywood castoff after another, forming the most unlikely repertory company in history. A drug-addicted Lugosi, wrestler Tor Johnson, a recently fired Vampira and other misfits attempt to create films from shoestring budgets, bonding due to their own failures in life.

Burton, filming in black and white with a great eye for detail, has produced a heartfelt anthem to not only the wonder of filmmaking, but to lost souls wishing to create but lacking the gift to do so. This odd troupe may be a gang of talentless hacks, but for a brief moment their club breeds kinship.

"Ed Wood" is a tribute to sad failures within an unforgiving industry. As we see Landau's Lugosi standing in filthy water preparing to battle a rubber octopus, we realize how tragic his life has become. This one-time superstar has reached a surreal low, sinking into a Gothic Norma Desmond mire. It's a haunting snapshot, as profound as a Shakespeare tragedy. The souls of "Ed Wood" died struggling with dark addictions, as forgotten as paupers. Burton has given them their fairy tale of glory.

Blow

This movie is based on a true life story. Johnny Depp, is unexplainably fantastic as Boston George. It goes to show, you never get away with dirty deeds through life, the movie is outstanding! Ray Loitta was above all, great in the movie as George's dad and his quote "money is not everything" should be carefully adopted by people this day . Even though George Jung was wrong his father holds his son close among being very disconneted with him-will leave you very emotional. Go see this movie, granted you will love it also. Penelope Cruze, was sensational. My comments to the director Tedd Demme great movie and you couldn't have chose a better George than Johnny Depp. It was real life on the big screen and if you miss this movie in the theatre by all means you must get it on DVD! Although, it depicts drug dealing in America, it also shows what a terrrible life one will choose for doing so. The ending will grab you by the heart.I love Johnny Depp movies.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

I give this film 5 stars because I'm impressed with the director's sense of originality. Indeed, Mr. Gilliam presents another baffling, intriguing and entertaining foray into the life of an "eccentric". I only watched it once, because the rental I had was due back, but I will correct that soon. Being Heath Ledger's last effort captured on film was certainly enough to draw me, and he's quite fine. Gilliam made a smart choice to have Ledger's "alter-ego" played by the celebrated trio of Depp, Farrell and Law. It's all commendable, and generally successful. I enjoyed Tom Waits as Mr. Nick; his rare film appearances have always entertained me, especially in Altman's "Short Cuts". Also admirable is Lily Cole, quite charming and believable. There's no question that this film, as well as most of Mr. Gilliam's efforts, requires repeated viewings. There's also little mention of Christopher Plummer's fine performance; as in "12 Monkeys", no one seems to remember that Bruce Willis was the main character. Also, no question that this film is worth a look for stunning sets and visuals, original fun, and the last effort of the very fine Heath Ledger.

Alice In Wonderland

I was wholly unprepared for Tim Burton's mythic adaptation of Alice. The script combines Alice with Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky; the choice has resulted in a brilliant heroine's tale which without exaggeration is worthy of Joseph Campbell.

Tim Burton's Alice is a girl who, like her late father, imagines Six Impossible Things, sees them come to life and uses their existence to embolden her in facing the greatest challenges of her life - in our world, the pressure to betray herself in order to fulfill familial and societal expectations and, in Wonderland, a monster just as deadly.

The counterplay between the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) and the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) is fantastic. Whereas the White Queen is chaste, mystical and dreamy, the Red Queen is rutty, malevolent and grotesque. Each is aiming for supremacy. Who will be their champions?

Alice's appearance brings hope to a Wonderland gone badly awry. Throughout her journey, Alice is challenged to accept a new role in life. Again and again, Alice denies her strength, doubts her ability and struggles with the inevitable. In the end, it is Alice alone who can choose to claim or to reject her power.

In short, this is a film about growing up.

I highly recommend seeing it with a 'tween or teenaged daughter as it provides a powerful message that one can find profound strength in choosing to do what is right and in being true to one's self in the face of obstacles - and even grave danger.

I could have lived without Johnny Depp's atrociously rendered scene near the very end but few films are perfect. All in all, I'm so pleased that Tim Burton and his excellent cast and special effects crew brought this script to life. It's well worth seeing.

The Ninth Gate

When this film was released in 1999 it did not get the press it deserved and I never saw it until I it aired on HBO. After the first viewing, I was hooked on the film. I have always thought Depp was an excellent actor and he plays an almost likable but undoubtedly dark character than has clearly adopted the "me above all others" way of thinking. He is hired by Frank Langella who plays a very dark, Devil worshiping book collector with a hidden agenda, lyrically named Boris Balkan. Throughout the film, Depp is visited and aided by Emmanuelle Seigner (who to this day I have never seen in anything else in spite of a long European filmography)but one of the mysteries of the film is that you never know who this girl is. An agent of the Devil, the Devil itself or a dark angel? As usual, Lena Olin plays a forgettable character and is probably the weakest part of the film. Even though Langella's portrayal of the evil book collector goes a little over the top toward the end, the film and the interactions between Depp and the other possessors of this rare book are not to be missed. I am looking forward to the blu-ray release.

Dead Man

Jim Jarmusch's "Dead Man" is not only the best film of the 90's, but a mysterious, beautiful film that stands high among the finest American Films ever made. But at the same time, I can understand why many people disliked it. To quote Roger Ebert "The soundtrack by Neil Young sounds like nothing more then a guitar being repeatadly dropped on the ground". But you have to consider that Jarmusch chose this score for a reason. It's sort of like the anti-Hollywood score. Jarmusch himself said that there are so many taleneted musicians out there, he's at a loss to explain why almost all scores in movies today sound exactly the same. I've seen the movie 8 or 9 times now, and own it on dvd. The film is absolutely beautiful and quite thought-provoking. What you have to understand is that it's really a tale of one mans journey towards death, if you go in with the idea that it's going to be your typical shoot-em-up western, you're probably going to hate it. There are also alot of subtle messages in the film and plently of witty humor and dialogue to keep the viewer entertained. This is a film that can only increase in beauty and get better with repeated viewings. Go in with limited expectations and you might end up enjoying it or maybe even loving it as much as I did.

Sleepy Hollow

Loosely based on both the original Washington Irving story as well as the Disney version, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow takes a revisionist approach and ends up with a genuine horror classic. Johnny Depp stars as "Constable" Ichabod Crane, an 18th century detective keen on using scientific methods (unheard of in this period) to solve crimes. Annoyed by his unconventional methods, Magistrate Christopher Lee sends Depp upstate to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of grisly murders-by-beheading. Depp/Crane becomes involved in a supernatural situation that tests his lack of faith (a sub-plot resulting from a childhood trauma involving his mother [Lisa Marie] and sinister father) and makes him a full witness to the goulish decapitations. Christopher Walken is absolutely frightening as the horseman, and Christina Ricci and a cast of classic British actors flesh (pardon the pun) out the story with hints of shady business among the town's statesmen. The commentary by Burton is fairly optional, but the "making of" and other features enhance the movie superbly. Burton uses a foggy, bleached style to enhance the appearance and tone of the movie, creating a genuinely unique vision. Be warned, though - there's lots of loppings in this flick, so it's definitely not for the squeamish. With homage to Hammer horror films but otherwise unique in the genre, Sleepy Hollow should easily take its place among other groundbreaking horror movies like The Shining or An American Werewolf in London. Need a movie to shake you out of your Friday-the-13th complacency? Get this DVD!

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

It's rare for a movie to catch two actors on the cusp of superstardom. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" does just that, with Leonardo di Caprio as the mentally retarded Arnie, and Johnny Depp as his stoic older brother Gilbert. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a wonderful comedy-drama about Gilbert, his mentally retarded brother Arnie, his mother, his two sisters, and the townspeople. John C. Reilly has a small part as a genial carpenter who repairs the Grape's delipidated house as a favor.
I can't praise this movie enough. There isn't much of a storyline, it just follows the Grape family in the weeks leading up to Arnie's 18th birthday party. But there isn't a weak link in the cast, and I've rarely seen a family film that's so touching and unsentimental. Darlene Cates in particular gives an amazing perfomrmance as Momma Grape, who is so obese the children have to carry the kitchen table into the living room for meals. There are some subplots, one involving Gilbert's affair with an unhappy housewife (Mary Steenbergen), and another involving Gilbert's romance with an peripetetal young woman (Juliette Lewis). But mostly this movie is a slice of life, rather than a 3-part drama.
Leonardo di Caprio's exuberant, warm, hilarious performance as Arnie was justly praised (he got an Academy award nomination). di Caprio's Arnie can't stay still: he's always climbing trees, or running away from baths, or jumping up for a piggyback. Leo steals every scene he's in. I especially love how he gave his character a "tic": constantly flicking his nose. This could have been a one-note performance but it isn't. di Caprio's Arnie is sweet and even manipulative. In one of my favorite scenes, he wimpers to his mother that he could have "drownded" after Gilbert left him alone during a bath. Johnny Depp is also wonderful, albeit more understated, as Gilbert. Depp doesn't verbalize or exaggerate Gilbert's frustration at having so many responsibilities. You just assume it's there, and you empathize with the way he matter-of-factly deals with every new crisis.
Nowadays Leo and Johnny are Grade-A superstars, and every project is big news. It's unlikely either will agree to make a film like this again. So watch these two fine actors on the brink of superstardom. It's richly deserved.