In preparation for Johnny Depp’s upcoming Black Mass (27th November UK release), in which he has seemingly undergone a complete transformation into the eerie face of Whitey Bulger, it seems worth taking a look at his career so far as one of the most diverse actors in Hollywood. Depp debuted in 1984, in a rather stereotypical role of a teenage boyfriend, in a rather more unconventional film Nightmare on Elm Street. Despite being a low-budget horror flick, the film ended up being a huge success and helped put Johnny on the scene. However, his breakout role came as an officer in the hit 80’s TV show 21 Jump Street, you are all probably familiar with the film reboot, about young looking police officers infiltrating a high school.
It was only with the rather odd and unconventional role as Edward Scissorhands in Tim Burton’s film of the same name (Burton and Depp would then go on to work on the series of odd films that they have since produced) in an apparent match made in heaven that Depp began his career of diversity. IMDB describes him as ‘one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in Hollywood’. The word diverse here is given in a sense of very odd and often abstract characters such as Scissorhands who act in a rather unconventional sense. Depp is a master at unconventionality. His successes in the 90’s saw him playing one of the most diverse range of characters and genres of any actor, from Scissorhands, a mute misunderstood character to Raoul Duke a psychotic and drug-addled man on wild drug binge through Las Vegas (Fear and loathing in Las Vegas). Along the way, Depp also portrayed wild west gunman (Dead Man), FBI agent (Donnie Brasco), eccentrics (Ed Wood, Benny & Joon) and even a forensic investigator from the 18th century in Sleepy Hollow. The only connection these films all share are Depp’s abilities as a lead actor, and that each of the characters all have some odd or defining eccentricity as a character trait.
That being said, it seems unfortunate that his often outlandish eccentricity has pushed Depp into a number of rather poor roles. I say poor because I am of the opinion that it the roles rather than Depp’s acting which is lacking, although in many cases I would say he chose the wrong portrayal for the character. My point in case is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which turned to be a rather creepy and overblown attempt at recreating the classic film with the superb Gene Wilder. I also felt his performance as the hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is similarly confused and underplayed, with the rather odd fact that the hatter was sad for most the film rather than his supposed zany character from the book. The recent Mortdecai, which was disastrous to say the least was honestly unwatchable, and it began to feel as though Depp had simply got too comfortable playing the odd eccentric, in roles that weren’t nearly as motivating or impactful as those he was in during the 90’s. Being an ardent fan, I would still argue that it is Depp’s ease with which he becomes a character which has led to these poor films. Each of his performances can be said to be unique, with little but his quizzical looks reflecting it is just one actor, so he can’t be said to impose a particular acting style upon his roles. It seems therefore that it is the roles in which he was cast that are wrong, and he has suffered the fall with them due to the extent to which he becomes the character, and as such is connected with failures.
This seems evident from previous portrayals, and of course the unforgettable Captain Jack Sparrow, whose effortless witticism and optimism made the role Johnny Depp’s most iconic portrayal, and the Pirates film a commercial success. It is symbolic of his ability to play the eccentric and rather strange character. Such a character is often relatable in a smaller, culture film, yet Sparrow’s likeability and success commercially, and with such a broad audience is a testament to Depp’s abilities as an actor to be likeable.
But does Depp’s likeability make him a good choice for Whitey Bulger, one of Boston’s most notorious gangsters, as well as a figure of public hate in Boston? It seems an odd casting choice given other available options in Hollywood, although many of the old stars like De Niro and Pacino are perhaps too old now to play the role. Given the need to transform his face, it begs the question of why Johnny?
Well for starters, he’s a great actor. Depp has shown that his diversity is not restricted to eccentrics. Donnie Brasco in which Depp plays a character of the same name was proof that he could be effective in the gangster world. In a role similar to DiCaprio’s in The Departed, Depp plays the Brasco, an undercover working with a hitman (Pacino). The twist comes from his friendship with the criminals he meets, most importantly with Pacino’s character who brought him in, and so will be killed when Brasco is revealed as a mole. Depp turns Brasco into a ruthless, yet nervous and conflicted cop caught in the classic friend or duty scenario. Again in Public Enemies, which perhaps was not the best film, Depp similarly manages to pass of an air of ruthlessness. In fact he was great at it. The Black Mass reviews only back me up here. Depp is back, and hopefully here to stay.
Andre Hirschler 